Kildare carved a niche for themselves in the history of the GAA at Croke Park today when winning the first ever All-Ireland U20 FC final at Mayo's expense.

The Aaron Masterson captained outfit prevailed on a scoreline of 1-18 to 1-16 against a Mayo team that finished with 14 players following the dismissal of Jordan Flynn late on.

Jimmy Hyland kicked 1-8 in the semi-final win over Kerry and continued his rich vein of scoring form when firing over five first-half points today to help establish a four-point half-time advantage for the Lilywhites.

The Ballyteague clubman finished with 0-10 to his name to bring his overall tally to 3-55 in their eight games this campaign and was a deserving recipient of the 'man-of-the-match' award.

A 7^th minute goal by Hyland's full-forward line colleague Brian McLoughlin boosted the Leinster champions into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead before Hyland raised his first white flag of the contest moments later.

They lost left corner-back DJ Earley to a black card early on but, other than that, the early signs were very encouraging for Davy Burke and his team.

Mayo were desperately clinging on to their coat tails but a brilliant Ryan O'Donoghue goal resuscitated the Connacht side's challenge in the 22^nd minute.

The team in green and red's captain ran right through the heart of the Kildare defence before dispatching a low shot to the back of the net at the Davin Stand end.

Kildare players celebrate with the trophy. ©INPHO/Gary Carr.

That left the scoreboard reading 1-10 to 1-7 and an entering opening half finished with the team in white 1-13 to 1-9 to the good.

The Mike Solan managed Mayo enjoyed the better of the early second-half exchanges and sent over two points without reply.

Normal service was soon restored at the opposite end of the field, however, and a string of points from Hyland (3) and McLoughlin boosted Davy Burke's charges into a 1-17 to 1-11 lead at the three-quarter hour mark.

To their credit, Mayo fought back and full-forward Ross Egan forced Kildare goalkeeper Aaron O'Neill into a fantastic point blank save in the 56^th minute.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Kildare's lead was down to three but they held on for a famous victory after a goal attempt from a free by Egan was deflected over their crossbar in the last action of the game.

Kildare - A O'Neill; M Dempsey, M Barrett, DJ Earley; S Comerford, J Gibbons, J Bambrick; A Masterson (0-2), D Marnell; D Ryan, P Nash (0-1), T Archbold (0-1); J Hyland (0-10, 2f), B McLoughlin (1-2, 0-1f), P Woodgate (0-2). Subs: M Betts Symonds for DJ Earley (BC), M Glynn for D Marnell, J O'Toole for J Bambrick, C Costigan for P Nash, S Doran for B McLoughlin (BC), S O'Sullivan for P Woodgate.

Mayo - P O'Malley (0-1'45); J Maughan, B O'Malley, J Cunnane; P Lambert, C Horan, O McLaughlin (0-1); E O'Brien (0-1), J Flynn; N Moran, R O'Donoghue (1-3, 0-1f), T Conroy; C Diskin (0-1), R Egan (0-6f), C Moran (0-3). Subs: J Dawson for J Maughan, J Gallagher for E O'Brien, L Hughes for T Conroy, S McGreal for N Moran, S Og Tigue for C Horan (BC).

Referee - N Cullen.

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