Kerry 3-7
Galway 0-9
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
THE REIGN KERRY have exerted over the All-Ireland minor football grade continued this afternoon at Croke Park as their ability to poach goals proved crucial in the final against Galway.
It took Kerry some time to shake off the determined challenge of their Connacht opponents as the margin was cut to two points, 2-4 to 0-8, with seven minutes left on the clock.
However in the finale Kerry outscored Galway 1-3 to 0-1 and that scoring burst sealed a third successive All-Ireland minor title for the Kingdom.
The third goal was a strike befitting the occasion of an All-Ireland final day. It arrived in the 53rd minute and the supplier was no surprise in the star man of Kerry’s 2016 campaign, David Clifford.
He hadn’t enjoyed a prolific day in front of the posts and was still scoreless when he collected the ball in front of the Cusack Stand. But the Fossa youngster atoned for previous misses by surging through, soloing the ball with his left foot and then rifling the ball with his right foot to the top corner of the net.
Kerry’s other two goals had been crucial, proving the bedrock of their challenge. They arrived in the first-half and considering there were only six scores in that opening period, Kerry’s strikes to the net were critical.
The first arrived in the 18th minute – only the second score of the game – when Sean O’Shea’s point effort dropped short and Diarmuid O’Connor rushed in to fist the ball to the net.
In the 21st minute they raised another green flag, Clifford fetching a delivery and offloading to David Shaw who finished neatly to the net. At the interval it was 2-2 to 0-2 in favour of Kerry and Galway were struggling to get going.
But the Tribesmen pieced together a series of good moves in the third quarter. They shot 0-4 in that time frame and only conceded a single point. By the close of the third quarter it was Kerry in front 2-3 to 0-6 but Galway were well in contention.
Yet Peter Keane’s Kerry charges closed the game out successfully in the final quarter. Captain Sean O’Shea and man-of-the-match Dara Moynihan got through an amount of work as Kerry cleverly retained possession.
Clifford’s goal was crucial while Galway did not come close to rattling the net at the other end. The Tribesmen also lost midfielder John Maher when he was sent-off after being shown a second yellow card. Points from Moynihan, substitute Cormac Linnane and O’Shea sealed victory to ensure Kerry’s vibrant underage football scene continues to prosper.
Scorers for Kerry: David Shaw 1-1, David Clifford, Diarmuid O’Connor 1-0 each, Sean O’Shea (0-2f), Dara Moynihan 0-2 each, Niall Collins, Cormac Linnane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Robert Finnerty 0-3 (0-2f), Desmond Conneely 0-2 (0-2f), Adam Quirke, Céin D’Arcy, Ryan Forde, Rory Cunningham 0-1 each.
Kerry
1. Billy Courtney (Dr. Crokes)
2. David Naughten (Dr. Crokes)
3. Niall Collins (Listowel Emmets)
4. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses)
5. Michael Potts (Dr. Crokes)
6. Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk)
7. Micheál Foley (Ballydonoghue)
8. Mike Breen (Beaufort)
9. Mark Ryan (Rathmore)
10. Dara Moynihan (Spa)
11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare)
12. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil)
13. David Clifford (Fossa)
14. David Shaw (Dr. Crokes)
15. Brian Friel (Rathmore)
Subs
23. Cormac Linnane (Beale) for Friel (48)
21. Caolim Teahan (Glenbeigh-Glencar) for Collins (54)
17. Bryan Sweeney (Listowel Emmets) for Shaw (59)
18. Kieran Dwyer (St Pat’s Blennerville) for Foley (64)
22. Stefan Okunbor (Na Gaeil) for O’Connor (66)
Galway
1. Cormac Haslam (Glenamaddy)
24. Céin D’Arcy (Caherlistrane)
3. Seán Mulkerrin (Aran Islands)
4. Eoin McFadden (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
5. Adam Quirke (Annaghdown)
6. Ernán McDonagh (Bearna)
7. Fionnán Garvey (Monivea-Abbey)
8. Seán Raftery (Glenamaddy)
9. John Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
10. Finian Ó’ Laoi (An Spidéal)
11. Evan Murphy (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
12. Ryan Forde (Annaghdown)
13. Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
14. Desmond Conneely (Moycullen)
15. Barry Goldrick (Claregalway)
Subs
18. Barry Goldrick (Claregalway) for Murphy (37)
17. Ross Murphy (Barna) for Conneely (49)
22. Rory Cunningham (St Brendan’s) for Finnerty (55)
19. Eoghan Deeley (Salthill-Knocknacarra) for Garvey (57)
Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down)
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