DONEGAL WENT SOME way towards avenging the hurt of last year’s All-Ireland final when they rampaged through Kerry in Sunday’s Division 1 football league final.
Donegal’s dominance here was such that, at one point, their lead stood at 21 points. After Keith Evans’s 13th-minute goal for the Kingdom, Donegal responded by keeping their opponents scoreless for the next 20 minutes. They repeated the trick again in the second half just as Kerry looked to make a game of this, achieving another total shutout that lasted 19 minutes.
Jim McGuinness’s men built on the foundation of an awesome first half in which they laid waste to Kerry goalkeeper Shane Murphy’s kickout. They won six consecutive Kerry kickouts at one point, yielding five points and a shot placed wide.
This helped them to a 0-13 to 1-2 lead at the break, helped by a series of two-pointers from Michael Langan and Michael Murphy.
Murphy was lucky to still be on the field however as some late and dangerous punches around the head of Dylan Casey were picked up and shown by TG4′s matchday coverage. Referee David Gough issued a yellow card, so the Glenswilly man may escape any potential further punishment.
Michael Murphy shoots a goal. Tom Maher / INPHO
Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO
In the second half, Donegal had an unbelievable period when they hit three goals in as many minutes. After a long period of probing, Conor O’Donnell was sent through by Langan and roofed a shot to the net.
A minute later, Murphy pinched a handpass from Mark O’Shea to Jason Foley and finished neatly into the corner.
And from the next play, a strong run by Max Campbell opened up the Kerry defence and he passed to Caolan McGonagle, whose shot dipped under the crossbar.
And still Donegal came with more, tacking on five unanswered points, making it 3-5 without any Kerry response.
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When the game was over, Kerry put some respectability on the scoreline. They went from 1-3 to 2-10 in the last 14 minutes.
But this day was all about Donegal. Practically all the areas of concern from the All-Ireland final were addressed. They won more than their share of kickouts. They went man for man in a marking formation. They tried Caolan McColgan on David Clifford and he scored a mere 1-1, a pittance by the Fossa man’s standards.
Kerry will do what they always do. Manager Jack O’Connor said afterwards that the previous weekend in Armagh had been a serious exertion and he raised a familiar objection around the playing of three championships within their county.
Will it matter in the inevitable summer meeting? Not to Kerry.
But Donegal’s need was greater. They couldn’t afford to let Kerry beat them in a final in Croke Park again.
Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 1-5 (2 2pt free), Michael Langan 0-6 ( 2 2pt play), Conor O’Donnell 1-1, Ryan McHugh 0-3, Caolan McGonagle 1-0, Max Campbell 0-3, Peader Mogan, Finbarr Roarty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: David Clifford 1-1, Keith Evans 1-1, Armin Heinrich 0-2, Paul Geaney 0-2 (1 2pt play), Tom O’Sullivan, Sean O’Shea, Dylan Geaney, Tomás Kennedy 0-1 each.
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Donegal unleash goal blitz to bury Kerry in Division 1 decider
Donegal 3-20
Kerry 2-10
DONEGAL WENT SOME way towards avenging the hurt of last year’s All-Ireland final when they rampaged through Kerry in Sunday’s Division 1 football league final.
Donegal’s dominance here was such that, at one point, their lead stood at 21 points. After Keith Evans’s 13th-minute goal for the Kingdom, Donegal responded by keeping their opponents scoreless for the next 20 minutes. They repeated the trick again in the second half just as Kerry looked to make a game of this, achieving another total shutout that lasted 19 minutes.
Jim McGuinness’s men built on the foundation of an awesome first half in which they laid waste to Kerry goalkeeper Shane Murphy’s kickout. They won six consecutive Kerry kickouts at one point, yielding five points and a shot placed wide.
This helped them to a 0-13 to 1-2 lead at the break, helped by a series of two-pointers from Michael Langan and Michael Murphy.
Murphy was lucky to still be on the field however as some late and dangerous punches around the head of Dylan Casey were picked up and shown by TG4′s matchday coverage. Referee David Gough issued a yellow card, so the Glenswilly man may escape any potential further punishment.
In the second half, Donegal had an unbelievable period when they hit three goals in as many minutes. After a long period of probing, Conor O’Donnell was sent through by Langan and roofed a shot to the net.
A minute later, Murphy pinched a handpass from Mark O’Shea to Jason Foley and finished neatly into the corner.
And from the next play, a strong run by Max Campbell opened up the Kerry defence and he passed to Caolan McGonagle, whose shot dipped under the crossbar.
And still Donegal came with more, tacking on five unanswered points, making it 3-5 without any Kerry response.
When the game was over, Kerry put some respectability on the scoreline. They went from 1-3 to 2-10 in the last 14 minutes.
But this day was all about Donegal. Practically all the areas of concern from the All-Ireland final were addressed. They won more than their share of kickouts. They went man for man in a marking formation. They tried Caolan McColgan on David Clifford and he scored a mere 1-1, a pittance by the Fossa man’s standards.
Kerry will do what they always do. Manager Jack O’Connor said afterwards that the previous weekend in Armagh had been a serious exertion and he raised a familiar objection around the playing of three championships within their county.
Will it matter in the inevitable summer meeting? Not to Kerry.
But Donegal’s need was greater. They couldn’t afford to let Kerry beat them in a final in Croke Park again.
Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 1-5 (2 2pt free), Michael Langan 0-6 ( 2 2pt play), Conor O’Donnell 1-1, Ryan McHugh 0-3, Caolan McGonagle 1-0, Max Campbell 0-3, Peader Mogan, Finbarr Roarty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: David Clifford 1-1, Keith Evans 1-1, Armin Heinrich 0-2, Paul Geaney 0-2 (1 2pt play), Tom O’Sullivan, Sean O’Shea, Dylan Geaney, Tomás Kennedy 0-1 each.
Donegal
1. Gavin Mulreany (St Naul’s)
2. Caolan McColgan (Muff) 3. Brendan McCole (St Naul’s) 4. Eoghan Bán Gallagher (Killybegs)
5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar) 6. Caolan McGonagle (Buncrana) 12. Peader Mogan (St Nual’s)
8. Jason McGee (Corduff) 9. Hugh McFadden (Killybegs)
10. Shane O’Donnell (St Eunan’s) 11. Michael Langan (St Michael’s) 26. Max Campbell (Naomh Conaill)
13. Conor O’Donnell (Cardonagh) 14. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly) 15. Shea Malone (Naomh Conaill)
Subs:
7. Finbarr Roarty (Naomh Conaill) for Murphy (56m)
17. Stephen McMenamin (Red Hughs) for Malone (60m)
22. Seán Martin (Seán Mac Cumhaills) for Campbell (63m)
24. Eoin McHugh (Kilcar) for Ryan McHugh (64m)
Kerry
1. Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes)
5. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle) 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue) 4. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks)
6. Mike Breen (Beaufort) 17. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe), 7. Armin Heinrich (Austin Stacks)
8. Mark O’Shea (Dr Crokes) 10. Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks)
20. Liam Smith (Glenbeigh/Glencar) 11. Seán O’Shea (Kenmare) 12. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid)
13. Dylan Geaney (Dingle) 14. David Clifford (Fossa) 15. Keith Evans (Keel)
Subs:
25. Tomás Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahilly) for Smith (32m)
19. Miceál Burns (Dr Crokes) for O’Sullivan (46m)
24. Tom Leo O’Sullivan (Dingle) for Foley (53m)
26. Paul Geaney (Dingle) for Dylan Geaney (56m)
18. Cillian Trant (St Senan’s) for Evans (60m)
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
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dish served cold GAA Gaelic Football League Final