| Gooch on song as League Campaign Gathers
Pace  Kerry
0-13
Offaly 0-9
He may have gained a few pounds in muscle this season but Colm ‘Gooch’
Cooper is still the twinkle-toed tormentor of Gaelic football.
The Killarney man had to be at his brilliant best to push his side closer
to a play-off position against bottom of the table Offaly on Saturday
in Tralee.
Cooper raised the white flag on six occasions but despite Kerry picking
up another two points manager Jack O’Connor said he was “very
unhappy” with the performance of the Munster champions.
With 15 minutes remaining Offaly were still in a good position to surprise
the hosts but Paul Galvin — back from a 24-week ban — pointed
from distance and scores from Cooper and centre-back Aidan O’Mahony
ensured Kerry stay second in Division 1A.
Afterwards O’Connor said: “We played very poorly at times.
I felt we malfunctioned up front as we were not able to get any quality
ball into our full forward line.”
There were no such problems in Castlebar though as Mayo continue to brush
aside all challengers with both ease and skill. Alan Dillion chipped in
with seven points as Cork became the latest victims of the Mickey Moran
revolution on a score line of 0-12 to 0-8.
Mayo pulled away from the rebels midway through the second half taking
a five-point lead as Cork misfired up front scoring just two points after
the break.
Dublin who started their League campaign in controversial style with that
heated win over Tyrone in Omagh fell again, this time to Fermanagh who
move up to third in the table with a 0-09 to 0-8 victory at Brewster Park.
In an unspectacular game Fermanagh spread their scoring throughout the
15 with Mark Murphy in particular leading by example. Fermanagh’s
survival in Division 1A now looks secure having picked up six points from
their five outings so far.
Monaghan came close to avenging their Dr. McKenna Cup final loss in the
tie of the weekend against All Ireland champions Tyrone.
A late late show by Mickey Harte’s men eventually told though as
they ran out winners by 1-15 to 1-13.
Two late scores from Stephen O’Neill was just enough to steal what
would have been a famous victory from the grasp of the Farneymen who now
sit precariously at the bottom of the table with Cork and Offaly as company.
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