Joyce's clinical serve the difference in high-standard minor decider
Paul Fitzpatrick
Mayo's Niall Joyce became the second player from his county to have his name enscribed on the All-Ireland 40x20 Minor Singles roll of honour after he delivered an excellent performance to see off Tyrone's Sean Kerr 21-17, 21-3 in the final.
The difference on the day was Joyce's serve – the Claremorris dual player fired straight rockets down the left for the entire match and while Kerr returned most, he found himself under pressure and the tall, athletic Connacht champion was able to end rallies with an impressive killing game.
Kerr, last year's U16 Singles winner and an exceptionally-talented player in his own right, is still eligible for the minor grade next season but had to settle for second best here, despite playing some spectacular handball in the opening game. The Brackey boy settled quicker and reeled off a succession of kills en route to an 8-4 lead early on. However, Joyce – conqueror of Limerick's Evan Murphy in the semi-final - rallied well and found his range, levelling at eight and growing in confidence as he pulled away to reach 15.
Kerr worked hard to get back into the game but Joyce pulled out some big shots at the right time to take the first and once that was in the bag, he accelerated off over the horizon in game two.
While the scoreline possibly didn't reflect it, this was a top-class match between two outstanding minors who appear to have the tools to go a very long way in the sport. Kerr had seen off Wexford's Keith Armstrong in the semi-final, having lost the opener 21-5, and his big-game temperament is such that, even when he trailed in game two, he never appeared completely out of the contest.
However, Joyce was composed and showed he could mix it up, with an assured ceiling game, a rocket of a right hand in the front court and, crucially, that big serve, which straightened out down the left and yielded vital aces at crucial times.
Remember the names – this talented duo will feature in many more finals in the years to come. For this year, though, there can be only be one champion, and Niall Joyce – who brings the cup to Mayo for the first time since Dessie Keegan in 2000 – is a most worthy winner.