1. Sheehan returns in style for Kerry
There was plenty focus today on Colm Cooper returning to Kerry’s championship starting fifteen and James O’Donoghue returning to action for the Kingdom. But it was another returning player who was instrumental in the victory.
Kerry had plenty shaky moments in the opening stages but Bryan Sheehan settled them down more than most. Last August Sheehan limped off with an ankle injury in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway. He never got back into the starting team after that with David Moran soaring to Allstar heights.
Sheehan struck 0-5 today and made an important contribution in preventing Tipperary establish a dominant midfield platform. It was a timely reminder to Eamonn Fitzmaurice of what Sheehan has to offer.
2. Mayo win without ever hitting top gear
Mayo closed in another Connacht title but Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes will find plenty to improve upon in a performance which was good without being great. For one thing, it was the first time that Mayo have conceded two goals in a 70-minute provincial tie since the 2008 Connacht final defeat.
Aidan O’Shea was a standout performer while the returning Cillian O’Connor, who scored 0-9, was invaluable. When Danny Cummins’ goal threatened to make a game of it in the final quarter, Mayo showed all of their experience to steady the ship and snuff out any hope of a Galway revival.
Despite defeat — and the manner in which they contributed to their own undoing — Galway boss Kevin Walsh will find plenty of positives in his side’s performance. They matched Mayo for the first 35 minutes before a stuttering start to the second half saw them concede 1-3 in five minutes, a blow from which they never recovered.
3. Injuries cost Clare and Cork capitalise
Clare gave Kerry a really stern examination 12 months ago at the Munster semi-final stage. But their hopes of repeating that against Cork today were irreversibly damaged by the fact that they were without players who had contributed 1-10 of their 1-13 tally last June.
Injuries cost Clare as they were robbed of Shane McGrath, David Tubridy, Podge Collins, Shane Brennan and Martin O’Leary. They didn’t have the resources to cope and suffered against a Cork who did a professional job.
Cork will have learned little but at least the success will improve morale in the wake of their league final hiding. Getting Alan and Donncha O’Connor back into action was another boost.
4. Relentless Donegal make Ulster look weak
We’ll have to wait a few weeks before we truly judge Armagh — Kieran McGeeney teams usually have a knack for the qualifiers — but there’s no denying that they were made to look perfectly ordinary by Donegal today.
Armagh’s downfall was partly of their own making, a combination of head-scratching tactics and stubborn inflexibility, and partly because they could not live with Donegal. The reigning champions burst out of the traps and had effectively put the bed to game inside 27 minutes when they went 1-7 to 0-1 ahead.
Their goal came after just two minutes through the excellent Paddy McBrearty and from that point, Armagh were always facing an uphill battle but Donegal wasted no time in making sure of victory.
Rory Gallagher’s side only scored 1-2 in the second half as they switched to a control and contain approach but that won’t worry them. Armagh were supposed to present a stern test but this was nothing of the sort.
5. More disappointment for Tipperary but they’re closing the gap
Another provincial campaign ended for the Tipperary footballers today without making the breakthrough they crave of contesting or winning a Munster final. They fell six points short against Kerry with regrets over the concession of those first-half goals, some costly misses and their lethargic spell after half-time.
Yet they hung in gamely to ensure the roof never caved in during the second-half today. Two years ago Tipperary collapsed against Kerry and suffered a 17-point defeat that manager Peter Creedon branded as ‘embarrassing’.
They never let a repeat materialise today and have provided sufficient evidence that they are closing the gap. It should help fuel their qualifier journey.
6. Meath survive an opening scare at home
At home to a Division 4 outfit, Meath would have been expected to canter to glory in their Leinster opener today. But Wicklow proved dogged opponents and a team possessing six debutants had a tough start to championship 2015.
The attacking prowess of Andrew Tormey, Graham Reilly and Bryan McMahon proved crucial in the end as they hit a combined 2-16. It wasn’t a flawless start and there’s plenty scope for improvement before their Leinster semi-final on 28 June against Westmeath.
