Galway 2-14
Kerry 2-10
A GOAL AFTER 21 seconds laid the platform for Galway to stun a heavily-fancied Kerry side in todayโs EirGrid All-Ireland U21 football semi-final at Cusack Park in Ennis.
That early strike to the net by Dessie Conneely after Galway had turned over Kerry after the throw-in was the springboard for a superb opening display by the Connacht champions as they went ahead 1-7 to 0-1 by the 10th minute.
Kerry trailed by eight points at the interval but despite cutting the deficit to three in the second half when Matthew OโSullivan netted, their hopes of victory were severely damaged when midfielder Barry OโSullivan was sent-off after being shown a second yellow card in the 47th minute.
Galway upped the tempo again to close out the game successfully with man-of-the-match Cillian McDaid and midfielder Peter Cooke both immense.
Substitute Colin Brady from Corofin rattled the net in the 58th minute to seal their victory and although Kerry pulled a goal back courtesy of a blistering shot from substitute Jordan Kiely, there was no halting Galwayโs march to the final on 29 April.
They may have required extra-time to get past Sligo in the Connacht final but there was no disputing Galwayโs superiority here. They began the match in a whirlwind fashion with Cooke and Michael Daly kicking some marvellous points.
After their brilliant Munster final showing, Kerry flatlined in the early stages here as they struggled to gain a foothold in the game. Killian Spillaneโs 21st minute point was their solitary score from play in the opening period.
They received a lifeline after the break when towering full-forward OโSullivan raised a green flag, albeit Galway protested that the goal should have been disallowed for the ball being thrown to the net.
That was the start of Kerryโs best phase of the game with Spillane, goalkeeper Shane Ryan and Flaherty all knocking over points to leave them 1-11 to 1-8 adrift by the close of the third quarter.
Yet Kerry could not get closer as Galway took over once more and maximised the personnel advantage handed to them by the dismissal of OโSullivan.
Scorers for Galway: Peter Cooke 0-5 (0-3f), Dessie Conneely, Colin Brady 1-0 each, Sean Kelly, Michael Daly 0-2 each, Kieran Molloy, Robert Finnerty, Paul Mannion, Cillian McDaid, Cรฉin DโArcy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: Killian Spillane 0-4 (0-3f), Jordan Kiely, Matthew OโSullivan 1-0 each, Shane Ryan (0-1f), Matthew Flaherty 0-2 each, Sean OโShea, Conor Geaney 0-1 (0-1f) each.
Galway
1. Ronan O Beolain (Micheal Breathnach)
2. Liam Kelly (An Spideal)
3. Sean Andy O Ceallaigh (Leitir Mor)
4. Ruairi Greene (Killannin)
5. Kieran Molloy (Corofin)
6. Dylan McHugh (Corofin)
7. Cillian McDaid (Monivea-Abbey)
8. Peter Cooke (Moycullen)
9. Cein DโArcy (Caherlistrane)
10. Sean Kelly (Moycullen)
11. Michael Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
12. Paul Mannion (Kilconly)
13. Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
14. Eoin Finnerty (Mountbellew-Moylough)
15. Dessie Conneely (Moycullen)
Subs
Colin Brady (Corofin) for Mannion (41)
Michael Boyle (Killererin) for Finnerty (55)
Colm Brennan (Oileain Arainn) for DโArcy (56)
Eric Lee (Oughterard) for McDaid (59)
Kerry
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Tom (Leo) OโSullivan (Dingle)
3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
4. Tom OโSullivan (Dingle)
5. Brian ร Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
6. Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil)
7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)
8. Brian ร Seanachรกin (Ballydonoghue)
9. Barry OโSullivan (Dingle)
10. Brandon Barrett (Ardfert)
11. Sean OโShea (Kenmare)
12. Matthew Flaherty (Dingle)
13. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
14. Matthew OโSullivan (St Michaels-Foilmore)
15. Conor Geaney (Dingle)
Subs
21. Micheรกl Burns (Dr Crokes) for Barrett (28)
23. Roibeard ร Sรฉ (An Ghaeltacht) for ร Seanachรกin (41)
22. Jordan Kiely (Dr Crokes) for OโShea (44)
17. Jack Morgan (Austin Stacks) for White (56)
19. Cormac Coffey (Kerins OโRahillyโs) for Tom Leo OโSullivan (59)
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Sligo)
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Terrific display from Galway. Some of the defending was brilliant and darcy at midfield was immense
@Cathaล: Cooke was brilliant also
@Cathaล: Brilliant Football from Galway and if they were more patient in front of Goals the winning would have been greater.
Kerry may have believed too much in the hype after hammering Cork but this is a serious Galway team.
Sean Andy o Ceallaigh was sensational at full back his ability to read the game and gather the high ball real manly football.
Well done Galway hope the team completes the job.
@Tim Brennan: The Galway full back should have received MOTM.. he was immense.
Great performance by Galway. Didnโt get the credit they deserved going into the game and they expressed that in the opening quarter. Hard luck to Kerry but delighted for our lads.
Donโt know how Galway only won this by 4, they were much the better side and totally outclassed Kerry
Great win for Galwayโฆ.Thought midfield was immense. But the standard of reffing was atrocious. How the Kerry midfielder was sent off Iโll never know. How Galwayโs corner back got a yellow and not a black. And should the 1st Kerry goal have stood???
Super win for Galway, they tore Kerry to shreds early on which set them on their way, the future looks good for them having just won Div two gaining promotion and now having an All Ireland U21 final to look forward to.
Where all the experts gone saying Galway gunna get hammered?? 100 beans on Galway at 11/2..hon the lads!
@Martin Redington: I donโt believe you. If true balls of steal.
@Desheen: swear on my dogs life! The odds were crazy for a talented Galway team!
Teams ainโt afraid of Kerry,like in the past!Galway superb today.Great footballers on that team.
Great result for Galway. Kerry donโt expect to be beaten
Galway coming on nicely in all levels of football . Sam Maguire coming west of the shannon soon .
Galway were brilliant. Kerry couldnโt get out of their half for first 25 minutes.
Numbers 3, 8 and 11 stood out for Galway, although McDaid at 12 got man of the match.
Peter Cooke number 8 in particular really stood out, dominated the game.
Kerry, on the other hand, were terrible. Second to every ball. They looked heavy legged for whatever reasons. Iโm not sure if its fatigue or burnout or arrogance or complacency.
Galway were the underdogs and took the game to Kerry from the off. Steamrolled them, up 9 points after 9 minutes!
Connacht ref
@Noel Broderick: Munster venue
@Noel Broderick: Pri$k
@Noel Broderick:
The ref wasnโt great, but it didnโt matter, Galway were much the better team and well-deserved victors.
They could have won by much more and wasted many chances.
Iโm a kerry supporter.
No harm for the Kerry lads to get beaten, theyโll learn from it.
Sligo should have beaten Galway in the Connacht final, ended in a draw with Galway pulling away in extra time.
If my aunt had balls sheโd be my uncle
@James Johnson: Dead right and elegantly put. Up the Maroon!
@James Johnson: not necessarily, she would be still looked upon as youโre transsexual aunt in the local community.
Great future ahead for Galway