The class of Colm Cooper told in Tralee tonight, as the ‘Gooch’ hit six points to guide Kerry to a comfortable 0-13 to 0-09 defeat of Offaly - the Kingdom's fourth straight win in NFL Division 1A.
The class of Colm Cooper told in Tralee tonight, as the ‘Gooch’ hit six points to guide Kerry to a comfortable 0-13 to 0-09 defeat of Offaly - the Kingdom's fourth straight win in NFL Division 1A.
Dr Crokes clubman Cooper, now noticeably bulkier but as elusive as ever, continued his impressive league form, firing over the game's final two points to crown an eye-catching display.
He had his marker Nigel Grennan in knots and Cooper's sixth and final effort in injury-time was full evidence of that. Cooper soloed onto his right, then his left, and cut inside leaving Grennan floundering on the turf to fist over from close range.
Another plus point for Kerry - ahead of next weekend's clash with All-Ireland champions Tyrone - was the performance of Paul Galvin, who came off the bench to score two points. The Finuge clubman, who was originally suspended for six months following incidents in a club game last November, was reinstated following an appeal to the North Kerry Board.
Having served 13 weeks of his suspension, Galvin wrote to the Board asking for a reinstatement and he got his wish at a full delegate meeting of the North Kerry Board on Thursday night.
Tonight's result sees Kerry join Mayo on eight points at the top of the Division 1A table, but it was Kevin Kilmurray's Offaly side who began the brighter at Austin Stack Park. Tomas Deehan and Pascal Kellaghan pointed from play to hand the Faithfuls a 0-02 to 0-00 lead inside three minutes.
Cooper quickly levelled, scoring with his first touch in open play and slotting over an eighth-minute free. Niall McNamee, who seemed to be getting the better of his marker Marc O'Se, then pointed twice and Deehan added a free for a 0-05 to 0-02 lead for the visitors.
Kerry though, awoke from their slumber to fire over four unanswered points to hit the front for the first time and take a 0-06 to 0-05 buffer into the break. Sean O'Sullivan raised two white flags - one from play - and Cooper dinked over his second free on the half-hour.
Offaly, without a win since the league's opening day, again started smartly in the second half. Ciaran McManus traded points with Eamonn Fitzmaurice to keep it to a minimum and when the former's point attempt drifted back out off an upright on 40 minutes, Kerry 'keeper Diarmuid Murphy had to react quickly to palm away a fisted goal effort from McNamee on the rebound.
With Dara O'Se and local lad Kieran Donaghy gradually taking control of midfield, Kerry managed to go three points clear with Cooper (free) and substitute Galvin, on for Sean O'Sullivan, scoring. Cooper and Mike Frank Russell, who was forced to start from the bench with Ronan O'Connor taking his place at the top of the left, combined to set Galvin up for his score.
0-06 to 0-09 down, Offaly maintained their interest with Deehan kicking his third and fourth points of the night. In between, the Faithfuls really should have had a goal. Murphy came out of his goal to claim a high ball, missed it - Offaly substitute Sean Ryan scooped up the loose ball but he badly screwed his shot to the left and wide from 10 yards out.
Galvin's second point steadied Kerry on the hour mark. Centre back Aidan O'Mahony then thundered up the field to notch a well-deserved point and push Kerry 0-11 to 0-08 clear. Deehan replied with his fifth score, but the clinical Cooper wrapped up the points for the blue-shirted Kerrymen with his two late scores.
Scorers
Kerry: C Cooper 0-06 (3f), S O’Sullivan (1f), P Galvin 0-02 each, D O’Sullivan, E Fitzmaurice, A O’Mahony 0-01 each
Offaly: T Deehan 0-05 (2f), N McNamee 0-02, C McManus, P Kellaghan 0-01 each
