Here we go again, back to Croke Park with another All-Ireland final spot up for grabs.
After Dublin’s emphatic win over Mayo at HQ yesterday, Kerry and Tyrone go head-to-head in today’s second semi-final. Who will it be trying to stop the Drive for Five on Sunday, 1 September?
Throw-in for today’s clash is 3.30pm, and it’s live on RTÉ 2 and Sky Sports Arena. Stay with us here for all the action too, though.
The minor match is finishing up, with Galway one point up. Remember, Kerry are chasing six in-a-row here. One minute on the clock.
FT: Galway 0-14 Kerry 0-13
Some win for the Tribe’s minor side, and the scenes in Croke Park say it all! That’s the six in-a-row dream over for Kerry.
After Cork’s semi-final win over Mayo yesterday, the Rebels and Galway will go head-to-head in this year’s minor decider.
Right, the senior game… before all else, who do you think will win this evening? How will it go?
Poll Results:
Here’s how the teams have been named to start. As usual though, prepare for late changes.
Kerry
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
3. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)
7. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
9. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe)
10. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)
11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare)
12. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
13. David Clifford (Fossa)
14. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
15. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
2. Hugh Pat McGeary (Pomeroy)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
4. Rory Brennan (Trillick)
5. Michael McKiernan (Coalisland)
6. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
7. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)
8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)
9. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan)
10. Matthew Donnelly (Trillick)
11. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
12.Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran)
13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
14. Cathal McShane (Owen Roe)
15. Conor Meyler (Omagh)
As we thought, there are changes…
One for Kerry — Brian Ó Beaglaoich starts in place of Gavin White.
Three for Tyrone — Richard Donnelly, Padraig Hampsey and Michael Cassidy in; Hugh Pat McGeary, Brian Kennedy and Darren McCurry.
Kerry fans will be delighted to see this man ready to go again.
David Clifford missed his side’s final Super 8s clash against Meath due to a back injury, but he’s back and looked to be moving nicely through the warm-up today.
On that note, some pre-match reading…
- Here, Sinéad Farrell spoke to former Kerry footballer Sean O’Sullivan and Gary McGrath of the Sem, who recalled their days of coaching David Clifford:
‘His running style was actually slowing him down. They basically retaught him how to run’
- A Fintan O’Toole preview as Peter Keane and Mickey Harte bring their teams into action this afternoon:
All-Ireland final place on the line for Kerry and Tyrone as Dublin watch on
'In general, you've got a lot of guys who are only out of minor' - Seán Cavanagh and Mike Quirke preview Tyrone versus Kerry #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/2VgGyXzjTm
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 11, 2019
The parade is underway with the starting sides marching around the pitch. We’re nowhere near the full-house Croker saw yesterday, but the atmosphere is good. Nearly time to go.
Anthems sang, the very last preparations are being put in and Maurice Deegan is preparing for throw in. Tyrone play from right to left after winning the toss.
THROW-IN: Kerry 0-0 Tyrone 0-0
We’re off, and Kerry win the throw-in. Tom O’Sullivan is awarded a free from the off, he plays it in towards David Clifford but the Fossa man is cut out.
Kerry 0-0 Tyrone 0-0
Tyrone take control thereafter, comfortably playing the ball around but nothing comes off their first attack. It’s over to Kerry then, and they do the same with a patient build-up, pretty much every player on the pitch getting a feel for the ball.
Their first effort sees a Clifford shot from distance go wide.
Tyrone 0-1 Kerry 0-0
The wait goes on for the game’s first score, both teams trying to be creative with promising long balls in but they’re cut out…
Just like that, Tyrone take the lead; the score coming from Michael McKiernan. Patient build-up and a brilliant team score. Nice.
Tyrone 0-1 Kerry 0-1
Kerry draw level through a Clifford free. An easy one to give away, Mickey Harte won’t be too happy.
Tyrone 0-2 Kerry 0-1
Cathal McShane grabs his first of the day into the Hill end.
Tyrone 0-3 Kerry 0-1
And another, this one from Mattie Donnelly. Another nice score from play, but it came after Kerry lost their own kick-out. The Kingdom defence is already looking very exposed.
Tyrone 0-3 Kerry 0-1
Rings of Olé, olé, olé around the ground; you’d presume from the Tyrone fans as they’re loving this. The Red Hand played a dangerous ball in there to an isolated forward, but no… Kerry need to settle here.
Tyrone 0-3 Kerry 0-3
They do just that, and all of a sudden the teams are level. First a Sean O’Shea free, and then after that, Niall Morgan’s shocking kick-out falls to Paul Geaney. The Dingle man boots over from distance.
Tyrone 0-4 Kerry 0-3
Morgan redeems himself with a well-taken 45, and the Red Hand are back in front.
Tyrone 0-4 Kerry 0-3
Bit of off-the-ball action there. Kerry’s Sean O’Shea had done brilliantly to win a kick-out and then a free, but reacted to the Tyrone player at hand and the ball got thrown up. Bit of bite to this now, it’s heating up.
Tyrone 0-4 Kerry 0-4
Super score from that man David Clifford. We’re level again.
Tyrone 0-5 Kerry 0-4
This game has taken off, it must be said. It’s gotten much more lively over the past few minutes. A promising attack from Tyrone sees Niall Sludden find himself in space, he taps the ball over the bar to put his side back in front.
Tyrone 0-5 Kerry 0-4
Mistakes a plenty here, both sides turning the ball over time and time again. Little between them, that said. Some brilliant defensive work from Tyrone there – two scoring opportunities from Kerry and two outstanding blocks put in. Cavanagh with the first, I think.
Tyrone 0-6 Kerry 0-4
Cathal McShane with a super score from play, followed by a Clifford wide at the other end.
Tyrone 0-6 Kerry 0-5
Tom O’Sullivan with a stunning outside-of-the boot effort, but it hits the post. Hampsey gathers under pressure from Geaney, but the ball goes out for a 45. O’Shea converts after seven minutes since their last score.
Tyrone 0-7 Kerry 0-5
Michael Cassidy wins a kick-out, gives it off to Sludden and the ball is played in to McShane. The Owen Roe man kicks his third from play. Kerry can’t handle him inside.
Tyrone 0-7 Kerry 0-5
Tyrone have set up very well defensively, locking Kerry out. Another two wides from Geaney and O’Shea there. Here’s a look back at an earlier Clifford point as they go in search of another:
David Clifford slots it over the bar brilliantly for @Kerry_Official pic.twitter.com/FqVqmjEr9z
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 11, 2019
Tyrone 0-7 Kerry 0-5
Anything Tyrone can do, Kerry can too; Shane Enright with a brilliant block to stop another almost-certain Red Hand score. Tyrone are playing much better than the Kingdom here though, they’re so dangerous if they get the ball in to McShane.
Tyrone 0-8 Kerry 0-5
Textbook football from Tyrone, it’s all too easy. From the kickout right through to Burns to McShane to Donnelly — they get their eighth.
The sweeper system Kerry are trying to play really isn’t working.
Tyrone 0-9 Kerry 0-5
Sludden with Tyrone’s latest, brilliant work from Cavanagh around the middle in the build-up. They’re dominating the aerial battles for the kick-outs, for sure.
A frustrating afternoon for Kerry at HQ so far. Peter Keane doesn’t look too happy on the line. Just five scores from 12 attacks (or efforts from play perhaps?), Dessie Dolan informs us on RTÉ, compared to Tyrone’s seven scores from eight.
Two minutes added on
Tyrone 0-9 Kerry 0-5
Tyrone’s experience is really showing here, their game management is going to plan. They’re comfortable just throwing the ball around, while Kerry are all over the place.
33,848 the attendance in Croke Park.
HALF-TIME: Tyrone 0-9 Kerry 0-5
Not the best half of football to watch, was it? Kerry really need to sort it out at half-time, that’s for sure. What are we thinking at home?
Watch all the Half-Time highlights from Kerry v Tyrone in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final here on GAANOW. pic.twitter.com/hkCOxWnITw
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 11, 2019
Kerry are out on the field and ready to go again… will Tyrone leave them waiting for long?
Ah no, here they come…
SECOND-HALF: Tyrone 0-9 Kerry 0-5
We go again. Gavin White and Jack Sherwood in for Kerry, Spillane and Enright off, it seems.
Tyrone 0-9 Kerry 0-5
Some off-the-ball messing there between Geaney and Sludden, both see yellow for the scuffle. The Tyrone man is not happy after that. Kerry looking brighter, David Moran stepping up there and Geaney winning a free in.
Tyrone 0-9 Kerry 0-6
O’Shea strikes it over and into the Hill end to get the game’s first score of the second half.
Tyrone 0-9 Kerry 0-7
A Tyrone wide from Sludden, followed by a Geaney score at the other end. Great patience in the build-up there and nice work from O’Shea; the attack finally functioning properly. Wide for Tyrone there after what looked like a dangerous opportunity for a goal from McShane. Kerry looking brighter.
Tyrone 0-10 Kerry 0-7
Deegan adjudges that McShane was fouled on the run there, and he taps over the subsequent free.
Tyrone 0-10 Kerry 0-8
O’Shea restores the two-point difference with a straightforward free. Point number four from him.
Tyrone 0-11 Kerry 0-8
Better from Kerry as Moran fields and starts a promising attack. Stephen O’Brien’s effort drops short into the hands of Morgan though. Then, they concede a silly free at the other end – which McShane fires over.
Tyrone 0-11 Kerry 0-9
The free-taking battle of O’Shea and McShane continues – the former tapping over his latest. 0-5 each.
Talk about fielding, Richie Donelly with a superb catch around the middle to lift Tyrone.
Tyrone 0-11 Kerry 0-9
McShane feeling a little bit of pressure there, he missed his most recent free. Mistakes at the other end there, as O’Shea gives the ball straight to a white jersey with a patient build-up underway at the time.
Tyrone 0-11 Kerry 0-10
A first-ever championship point for substitute Jack Sherwood, and what an important one it was. It puts the minimum between the sides. A brilliant effort from the outside of the boot after patient, patient build-up.
Tyrone 0-11 Kerry 0-10
McShane misses another, are the tables turning? And at that, Tommy Walsh comes in to a huge reception. Jason Foley makes way, Gavin Crowley goes back in on Cathal McShane.
Tyrone 0-12 Kerry 0-10
Conor McAliskey in for Sludden, and with his first real involvement he fires over a lovely score. There are contentious calls in the build-up however, did the Tyrone player who gave the last pass overplay the ball?
Tyrone 0-12 Kerry 0-11
Moran with a beauty at the other end, he’s aided very well by Walsh in the run-up to that score. The respective benches definitely making their impact felt here.
Tyrone 0-12 Kerry 0-12
Clifford levels it! What a score that was. Walsh, again, did brilliantly but he gave it to the man in the better position. All square, all to play for.
GOAL! for Kerry (O’Brien, 56)
Kerry 1-12 Tyrone 0-12
By God, how important was that for Kerry? O’Brien rattles the net, the man from Kenmare turning the game around. Some super vision from Geaney beforehand.
Kerry 1-13 Tyrone 0-12
And he adds a point! What a turnaround courtesy of O’Brien there.
Dara Moynihan and Tiernan McCann are on. McGeary went off Tyrone-wise, unsure about Kerry sub.
Kerry 1-13 Tyrone 0-13
Morgan steadies the Tyrone ship with a 45.
It was all happening just before that, Walsh shown yellow. Killian Spillane was the Kerry player to make way for Moynihan, by the way.
Kerry 1-13 Tyrone 0-13
CLOSE! Tyrone really should have done better there; McShane played the ball across the goal for Peter Harte to palm in but it was weak in the end. Shane Ryan was fairly taken out of it in the process, but he’s all good and there was a yellow card dished out.
Kerry 1-14 Tyrone 0-13
Four points in it again, and it’s O’Shea who brilliantly fires over a placed ball from distance.
A look back at the all-important Kerry goal:
GOAL for @Kerry_Official !! Stephen O'Brien the scorer. pic.twitter.com/zjDqK90yN5
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 11, 2019
Kerry 1-15 Tyrone 0-13
Clifford with an excellent point to put five between the sides. Michael Cassidy is being helped out by the physio team, McCurry comes in. Can he make a late impression?
Kerry 1-15 Tyrone 0-13
A frustrated Tyrone outfit are giving away free after free. McAliskey sees yellow, and Walsh is the latest Kerry player taken down. No scores to report since…
Kerry 1-15 Tyrone 0-14
McShane brings it back to a four-point game; a brilliant curling effort from play. This game isn’t over just yet. Kerry are running the clock down with players down receiving treatment. Subs being ran on too, fresh legs welcome.
Kerry 1-15 Tyrone 0-15
Richie Donnelly puts three in it as the clock goes red. Six minutes added on.
Lyne replaces Crowley.
Kerry 1-16 Tyrone 0-15
Geaney with a magnificent point. His third of the day at a crucial, crucial stage. One minute of the six gone.
Kerry 1-16 Tyrone 0-16
McCurry brings the difference back to three. Grandstand finish here.
Kerry 1-17 Tyrone 0-16
Another from play from O’Brien, immense contribution today. Immense contribution all season. Incredible stuff.
Kerry 1-17 Tyrone 0-17
McShane free. Tyrone putting serious pressure on Ryan’s kick-outs, they know they have to. Jack Barry looks set to come on for Tom O’Sullivan.
Kerry 1-18 Tyrone 0-17
He’s into the thick of the action straight away, carries lifting his side.
CLIFFORD. What a score. His fifth of the afternoon. Kerry up by four, into the last minute of the sixth.
Stephen O’Brien leaves the field on a black card… worrying, considering what’s happened before this game.
Harte free, three in it.
FULL-TIME: Kerry 1-18 Tyrone 0-18
What a win for Kerry. Onward to the All-Ireland final against Dublin.
What about that for a turnaround? Stephen O’Brien’s quickfire 1-1 really changed that game, and he’s named man-of-the-match.
A different Kerry team in that second half, and their bench played a huge part in that win. Walsh and Sherwood both played massive roles coming on.
A definite worry going into the final, though.
Some happy Kerry men…
So that’s that, it’s Kerry hoping to stop Dublin’s Drive for Five on Sunday, 1 September. What a second-half turnaround. Here’s Fintan O’Toole’s report on The42, and we’ll have much more reaction, colour and analysis through the evening and into next week.
O’Brien goal inspires Kerry to victory over Tyrone and seals All-Ireland final place
Thanks for reading, take it easy.
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