Gavin O’Connor looks at the main talking points from last night’s big game in Killarney, plus loads of action shots from the match below…
1. David Moran a colossus
It had been spoken about in the build up, that Kerry had to win midfield if they were stand any chance of winning the replay.
Bringing in Anthony Maher was a step in the right direction and allowed Moran the opportunity to dominate in the middle of the park for the evening.
It wasn’t just his ball winning or his desire to get onto anything and everything, but his use of the ball was truly top class.
There was a time at the start of his career when he went up and won a ball he found it difficult to break through the welcoming party when he came down.
Now he just drives through bodies with a solo or a hop. He was Kerry’s leader in horrific conditions and is, on form, the best midfielder in the land at the moment.
It was a truly bizarre call by Martin Carney naming James O’Donoghue as man of the match.
David Moran gave a dominant display in midfield. Photo by Dermot Crean.
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2. Munster Council gamble
With the light fading on Fitzgerald Stadium towards the end of the 70 minutes, it was obvious if the match had gone to extra time, with no floodlights, the game would have to be abandoned.
Now the GAA have taken many strides to modernity over the years, but the gamble on there being enough light nearing 9 o’clock was a bit much.
Kieran Donaghy lifts the Munster Cup in near darkness. Photo by Dermot Crean.
3. Rain, rain, rain
As the Kerry team entered the pitch to pose with the Munster Cup at the end, they should have also had a guard of honour and clapped those who stood on the terrace and endured a monsoon off the pitch.
Indeed there were many who had enough of it by half time and duly left the ground for a more comfortable spot in the pub. Those who stayed on the terrace can count themselves as hard as nails.
Fans on the terrace got a real soaking. Photo by Dermot Crean.
4. Persistence of long ball into Donaghy
On countless occasions, groans rang around the ground as ball after ball was lamped into Kieran Donaghy with nothing coming from it. It was clear, in awful weather, it was not working.
It’s telling that when he came off, we started working the ball to the three inside forwards, O’Donoghue, Cooper and Geaney and a goal came.
Starved of possession, O’Donoghue moved so often out to the ’45’ to get some action when he should be fed directly.
Be it a combination of O’Donoghue, Geaney or Barry John and Cooper we look much more dangerous and less predictable with them in there.
If that isn’t working, as we know too well, Donaghy is there to dig us out of a hole, should we need something different again.
The Cork backline coped well with the threat of Kieran Donaghy. Photo by Dermot Crean.
5. Too many goals conceded so far in the championship
Once again Kerry were caught for a goal. Even Aidan O’Mahony, who had a brilliant evening in fairness and was brought into plug that hole, couldn’t stop it.
Kerry have conceded, 16 goals in 10 games in 2015, six of which have come in the championship. The Dubs will be licking their lips looking at that record.
Anthony Maher attempts to go past Alan O’Connor. Photo by Dermot Crean.
6. Credit to Kealy
A much maligned member of the starting team dug us out of a jam yesterday with an inspirational save a minute after Paul Kerrigan hit the net to bring Cork level.
It’s often said that good kick outs are now a keeper’s number one attribute, but that save made the evening much more comfortable for Kerry than it could have. He scuffed a couple of kick-outs, but credit when it’s due for the Kilcummin man.
The Kerry team take part in the pre-match parade. Photo by Dermot Crean.
7. The importance of Bryan Sheehan
In the first half, the St Mary’s man was flawless from the dead ball, kicking five out of five. In the game itself, he got on a lot of ball in the first period and was clearly instructed to let the ball in to Donaghy whenever he got the chance.
It is an issue however, that his influence does wane in the second half of matches.
In tight games, he is invaluable as a freetaker so it can be a gamble taking him off.
You’d wonder if management are not confident in him putting in an entire 70 minutes shift and would it better to have him finish game, should a situation arise again, as in the drawn game when we were left a point behind and no free taker to take a 45.
Bryan Sheehan’s kicking is invaluable to the side. Photo by Dermot Crean.
8. Respect for the national anthem
It’s a little thing, but should supporters have a bit more respect for the national anthem? Amhrán na bhFiann, was about three quarters way through when it was broken by a section of the crowd. Of course when that happens it soon ripples around.
Fans will have 70 minutes plus to roar their heads off for their team, a bit of respect for the national anthem wouldn’t be too much to ask.
The Kerry team lineup for the national anthem. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Tense moments during the early stages of the game. Photo by Dermot Crean
Paul Geaney advances on goal. Photo by Dermot Crean
James O’Donoghue gets his shot away. Photo by Dermot Crean
High-flying action from the match on Saturday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
I was at the match last night and was disappointed at the lack of respect shown to the National Anthem by some of the crowd – this sort of behaviour is not acceptable.