SO, as we predicted, Kerry won by two points today, but it certainly wasn’t the ‘borefest’ we expected at Austin Stack Park.
A crowd of over 6,000 watched an entertaining match played at championship tempo and containing some great scores in a 2-13 to 2-11 victory for the home side.
Kerry certainly responded well after last week’s poor display against Cork and were the better side for much of this match.
Continued below…
Bryan Sheehan gave a masterclass in placed ball kicking in the first half and were better than just the one-point lead going in at the break (0-9 to 1-5).
The Kerry crowd were very unhappy with some refereeing decisions and a few yellows brandished in the first half could well have been of a darker hue.
Donegal came back well at the start of the second half and three quick-fire points saw them retake the lead.
But Kerins O’Rahilly’s Barry John Keane made amends for some poor shooting early in the second half when he fisted the ball to the net to restore the Kingdom’s lead.
Donegal came back again, but a penalty from David Moran – who again was dominant in midfield – with five minutes to go put five points between the sides.
A late penalty from Michael Murphy made for a nervous final few moment but Kerry deserved their victory.
Next up is a clash with Monaghan in Tralee in two weeks, so it’s still all to play for in a tight Division 1. (scroll down for more photos)
Kerry: Brendan Kealy, Pa Kilkenny, Mark Griffin, Paul Murphy (0-1); Jonathan Lyne, Peter Crowley, Killian Young, Anthony Maher, David Moran (1-1); Stephen O’Brien (0-1); Bryan Sheehan (0-6); Johnny Buckley (0-1); Paul Geaney (0-1); Kieran Donaghy, Barry John Keane (1-1).
Subs: Tommy Walsh for Paul Geaney; Shane Enright for Pa Kilkenny; Paul O’Donoghue for Barry John Keane; Fionn Fitzgerald for Peter Crowley; Kieran O’Leary for Johnny Buckley; Alan Fitzgerald (0-1) for Bryan Sheehan.
Donegal: Paul Durcan, Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eamonn McGee, Eamonn Doherty, Karl Lacey, Mark McHugh, Neil Gallagher (0-1); Christy Toye, Martin O’Reilly, Martin McElhinney (0-1); Ryan McHugh (1-0); Paddy McBrearty (0-4); Michael Murphy (1-3); Hugh McFadden (0-1).
Subs: Martin McElhinney for H McFadden; Anthony Thompson for Doherty; Eoin McHugh for M O’Reilly; Gary McFadden for M McHugh; Colm McFadden (0-1) for McElhinney; Daniel McLoughlin for Toye.
