Kerry 1-20
Galway 2-10
KERRY ARE THROUGH to their third All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-finals in four years after over-coming a spirited Galway side in their quarter-final clash in Croke Park this afternoon.
It was wayward shooting (10 wides) in the opening period that cost Galway and, while possession may be nine tenths of the law, it had very little impact on the first quarter of this game as the Tribesmen dominated with 67% of the football and only five wides to show in return.
Kerry on the other hand were leathal in the first half; James O’Donoghue’s brilliantly taken goal their fourth score from four attempts following points by Donnchadh Walsh, David Moran and Michael Geaney to make it 1-3 to no score after 12 minutes.
The Kingdom added scores from O’Donoghue and Declan O’Sullivan before Michael Lundy finally forced the umpires to raise a white flag in Galway’s favour though a comeback looked unlikely at that stage as the wides continued to mount.
However, after Gareth Bradshaw and Shane Walsh scored either side of a Paul Geaney point, Galway’s Thomas Flynn scored a superb solo goal, sprinting upfield from his own ’65 and firing a left-foot shot past Brian Kelly before Johnny Buckley pointed at the other end to send his side into the break with a 1-8 to 1-3 lead.
The second half started much the same as the first with Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s men dominating on the scoreboard, Buckley’s second point of the game stretching their lead to seven.
However, Galway came back again, this time Lundy side-stepping Kelly to roll the ball into the net, Shane Walsh’s point from the ensuing kickout making it a two point game on 42 minutes; 1-11 to 2-6.
With twenty minutes remaining, O’Donoghue had a chance to put the game to bed but, with the Galway defence at sixes and sevens, the Killarney Legion man somehow sent his shot wide.
With time ticking away, Galway were unable to grab the third goal they so badly needed – despite two very good chances at the death – and well-taken scores from O’Donoghue, Barry John Keane and Kieran O’Leary ensured a seven point win and a semi-final spot.
Scorers for Kerry: James O’Donoghue 1-5, Paul Geaney 0-4 (0-1f), Barry John Keane 0-3, Johnny Buckley 0-2 (0-1f), Donnchadh Walsh 0-2, David Moran, Kieran O’Leary, Michael Geaney and Declan O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 0-5 (0-3f), Michael Lundy 1-1, Thomas Flynn 1-0, Gareth Bradshaw 0-2, Damien Comer and Paul Conroy 0-1 each.
KERRY
1. Brian Kelly Killarney (Legion)
2. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Killian Young (Renard)
7. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes, captain)
8. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
9. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s)
10. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
11. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
13. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
14. Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses)
15. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)
Subs: 19. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahilly’s) for Sheehan (5), 17. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers) for O’Mahony (46), 18. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh Glencar) for O’Sullivan (52), 21. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Buckley (55), 20. Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes) for Walsh (59), 24. Mark Griffin (St Michael’s Foilmore) for Ó Sé (65).
GALWAY
1. Tomás Healy (Corofin)
2. Donal O’Neill (Cortoon Shamrocks)
3. Finian Hanley (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
4. Joss Moore (Mountbellew-Moylough)
5. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
6. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)
7. Paul Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks)
8. Fiontán O’Curraoin (Micheal Breathnach)
9. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
10. Michael Lundy (Corofin)
11. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
23. John O’Brien (Clifden)
13. Michael Martin (Miltown)
14. Paul Conroy (St James – Captain)
15. Danny Cummins (Claregalway)
Subs: 22. Sean Armstrong (Salthill-Knocknacarra) for Cummins (HT), 25. Damien Comer (Annaghdown) for O’Brien (half-time), 12. Keith Kelly (Ballinasloe) for Moore (49), 24. Eddie Hoare (St Michael’s) for Martin (56) 20. Cathal Mulryan (Cortoon Shamrocks) for Varley (66).
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).
