Kerry 0-21
Galway 1-14
Paul Keane reports from Croke Park
KERRY CAME GOOD when it counted at Croke Park, outscoring Galway by four points in the closing minutes, to make history as five-in-a-row All-Ireland minor winners.
Boss Peter Keane, who has led Kerry to the last three minor titles and is a contender for the senior vacancy, looked on in anguish as his team fell seven points behind initially.
They leaked 1-7 without reply between the 11th and 26th minutes but strode towards history from there with a commanding display.
Killian Falvey hit four points and was named Man of the Match though his forward colleagues Paul O’Shea and Paul Walsh were also excellent.
Midfielder Darragh Rahilly had a standout performance too, helping Kerry to gain a vital foothold in the area after a shaky start.
The achievement comes with a small asterisk as this is the first year of the new U-17 age grade.
It’s Kerry’s 16th title in all while Galway, who were aiming for a football-hurling double, were chasing a seventh having last won in 2007.
Donal O Fatharta’s Connacht champions fell 0-4 to 0-1 down but stormed back with that 1-7 blitzkrieg including a 25th minute Tony Gill goal.
But Kerry finished the first-half strong, pulling back four points to trail by just 1-9 to 0-8 at the interval.
Kerry’s resurgence continued after the break and the sides were level four times in the second-half before the holders pulled clear late on.
They outscored Galway by 0-5 to 0-1 from the 59th minute with Walsh, Falvey, inspirational sub Ruaidhri O Beaglaoich and Jack O’Connor all on the mark.
Kerry scorers: Killian Falvey 0-4, Paul Walsh 0-4 (0-1f), Darragh Rahilly 0-3, Ruaidhri O Beaglaoich 0-3, Paul O’Shea 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 45), Dylan Geaney 0-2, Dan McCarthy 0-1, Michael Lenihan 0-1, Jack O’Connor 0-1 (0-1f).
Galway scorers: Matthew Cooley 0-5 (0-4f), Tony Gill 1-0, Conor Raftery 0-2, Tomo Culhane 0-2, Ryan Monahan 0-1, Eoghan Tinney 0-1, Liam Judge 0-1, Paul Kelly 0-1, Oisin Gormley 0-1.
Kerry
1. Marc Kelliher (Glenflesk)
3. Owen Fitzgerald (Gniomh Go Leith)
5. Colm Moriarty (Annascaul)
2. Conor Flannery (Dingle)
6. Dan McCarthy (Kenmare)
7. Dan Murphy (Rathmore)
4. David Mangan (Fanuithe Na Leamhna)
9. Darragh Lyne (Killarney Legion)
11. Paul O’Shea (Kilcummin, captain)
8. Darragh Rahilly (Rathmore)
14. Patrick D’Arcy (Glenflesk)
12. Killian Falvey (Annascaul)
13. Dylan Geaney (Dingle)
10. Paul Walsh (Brosna)
15. Michael Lenihan (Dr Crokes)
Subs:
17. Ruaidhri O Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht) for D’Arcy (42)
18. Kieran O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion) for Mangan (54)
21. Jack Kennelly (Ballydonoghue) for Lenihan (55)
19. Jack O’Connor (Beaufort) for Walsh (63)
Galway
1. Donie Halloran (Cortoon Shamrocks)
2. Ethan Walsh (Cortoon Shamrocks)
3. Sean Black (Clifden)
4. Cian Deane (Moycullen)
5. Ryan Monahan (Oughterard)
6. Tony Gill (Corofin
7. Cathal Sweeney (Salthill Knocknacarra)
8. Paul Kelly (Moycullen)
9. Conor Raftery (Glanamaddy, captain)
12. Sean Horkan (St Gabriels)
11. Aidan Halleran (Salthill Knocknacarra)
10. Liam Judge (Caherlistrane)
15. Matthew Cooley (Corofin)
14. Daniel Cox (Moycullen)
13. Eoghan Tinney (Salthill Knocknacarra)
Subs:
22. Tomo Culhane (Clane, Kildare) for Cox (18-20, blood)
21. Oisin McCormack (Ballinasloe) for Horkan (38)
Culhane for Cox (45)
20. Oisin Gormley (Bearna) for Halleran (47)
18. Conor Halbard (Corofin) for Sweeney (51)
19. Cian Hernon (Bearna) for Judge (55)
23. Eanna McCormack (An Cheathru Rua) for Cooley (64)
Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).
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Spot on.
I share the undercooked concern. Choose close to full team, rest anyone with a niggle or still jaded from last weeks heat. Warm ups are over, time to build momentum.
Murray; first of all, I have really enjoyed the podcasts so far from France, so thank you for that.
My amateur opinion is that they should go full strength and treat the SA game like a final. Even if it’s a narrow loss, they’ll know that they’re close to the standard required to win the competition. If they win, then the belief will become huge. You have to bear in mind that Ireland have had some less good performances last Autumn and in the 6N, but they’re kept winning and so surely they have that winning mindset. This is pretty rare and the winning run is worth fighting for.
One question for you would be about training. I’d be happy if they were having a few savage full contact sessions, as these may be tougher than a match against a tier 2 nation, but the squad size is restricted so this may not be possible. Would this be another argument for going full strength against Tonga? I’d really like to see the line out attack come back and to deny Tonga from scoring a try.
Maybe the answer to this in 4 years is to line up top opposition in friendlies leading into the world cup. I get they need to get the A team up to 100% preperation firing for the SA game but at the expense of picking up injuries again the minnows before then is a risky plan…
@Stuart: You are probably right… but I think the IRFU found it difficult to line up a game against other tier 1 nations. The England game was probably lined up from 4 years ago. Maybe they left it too late to arrange the others and it wouldn’t be extraordinary to think that they were disorganised or complacent.
@Stuart: apparently other top tier nations turned down playing against Ireland in the summer internationals. Not sure if they left it too late or if other teams felt it would show their hand too much.
In all likelihood yourself and the others on media duties are aware of the team (as normal) but cannot spell it out BUT you’re trying to slowly row your way back from the, way off, potential team you posted a few days ago…. Nice try. It’ll be about 12 from first 15 and Big Joe may be on his way to being first 15 with anyone carrying minor niggle sitting it out. Murray knew a few weeks ago Big Joe would get his shot
Are we not finding excuses to talk ourselves into the very same situation that killed us in previous world cups – ie no trust in the wider squad and thereby overloading the core group? What you are saying, Murray, is that should Ireland win the WC, they would play basically the same team for 6 matches in a row (with only minor alterations from the remaining 7th game). That’s a tough message to the squad and it does not fit the McCloskey inclusion.
@John Morris: nah, I dont think so. We played a weakened team vs Japan 4 yrs ago and look what happened. Plus we play our best team in 6 nations each game for most part with slight adjustments for Italy. Look at what southern hemisphere do – play their strongest team pretty much for rugby championship and some warm ups. And they win every world cup except 1. I think Murray’s article is very well put together and I would agree full strength is required. Its not equal game time for all, go games style. These are fully grown men playing professional sport so get on with it. They;; be called upon if injury strikes. Thats the idea of a squad of grown men
Gonna be an interesting call, they can probably win with a 2nd string side but agree we should put out close to our strongest . Only player I would definitely look to leave out from the 23 is Porter and keep him fresh for SA. We can bring in the likes of Baird , Henderson, Henshaw , McCloskey and Byrne (sub) and steam roll Tonga
@Owen ODonoghue: Spot on about Porter. He is the one player we cannot afford to lose to injury. Playing against SA without him would be scary.
@Owen ODonoghue: Getting hard to see Byrne in the mix, no doubt he’ll be thereabouts for this game tho.
We’re at risk of Eddie O’Sullivan 2007 territory here by playing the same team every weekend. Given the likely hard slog against Scotland and every weekend thereafter they need to rotate this weekend