Dublin 2-14
Kerry 0-14
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
DUBLIN BEGAN 2016 in Croke Park in the same manner that they concluded 2015, claiming a victory over Kerry.
Tonight’s win didn’t prompt the level of euphoria that last September did but it was still a satisfactory league start for Jim Gavin’s side.
Second-half goals from Paddy Andrews and Diarmuid Connolly broke this game open but Dublin could have rattled the net far more often with both John Small and Jack McCaffrey blasting shots against the crossbar in the finale.
The teams were tied at 0-7 apiece at the break, Kerry recovering well from a 0-5 to 0-1 deficit that they faced in the 20th minute.
David Moran’s late first-half point granted Kerry parity at half-time yet Dublin accelerated clear after half-time with Andrews finishing precisely to the net in front of Hill 16 and Diarmuid Connolly confidently tucking home a penalty after James McCarthy was fouled by Kerry debutant Brian O Beaglaoich.
30,107 fans turned up for this match and saw Dublin stamp their intentions on the contest early on. Andrews, Dean Rock and Paul Mannion all looked dangerous early on with Dublin racking up five points in the opening 16 minutes.
Kerry were grateful to a fine Brendan Kealy save and another brave block by Moran to prevent them from conceding a goal in the opening period.
Gradually they gained a foothold in the game, scoring four of the last five points in the first-half, to provide a boost for manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice as they went into the dressing-rooms level.
But shipping goals in the 40th and 52nd minutes were blows that Kerry could not recover from. Dublin always had a healthy cushion on the scoreboard as a result of those strikes and ran out deserved victors.
Scorers for Dublin: Paddy Andrews 1-4, Dean Rock 0-7 (0-5f), Diarmuid Connolly 1-0, Tomas Brady, Paul Mannion, Cormac Costello 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: Barry John Keane 0-4 (0-4f), Darran O’Sullivan 0-3, David Moran 0-2 (0-1f), Stephen O’Brien, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh, Tommy Walsh, Brendan O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
DUBLIN
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
4. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
3. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
2. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
7. Davy Byrne (Ballymun Kickhams)
8. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
9. Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge Street)
10. Tomas Brady (Na Fianna)
11. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s)
12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
15. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
13. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s)
Subs
22. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf) for Davy Byrne (40)
24. Emmet Ó Conghaile (Lucan Sarsfields) for Bastick (49)
19. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille) for Brady (53)
25. Ciaran Reddin (St Maur’s) for Kilkenny (57)
23. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala) for Mannion (67)
KERRY
1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore)
2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
6. Killian Young (C) (Renard)
5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
7. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes)
8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
14. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
15. Philip O’Connor (Cordal)
9. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
13. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
11. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
Subs
19. Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh-Glencar) for Griffin (40)
17. Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion) for Donnchadh Walsh (black card) (45)
20. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia) for Buckley (53)
18. Padraig O’Connor (Killarney Legion) for Fitzgerald (53)
22. Gavan O’Grady (Glenbeigh-Glencar) for Keane (57)
26. Conor Cox (Listowel Emmetts) for Tommy Walsh (65)
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)
The score flattering Kerry. Dublin were truly dominant tonight.
Shooting boots on and Dublin could have been near 20 points clear
another victory over this kerry squad no negatives at all for dublin lovely stuff.
Hi Paul, yeah great game and fair play to the Dubs. Quick question for you though, did you go to the game?
Not sure which Paul you refer to but yes I was at the game, as I have been in Enniscorthy, St Brigid’s, Parnell Park and Longford already this year.
hi micky yes I was this is twice you have asked me this where is this going?
Why answer this disturbed begrudger. This fallacy that Dubs only go to finals is peddled by the get Dubs out of croker hate brigade. There was 30k fans at tonights game, for an open league game. Given that the capacity is 82000, divide that by 2, senior teams and 2 minor teams on playing on all Ireland final day, and the extraordinary level of business tickets distributed, means that Dublin’s ticket allocation on all Ireland final day is considerably less then 30k… Yet…. Can you do the rest!!!!
Agreed, I’ve already pointed out Sean, let’s see how many home fans turn out in Mayo, Down and Roscommon then let’s see how many turnout when Dublin aren’t in town
Get lost Micky. Whether somebody goes to a certain game or not is none of your business. Jog on.
Just to point out, that 30k figure included both Dublin and Kerry fans. I saw a good bit of the green and gold at the match last night, and I wasn’t even wearing any myself ;)
Keep dublin in croker for all games. Dont ruin the countryside with them .
Hi Sean, not begrudging at all, Dublin are a fantastic side who play great football at the moment and I enjoy going to as many games as I can. Was just asking Paul Dunne was he at the game, seeing as he knows everything about Gaa football.
hi micky you got your answer (twice ) now are you suggesting only those who attend games can comment ? I think even you would admit that would be just silly, also I don’t know everything about gaa football but what I do know is dublin are the superior outfit in the country for the last couple of years and the forseable future hope that clears thinks up for you micky.
Not at all Paul. Was asking a simple question, very touchy this weather, the troll mustn’t like the cold weather.
not touchy at all micky your living up to your name is all, and just to save a another couple of stupid questions next wwek will be in attendance next week also.
Very good performance considering it was the first game of the campaign.Good crowd too,30,000.In the 71 st minute one Kerry player and one Dub busting a gut chasing a ball into the corner.Top notch athletes setting a great example.These two sides will be there or thereabouts come September
Deserved win for Dublin tonight. Since when has the hand off been legal in GAA??? At least 10 examples of it going unpunished tonight for both sides!!!
Dublin picking from a population of 1.8m and Kerry from 145k
Dublin have to contend with losing players to a myriad of other sports (hurling, rugby, knackerball, etc) while Kerry only player football. Dublin have to contend with other distractions such as jobs, socialising, past times etc. Kerry only play football….
Jaysus James, that’s the most dreary comment i’ve read all morning. What it lacks in originality is only matched by the unsporting miserableness of it. Where are you getting 1.8 million anyways ha.
James that 1.8 million isn’t the player pool it’s the population of Dublin which includes children the elderly and plenty of talented athletes that play other sports like hurling,rugby,soccer etc.Silly observation.
Since when was the hand off illegal?
I’ll trot out the boring stock responses to the boring stock population whinge. If population is all that matters i take it China are world champions in rugby, cricket & soccer yea? Could you not just congratulate Dublin on a good win instead of this rubbish? It’s only january anyway so not sure it means anything really.
If population alone mattered the Dublin historically would have won more trophies then they actually have down the decades. Dublin are peerless -for now. It won’t last forever. I will savour it till it passes and wish the county to to become great all the best for they will have earned that respect.
Dunno about peerless Briano. Mayo, Kerry, Tyrone, Cork, Donegal could all beat us on any given day. We’re good but not as good as the media make out, but then they built us up for a fall in 2014 as well. But agree us Dubs should enjoy this team while it lasts.
Lots of junkies too dont forget
Where do u get your gear Padraic???
O connel street i think…somewhere in there anyway.
Why is it Dubs are saying they are not so good when the win, when clearly they are good as they were last night ……
One thing they’ll need to improve on is taking their goal opportunities, apart from one brilliant save and two shots that cannoned off the crossbar they wasted numerous chances to raise the green flag.
Because that was a weak Kerry team Michael, can’t judge too much from it.
Just incase the good people at the 42 has forgotten, there was another division 1 match tonight. Let alone not an article written, the score is still reading 0-0 for down vs donegal. Bad form
Fair point there Declan
Get lost Declan. Stop telling reporters how to do their jobs.
Get lost yourself Colin, people can freely make comments on this site if they want to.
Good win despite our spurned goal chances but will take that. Tough one in Castlebar next Saturday.
Where were all the real Dublin fans tonight that were there at the All Ireland semi final and final?
There was 30000 people at the game Where were all the “real” kerry fans?
Exactly, 30000 there tonight, 1000 Kerry fans at a push, in September there were approx 40000 Kerry fans and 40000 Dublin fans, where are the glory hunters?
It’s a league game it simply doesn’t generate the same demand as an Ireland final.
30,000 is a pretty decent crowd for a league match. Jaysus the whingers are out in force this morning.
Was there,great crowd and atmosphere and plenty of Kerry fans about the place,The league simply doesn’t attract the same demand nor is it pushed to the public in the same way but people shouldn’t be put down just because they don’t attend league matches,it’s just the reality of it unfortunately.
Kerry seem to have lost there might in last few years
Ya mate, they have only contested the last 2 All Ireland’s only winning 1 of them, they are gone to wreck
Exactly. This is the first proper run out of the season. A lot of football to be played between now and September. Both sides were without a few key players, and to be fair to Kerry, they were without more of their starting forwards than Dublin
I’m a Dub and Kerry will be there or thereabouts in September as per usual
2 all Ireland finals in the last 2?? I want what your smokin
Ryan, they lost last year and won in 2014?
Ye so there not doin to bad if they have contested 2 finals ?
Hi Ryan, check out the word Sarcasm in the dictionary, it’s good craic.
Ahha didn’t even kop that Jesus few to many pints
Diarmuid Connolly shold be in jail
Being a Top class talented footballer is not a crime
No it’s not but assulting an innocent man certainly is
Dubs should have won this one by a bigger margin.Kerry have work to do everyone knows this current kerry team were “fortunate” to have won the All-Ireland in 2014 and wer lucky to get to another final last year avoiding the bigger guns and no matter what they say the conveyor belt over the last ten yrs hasnt provided the top class inter county senior players required right now to rejuvinate this squad and the 2014/15 minors players are probably too young to be introduced yet.
Just home from the game the dubs could a won by a lot more , big Tommy Walsh needs the service of the gooch n Sheehan . Both teams playin half a side . Why jim Gavin still plays players like Darren Daly Byrne Reddin when he’s seen them for years and never plays them come championship is so odd. Gavin has his favourites he won’t give Shane carty a chance from vinnys but brings on Reddin pretty pathetic . Another all Ireland on the cards all the same . Up the dubs
Fair point there ryan on playing reddin but daly has been a good servant and done very well when needed in the all ireland final in 2013 with little game time all year. Jim gavin has used the league to blood a lot of players since 2013 jack mac, kilkenny, mannion, david byrne, davy byrne, costello, cooper, lowndes, fenton, and tonight he gave o congaille a run. Need someone else through in midfield to support fenton, mdmc & bastick.
Yes I agree I’m just being biased cause Kevin O’Brien and both Shane Cartys are my mates . Davy Byrne ballymun half back is never gonna play a championship game half back and Reddin will never play either my pt was that Kev will be pushin for a start and Shane Carty vinnys has done great at club level so s league debut was well deserved , but Gavin went for Reddin who is not up to much at all .
Shane carty should get a chance and o brien like lowndes is trying to get a game in a very competitive defence both always do well i agree reddin getting game time and never used after march it will be so competitive for places again this year. Bring on mayo next sat a totally different challange
The discrimination against Vincent’s players in the Dublin set-up is scandalous. Has been like this for years.
There’s a lot of good players pushing hard for places, not sure what you have against Darren Daly, Good player and think you are being very harsh on Reddin as well.
Discrimination against Vincent’s players? Ahh I get it….sarcasm.
Gavin uses Reddin every year in Jan Feb he’s seen enough of him he ain’t gonna be near the panel come June . Shane has bin playin brilliant for vinnys and hasn’t got a chance yet
Reddin usually does well at the start of the year, with a small amount of improvement he could make it. Look at andrews, he was in and around the panel for a good while, got a foothold on the team eventually and has only recently clicked into a very good player.
Embarrassing for Kerry. More guys need tip be shown. Traditional strong arms defending sadly lacking in Kerry. Dublin realistically won by 12.
Put d league games back in parnell pk. It’s a more intense atmosphere. There was 5 k people there at final whistle 2nite. Put demand on d tickets and get a right atmosphere. D dubs were gud tho. Mannion warming up nicely. He’s a lovely footballer.
tonight had 30000 reasons why dublin play in croke park padhraig.
There were far more than 5k there at final whistle and definitely more than would fit in Parnell Park.
5k at final whistle? Right you are pal
This is simply not true. A good few left about with about 5 minutes to go. Same score same game but in Parnell park and the same people would leave early and 16 thousand fewer tickets sold.
Capacity of Parnell park was reduced by health and safety report. Do love the atmosphere in a packer neller though, but would reduce the number of people who could attend hugely. Pity the pitch at lansdowne is so small as it would be the perfect size for league games. 30,000 looks tiny in Croke Park.
Love to know why people didn’t come out earlier to support the hurlers yes the started coming in in the second half but it wasn’t raining or anything. Support both codes if it’s a double header least ye can do!
No slagging or we will have place to go for the holidays and I won’t be able to see my uncles