Sligo under-20 gaelic footballers are preparing for a first-ever All-Ireland final after a rousing 1-8 to 0-9 semi-final win over Kerry in Saturday's semi-final at Pearse Stadium in Galway.
The Connacht champions recovered from the early setback of losing team captain Canice Mulligan to a serious-looking collar bone injury after just eight minutes of the game.
Ronan Niland's well-taken first-half goal helped Sligo go in level at half-time, 1-3 to 0-6 - and this with Sligo playing against the Salthill breeze in the opening half.
In a tactical contest, Kerry were guilty of some poor finishing and shot selection at times - but Sligo's growing belief became a feature of the second half with the backs defending tigerishly as the Yeats county edged into a two-point lead in the closing stages, which they held onto to seal a memorable in.
Sligo's opponents in next Saturday's All-Ireland final will be Kildare, who beat Down by a point (1-11 to 2-7) in Saturday's other semi-final.
The final will be a re-match of last year's All-Ireland semi-final which Kildare won.
Saturday's All-Ireland U20 football semi-final results
Sligo 1-8 Kerry 0-9
Kildare 1-11 Down 207
Saturday, May 13th
All-Ireland U20 final
Sligo v Kildare
Kingspan Breffni (Cavan), 2:45pm.
