Kerry claimed the Allianz National League Division One title in thrilling fashion in Croke Park today, beating Galway by a single point, 3-11 to 1-16, as both sides' sparkling attacking play reaffirming the widely-held belief that they'll both be major forces in this summer's Championship.
Johnny Crowley, who scored two great goals from play, Colm Cooper and Mike Frank Russell were superb for Kerry, while Pádhraic Joyce, Michael Donnellan and, in the latter stages, Michael Meehan almost did enough to secure a win for the Tribesmen in what was an extremely tightly fought, yet high quality encounter.
Right from the offset it was clear that this was going to be a treat for the purists, with both teams endeavouring to instigate free-flowing passing movements at every opportunity. A neat Joe Bergin finish put John O'Mahony's men in front in the first minute, only for Russell to quickly equalise.
Pádhraic Joyce ended a dashing solo run with an equally stylish point to put Galway back in the lead before the recalled Crowley notched the first of his three-pointers in the seventh minute after collecting Cooper's clever fisted pass.
Galway responded with a point from play from Matthew Clancy before Joyce skipped away from the flailing Mike McCarthy to hit a trademark curling left shot over the bar from the wing.
Seamus Moynihan earned a free in front of the posts for Kerry, which Russell easily converted to put his team in the ascendancy once more. Galway were back on parity in the 18th minute, though, thanks to a Seán Óg de Paor point.
Kerry edged ahead through points from Tomás Ó Sé and Russell, the latter courtesy of a magnificently judged pass from Declan O'Sullivan, who impressed throughout despite not getting on the scoresheet.
Typical of the skilful fare on offer, Declan Meehan finished off another textbook passing movement with a well-taken point in the 23rd minute.
Donnellan levelled matters once more in the 26th minute (0-07 to 1-04), when he could have perhaps elected to go for goal. But Galway found themselves three points adrift after Russell (free), Eoin Brosnan and Liam Hassett put Jack O'Connor's troops back on top.
Tommy and Pádhraic Joyce linked well moments later as the former All Star plucked another awe-inspiring point from his repertoire. Pádhraic's attacking flair, however, was matched all day by his Kerry counterparts. And Cooper was arguably the pick of the bunch, pouncing on a breaking ball to point and restore that three point margin.
Kerry led by just two at the break (1-08 to 0-09), though, after Joyce converted a free from his hands.
More Cooper magic freed Russell early in the second half, however, his rasping shot on goal hit the upright and unluckily didn't even go over for a point.
Bursting through on goal in the 42nd minute, the Galway defence perhaps wisely chose to foul Crowley. Nevertheless, Russell pointed the resulting free. Kerry's incisive passing then exposed Galway's rearguard but Ó Sé's goal attempt went wide.
Donnellan added two more points to put Galway withhin a score of last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists – one of those points the product of some intuitive passing by Michael Meehan and Joyce. Soon after, Russell fisted over the bar after another Tomás Ó Sé-initiated raid.
Declan Meehan saw his side-footed shot saved well by Diarmuid Murphy, however, Crowley made no mistake in the 56th minute when more skill from Cooper produced the opening. 'Gooch' managed to field a long Declan O'Sullivan pass and looked to be fouled in the process. However, instead of going down easily, he fended off his assailant and fed Crowley, who was left with the relatively simple task of burying the ball to the back of the net.
Substitute Nicky Joyce's first point of the match in the 53rd minute closed the gap to one yet again (0-12 to 1-10).
An Eoin Brosnan point quickly followed for Kerry and they looked like they might run out easy winners when, in the 61st minute, Crowely again caused consternation in the Galway defence after a great pass from Seamus Moynihan. Crowley was fouled and referee Pat McEneaney rightly awarded a penalty, which Russell dispatched with aplomb to put Kerry 3-11 to 0-12 in front.
But a mistake from McCarthy, easily one of Kerry's poorer players on the day, gave Galway some hope. Under little pressure, he inexplicably fisted the ball straight to Donnellan, who netted to set up an exciting finale.
Points from the three Joyces (substitute Nicky, Padhraic and Tommy) and Donnellan followed in the closing stages, however, Kerry held on to win by the narrowest of margins.
SCORECARD:
Galway 1-16 -- 3-11 Kerry
Galway scores: Bergin (0-01) P Joyce (0-05 -3f) M Clancy (0-01) S de Paor (0-01) D Meehan (0-01) Donnellan (1-04-1f) N Joyce (0-02) T Joyce (0-01)
Kerry scores: Russell (1-06 - 3f, 1pen) T Ó Sé (0-01) Brosnan (0-02) Hassett (0-01) Cooper (0-01) Crowley (2-00)
Filed by James Boylan
