| Dismissal takes gloss off Kerry win
 Kerry
claimed their expected victory over Fermanagh in the League but the match
will be chiefly remembered for the sending-off of Kieran Donaghy.
It’s the second time in three games that the Tralee man has been
given his marching orders having picked up two yellow cards against Mayo
in Kerry’s first League game of 2007. Donaghy was also sent off
in last year’s Munster final against Cork and his collection of
red cards will cause many sleepless nights for the new Kerry management.
Indeed Kerry seem to be suffering from a severe bout of ill-discipline
of late. As well as Donaghy Kerry’s Ronan Flaherty was sent to the
line on Sunday as the Kingdom finished with 13 men.
Manager Pat O’Shea expressed his concern at seeing his side lose
to yet again.
He said: “That’s the sort of thing which could cost us dearly
during the year we have to cut it out.”
There was never much doubt about which side would emerge with the points
at Breffni Park. Kerry raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead on 25 minutes. The
goal came courtesy of Killorglin man Mike Frank Russell who finished well
into the net on 14 minutes. The bulk of the points came courtesy of the
free-taking of Bryan Sheehan.
Fermanagh have some tasty footballers notably All-Star full-back Barry
Owens who was doing a good job of marking Donaghy but they lack real quality
throughout the field.
Once they lost Donaghy Kerry pulled in their horns a bit playing a more
containing game and holding out for victory instead of piling on the scores
which they looked well capable of doing.
Manager Pat O’Shea said he was taking nothing for granted before
the game and in its aftermath he was keen to accentuate the positives.
He said: “We needed to come up here and claim the win. I’m
glad we have done that. I think we were full value for the win.”
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