Classy Kerry are too good for Tribesmen
By GRAHAM CLIFFORD
 A
rampant second-half performance by Kerry decided the destination of this
year’s Division 1 Allianz National Football League trophy.
Once the Kingdom’s scoring machine clicked into top gear Galway
were incapable of stemming the green-and-gold tide.
A paltry crowd of 7,598 turned out to witness Kerry lift their 18th National
League title with ease though Peter Ford’s Galway did contest strongly
especially in the first-half.
The Kingdom dominated midfield and may have finally found the right man
to partner the supreme Darragh O Se in the guise of Austin Stack’s
Kieran Donaghy.
Galway’s pairing of Paul Clancy and Niall Coleman spent the day
chasing shadows in Limerick and were second to most breaking balls around
the centre of the park.
Peter Ford would have entered the dressing room at half-time being the
happier of the two managers however.
His side held a 0-6 to 0-3 lead with Kerry suffering a 27-minute spell
in which they failed to register a single score. Galway defended diligently
and Colm Cooper was kept quiet by the excellent Damien Burke.
The experienced Padraig Joyce started brightly for the Tribesmen and finished
on a tally of four points but as the game progressed his marker Marc O
Se got the upper hand limiting supply to the dangerous forward.
Kerry changed gears at the break and in the second-half outscored the
Connacht champions by 2-9 to 0-4.
The introduction of the incisive Eoin Brosnan and the Glenbeigh/Glencar
speed merchant Darren O’Sullivan unnerved Galway at the back creating
space for Kerry’s talented forwards.
Manager Jack O’Connor said afterwards: “We knew we had to
step things up considerably in the second-half and in fairness the lads
did.”
Colm Cooper managed to find more space and set-up Paul Galvin for Kerry’s
first goal in the 53rd minute.
The score acted as a turning point and catalyst for the Kingdom. Gooch
was up to his menacing tricks again and after the hour mark set-up his
fellow Dr. Cokes clubmate Eoin Brosnan who dispatched to the net with
ease.
Bryan Sheehan did his chances of a starting place for the Championship
no harm with assured free-taking. The Cahersiveen man ended the day with
a tally of five frees and his second-half kicking ensured Kerry were in
firm control of the final.
In the last quarter Kerry were in cruise control picking points off with
ease with Paul Galvin involved in most scores earning himself the TG4-Alliance
man-of-the-match award.
Galvin has been in fine form for Kerry in the league and is poised to
have yet another deadly Championship campaign.
At the final whistle Galway had to reflect on their third league final
loss in six years but according to their manager Peter Ford the best team
emerged victorious.
He said: “Kerry ran much stronger with the ball than we did in the
second-half.
“They made us pay for every mistake and when they won possession
we found it very hard to get the ball back from them which is draining
on any side.”
The win sets Kerry up for another Championship run with many pundits tipping
them to right the wrongs of last year and lift Sam Maguire later in the
year. On the basis of this league campaign the green and gold should be
installed as favourites while Galway still have a lot of work to do if
they are to challenge for the game’s top honour. |
