Defeat for Dublin Senior Footballers against Kerry

DUBLIN 1-10 

KERRY 1-16

Dublin suffered their third reverse in four matches as they succumbed to champions Kerry by six points in their Allianz National Football League Division 1 clash at Croke Park on Saturday night.

It was Kerry that enjoyed a 0-9 to 0-6 interval advantage, largely courtesy of two-pointed scores from Seán O’Shea and David Clifford, in what was a curiously lethargic opening half devoid of the expected intensity. 

A Tony Brosnan goal early in the final quarter left Kerry leading by double scores and while Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne replied at the opposite end, Kerry withstood some late Dublin pressure to secure their second win of the campaign. 

The visitors that controlled possession in the opening minutes with an O’Shea two-pointer handing them a deserved lead in the 4th minute. 

A Tadhg Morley point increased the holders’ lead before Dublin finally got their scoreboard ticking over through a ‘45’ from captain Con O’Callaghan in the 9th minute.

A well-worked move saw Ross McGarry halve the home deficit three minutes later but Kerry’s ability to raise red flags was again evident in the 14th minute with David Clifford the scorer on this occasion. 

Points followed through Tony Brosnan and Graham O’Sullivan as Dublin found themselves five points in arrears by the 19th minute before O’Callaghan clipped over a free to offer some encouragement three minutes later. 

Kerry’s decision to play without a sweeper saw them suffocate the Dublin attack while remaining a threat at the opposite end and they gradually added to their lead through points from Cillian Trant and Clifford (free).  

The hosts were in need of inspiration at this stage and it duly arrived through a cracking two-pointed score from Ciarán Kilkenny in the 29th minute.

The hosts began to enjoy a greater degree of possession as the half evolved but their only further reward was an O’Callaghan free as they entered the break trailing by three points. 

Hopes of a Dublin comeback received a blow at the start of the second-half with the announcement of O’Callaghan’s substitution with Kerry arguably strengthening their hand through the introduction of Paul Murphy and Paudie Clifford.

The relatively pedestrian pace continued as David Clifford and Paddy Small traded points within three minutes of the resumption but a fine Brosnan point pushed the visitors four points clear by the 44th minute.

The Dr Crokes player spurned a glorious opportunity of netting five minutes later but veered a left-footed shot well wide of Evan Comerford’s right-hand upright with Niall Scully edging the Dubs that bit closer when pointing soon after. 

Brosnan was given another chance in the 56th minute and on this occasion he wasn’t so charitable as he fired home from ten yards, effectively settling the issue in the process. 

The Dubs continued to battle despite their precarious position and they raised hopes of an unlikely comeback as Small kicked a sublime two-pointer in the 64th minute. 

Within a minute, Ó Cofaigh Byrne hammered a goal past Shane Murphy following fine approach by Seán Bugler to reduce Dublin’s arrears to three points with the momentum fully at their backs.

However, the Kingdom kept calm in the closing minutes and O’Shea kicked another fine two-pointer in the 70th minute to secure his team’s victory.   

Scorers – Dublin: P Small (1 P2), C O’Callaghan (2f, ’45) 0-3 each; P Ó Cofaigh byrne 1-0; C Kilkenny 0-2 (P2); R McGarry, N Scully 0-1 apiece. Kerry: T Brosnan 1-2; S O’Shea (2 P2), D Clifford (1 P2, 1f) 0-4 each; T O’Sullivan 0-2; T Morley, G O’Sullivan, P Clifford, C Trant 0-1 apiece.  

Dublin: E Comerford; E Murchan, N Doran, D Byrne; N Scully, C McMorrow, A Gavin; B Howard, P Ó Cofaigh Byrne; R McGarry, S Bugler, C Kilkenny; P Small, C O’Callaghan, L O’Dell. Subs: S MacMahon for Doran (34), J Quigley for O’Callaghan (half-time), L Breathnach for O’Dell (43), K McGinnis for McGarry (45), C Tyrrell for Gavin (62). 

Kerry: S Murphy; E Looney, J Foley, D Casey; A Heinrich, T Morley, G O’Sullivan; J O’Connor, M O’Shea; C Trant, S O’Shea, M Burns; T Brosnan, D Clifford, K Evans. Subs: P Murphy for Looney (half-time), P Clifford for Burns (half-time), D O’Sullivan for Trant (54), T O’Sullivan for G O’Sullivan (54), L Smith for M O’Shea (63). 

Referee:  Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).