COLM COOPER MARKED his first game at Croke Park in two years by contributing a personal tally of 2-3 in today’s All-Ireland quarter-final win against Kildare.
The Gooch scored two of the Kingdom’s seven second-half goals in a 7-16 to 0-10 victory, as he joined the Ó Sé brothers as the only players to have made 80 championship appearances.
Following last season’s injury absence, it was Cooper’s first outing at GAA headquarters since Kerry’s semi-final defeat to Dublin on 1 September, 2013.
“We’re delighted with the display,” Cooper told RTÉ’s Pat McAuliffe afterwards. “I suppose, in fairness to Kildare, they’ve been on the road the last three weeks and probably the energy wasn’t in the legs today.
“We came up firmly focused on putting in a good performance at Croke Park. Thankfully we were able to do that today.”
Cooper had been named on the bench this week but he was announced as a starter shortly before the game, taking the place of Kieran Donaghy who had sustained a groin injury in training on Thursday.
The likes of Darran O’Sullivan, Tommy Walsh, Paul Galvin and Barry John Keane also came on to chip in as the All-Ireland champions brushed aside Kildare’s challenge with ease.
Cooper said: “That’s the squad we have. It’s going to be tough. You’re going to be in some days, you’re not going to make the team other days. Every guy is fighting really, really hard because they want to be here in Croke Park in August. That’s just what we’re focused on.”
Cooper was full of praise for O’Sullivan, who set up his first goal with a brilliant run to carve open the Lilywhites’ defence in the 45th minute.
“He did all the hard work,” said Cooper. “I only had to tap it in. Tommy Walsh came in and made a big impression, Paul Galvin… Look, we’re just very happy to be in a semi-final. We’ll have tougher tests ahead and just personally I’m glad to be back in Croke Park.”
After watching on from the sidelines last year while Kerry claimed the All-Ireland title, Cooper was clearly delighted to be involved again as Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s side kept their hopes of a successful defence of the Sam Maguire on track.
“Yeah, it’s been a long year but days like today make it all worthwhile,” said the Dr Crokes man. “It was great to be back and the hard work has paid off.”
Cooper scored the 22nd championship goal of his career in the 52nd minute when he claimed a high ball and finished calmly beyond the reach of Kildare goalkeeper Mark Donnellan.
