UNDER THE SATURDAY night lights in Tralee, Dublin ended a long stretch without a league victory at this venue off the back of a powerful second-half display.
Trailing Kerry by 11 points at the break, a game that was characterised by a strong wind that blew into the town end terrace at Austin Stack Park, was turned on its head by Dublin’s greater second-half scoring power.
Lorcan O’Dell nailed a pair of two-pointers to tie the game and another substitute Luke Breathnach kicked the priceless last point to nudge Dublin into the lead as they squeezed out a win.
Kerry enjoyed a handsome advantage at half-time, 1-12 to 0-4. It was constructed by the manner in which they harnessed the hefty wind at their backs to float over three two-pointers, and also how they pounced for a goal after the game had just moved past the half-hour mark.
Captain Seán O’Shea knocked over a pair of two-pointers and Brian Ó Beaglaoich fired another from distance. Then before the break when Ó Beaglaoich attempted another shot, it fell short and hung in the air, tempting Evan Comerford from goal to challenge Kerry’s Micheál Burns and Dublin’s David Byrne.
The ball spilled loose from them all, falling into the lap of Paul Geaney who sidestepped and tidily finished to the net from 13 yards. That put Kerry 12 clear and though Greg McEnaney rounded off the first-half scoring by shooting over for Dublin, the task they faced at the break appeared a daunting one.
Eoghan O'Donnell shoots on goal for Dublin. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
But Dublin got to work. They missed a bunch of chances in the third quarter, yet were seeing plenty ball come their way. They trailed 1-13 to 0-9 when their comeback was really kickstarted by two points in rapid succession on 52 and 53 by the excellent Sean Bugler.
Then Ciaran Kilkenny bombed over a two-pointer and the gap was a manageable three. Kerry tried to weather the storm, they introduced David Clifford for his first appearance of the year, with O’Shea tapping over a free and Paudie Clifford cleverly clipping over a shot that sent them four clear, 1-15 to 0-14.
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But that position was not sufficient to protect Kerry and they would regret the opening period goal chances that were not converted, Joe O’Connor dragging one clearcut chance wide.
O’Dell stepped forward to provide the necessary scoring leadership for Dublin and Breathnach held his composure to grab the match-winner, sending the away fans cheering into the night.
Scorers for Dublin: Lorcan O’Dell 0-4 (2 2pt scores), Sean Bugler 0-4 (0-1f), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3 (1 2pt score), Lee Gannon 0-2 (1 2pt score), Greg McEnaney 0-2, Luke Breathnach 0-2, Tom Lahiff 0-1, Eoghan O’Donnell 0-1.
Scorers for Kerry: Seán O’Shea 0-6 (2 2pt scores 0-2f), Paul Geaney 1-1, Micheál Burns 0-2, Brian Ó Beaglaoich 0-2 (1 2pt score), Graham O’Sullivan 0-1, Conor Geaney 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-1.
Dublin
16. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. David Byrne (Naomh Ólaf), 3. Theo Clancy (Kilmacud Crokes), 4. Sean McMahon (Raheny)
5. Brian Howard (Raheny), 6. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis), 7. Greg McEneaney (Skerries Harps)
8. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s), 22. Alex Gavin (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
10. Kevin Lahiff (St Jude’s), 11. Seán Bugler (St. Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh) 12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
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Dublin power back from 12 points down to edge out Kerry and claim league win
Dublin 0-19 (0-4-11)
Kerry 1-15 (1-3-9)
UNDER THE SATURDAY night lights in Tralee, Dublin ended a long stretch without a league victory at this venue off the back of a powerful second-half display.
Trailing Kerry by 11 points at the break, a game that was characterised by a strong wind that blew into the town end terrace at Austin Stack Park, was turned on its head by Dublin’s greater second-half scoring power.
Lorcan O’Dell nailed a pair of two-pointers to tie the game and another substitute Luke Breathnach kicked the priceless last point to nudge Dublin into the lead as they squeezed out a win.
Kerry enjoyed a handsome advantage at half-time, 1-12 to 0-4. It was constructed by the manner in which they harnessed the hefty wind at their backs to float over three two-pointers, and also how they pounced for a goal after the game had just moved past the half-hour mark.
Captain Seán O’Shea knocked over a pair of two-pointers and Brian Ó Beaglaoich fired another from distance. Then before the break when Ó Beaglaoich attempted another shot, it fell short and hung in the air, tempting Evan Comerford from goal to challenge Kerry’s Micheál Burns and Dublin’s David Byrne.
The ball spilled loose from them all, falling into the lap of Paul Geaney who sidestepped and tidily finished to the net from 13 yards. That put Kerry 12 clear and though Greg McEnaney rounded off the first-half scoring by shooting over for Dublin, the task they faced at the break appeared a daunting one.
But Dublin got to work. They missed a bunch of chances in the third quarter, yet were seeing plenty ball come their way. They trailed 1-13 to 0-9 when their comeback was really kickstarted by two points in rapid succession on 52 and 53 by the excellent Sean Bugler.
Then Ciaran Kilkenny bombed over a two-pointer and the gap was a manageable three. Kerry tried to weather the storm, they introduced David Clifford for his first appearance of the year, with O’Shea tapping over a free and Paudie Clifford cleverly clipping over a shot that sent them four clear, 1-15 to 0-14.
But that position was not sufficient to protect Kerry and they would regret the opening period goal chances that were not converted, Joe O’Connor dragging one clearcut chance wide.
O’Dell stepped forward to provide the necessary scoring leadership for Dublin and Breathnach held his composure to grab the match-winner, sending the away fans cheering into the night.
Scorers for Dublin: Lorcan O’Dell 0-4 (2 2pt scores), Sean Bugler 0-4 (0-1f), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3 (1 2pt score), Lee Gannon 0-2 (1 2pt score), Greg McEnaney 0-2, Luke Breathnach 0-2, Tom Lahiff 0-1, Eoghan O’Donnell 0-1.
Scorers for Kerry: Seán O’Shea 0-6 (2 2pt scores 0-2f), Paul Geaney 1-1, Micheál Burns 0-2, Brian Ó Beaglaoich 0-2 (1 2pt score), Graham O’Sullivan 0-1, Conor Geaney 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-1.
Dublin
16. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. David Byrne (Naomh Ólaf), 3. Theo Clancy (Kilmacud Crokes), 4. Sean McMahon (Raheny)
5. Brian Howard (Raheny), 6. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis), 7. Greg McEneaney (Skerries Harps)
8. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s), 22. Alex Gavin (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
10. Kevin Lahiff (St Jude’s), 11. Seán Bugler (St. Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh) 12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
13. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street) 14. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), 24. Sean Lowry (St Vincent’s)
Subs
21. Lee Gannon (Whitheall Colmcille) for McEnaney (half-time)
18. Luke Breathnach (Ballinteer St John’s) for Lowry (45)
25. Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street) for Kevin Lahiff (53)
9. Niall O’Callaghan (Cuala) for O’Donnell (58)
23. Davy Keogh (Thomas Davis) for Gannon (63)
Kerry
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Damien Bourke (Na Gaeil), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
5. Graham O’Sullivan (Piarsaigh na Dromoda), 6. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 7. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht),
8. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil), 9. Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks),
10. Paudie Clifford (Fossa), 11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), 12. Darragh Lyne (Killarney Legion),
13. Conor Geaney (Dingle), 14. Paul Geaney (Dingle), 23. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
Subs
24. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks) for O’Sullivan (inj) (9)
18. Cathal Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht) for Lyne (46)
21. David Clifford (Fossa) for Conor Geaney (50)
26. Keith Evans (Keel) for Burns (60)
20. Seán O’Brien (Beaufort) for Joe O’Connor (65)
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
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boys in blue Dublin GAA Kerry Tralee