THIS IS IT, the biggest game of the Gaelic football season is upon us. We’re live from Croke Park following all the action as Kerry take on Donegal.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
Result: Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12
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We’re getting set for the big one in Croke Park. It’s Kerry against Donegal, throw-in at 3.30pm.
We caught up with Mayo midfielder Aidan O’Shea during the week to get an insight into facing these two teams.
1. Jim McGuinness v Éamonn Fitzmaurice
“I suppose both managers mentally before the teams get on the pitch, they have done an excellent job. For Jim, that’s coming after we beat them last year. There were doubts about them but he’s done amazing job. The first thing Ryan McHugh mentioned after the final was the belief that he’s insstilled into them. I think that’s a credit to Jim.
“Éamonn Fitzmaurice is after losing some serious players since last year. These lads are footballers who’ll be spoken about for generations like Tomás Ó Sé and Paul Galvin. He repaired the morale as well after Kerry losing the best player in the country in the Gooch best player in the country. I think you’d have to say Éamonn has worked wonders. They’ve both done incredible jobs and one of them will want to finish it off now today.”
2. The midfield battle
“The Kerry midfield are a very traditional midfield pairing. They’d probably be the most traditional left in the country alongside ourselves in Mayo. Dave (Moran) and Anthony (Maher) are very much catch and kick.
“With Donegal it’s a bit different. Jim throws in something different to the equation in each game. Neil Gallagher went in full-forward at the start of the first-half and then came out in the second-half where had an excellent game and had a major influence. I don’t think Donegal will kick ball out like they did against Dublin. It’s intriguing as to what way they’ll play it.
“Dave is a very good kicker of the ball. I remember playing a Sigerson game a few years back – DIT against UL – and he kicked the lights out. He’s come on another level this year. Odhrán MacNiallais has been a breath of fresh air for Donegal. He’d an excellent game against Armagh and a really good first-half v Dublin. He’s given them a lot of energy around the pitch and is breath of fresh air.”
Here’s the Donegal team named to start:
1. Paul Durcan (Na Ceithre Maistir)
2. Eamonn McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
3. Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
4. Paddy McGrath (Ard an Ratha)
5. Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
6. Karl Lacey (Na Ceithre Maistir)
7. Frank McGlynn (Gleann Fhinne)
8. Neil Gallagher (Gleann Suili)
9. Odhran Mac Niallais (Gaoth Dobhair)
10. Christy Toye (Naomh Mícheál)
11. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill)
12. Ryan McHugh (Cill Chartha)
13. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar)
14. Michael Murphy (Gleann Suili, capt)
15. Colm McFadden (Naomh Micheal)
And here’s the Kerry team named to start:
1. Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion)
2. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore)
4. Fionn Fitzgerald (Capt) (Dr Crokes)
5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
7. Killian Young (Renard)
8. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
9. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
11. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
13. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
14. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks)
15. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)
Referee today is Laois man Eddie Kinsella. Marty Duffy is the standby referee, Padraig Hughes linesman and Rory Hickey the sideline official.
Fans gathering outside the stadium:
So here’s our readers are calling today’s final:
Right the countdown is on. The players have just met the President and the match parade will soon commence.
The Kerry substitutes are:
16. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)
17. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
18. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
19. Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses)
20. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s)
21. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
22. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
23. Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes)
24. Jonathan Lyne (Legion)
25. Mark Griffin (St Michael’s-Foilmore)
26. Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
And the Donegal substitutes are:
16. Michael Boyle (Termon)
17. Darach O’Connor (Buncrana)
18. David Walsh (Naomh Bríd)
19. Declan Walsh (Malin)
20. Dermot Molloy (Naomh Conaill)
21. Hugh McFadden (Killybegs)
22. Leon Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
23. Luke Keaney (Four Masters)
24. Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s)
25. Martin O’Reilly (Sean Mac Cumhaill)
26. Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan’s)
Late Donegal changes, Rory Kavanagh and Darach O’Connor in for Christy Toye and Paddy McBrearty.
Really looking forward to this, the 2014 All-Ireland senior football final is about to start.
Kerry 1-0 Donegal 0-0
1 mins – What a start! Stephen O’Brien’s point attempt drops shot, Paul Geaney catches and turns his man before shooting low to the corner of the net.
Geaney did brilliantly well there to turn Paddy McGrath. All the attention on Donaghy and O’Donoghue before this game but it’s the third member of Kerry’s full-forward line who really makes his mark at the start.
Kerry 1-1 Donegal 0-0
3 mins – Kerry are flying. Donaghy points off his left after Geaney palmed the ball down to him following a Johnny Buckley shot that hit the upright.
Kerry 1-1 Donegal 0-1
5 mins – Donegal are up and running as Michael Murphy slots a free.
A look at that Geaney goal:
Geaney’s first senior football championship goal for Kerry. What a time for it to arrive.
Kerry 1-1 Donegal 0-2
11 mins – Donegal starting to settle? Murphy knocks over another free.
Kerry 1-2 Donegal 0-2
13 mins – Nice Kerry play. Two good accurate foot passes from David Moran and Buckley culminates in Donaghy fetching the ball and being fouled. Geaney does the rest from a close-range free.
Wow! Eamonn McGee is turned over as charges upfield by Paul Murphy and James O’Donoghue pumps the ball in where it evades Geaney and Paul Durcan before flashing just wide. That would have been some goal.
Kerry 1-2 Donegal 0-3
16 mins – Three from three for Murphy as he points a free following a foul on Leo McLoone.
Couple of huge turnovers, David Moran on Neil Gallagher and then Eamonn McGee on Donaghy. The crowd in full voice now.
Kerry 1-2 Donegal 0-4
23 mins – The gap is down to one as Colm McFadden taps over a free following a foul on Ryan McHugh.
Goal chance for Donegal as Darach O’Connor cuts in from the left but his low shot goes across the goalmouth and wide as Brian Kelly advanced.
Kerry 1-3 Donegal 0-4
27 mins – Paul Geaney so close to a second goal! James O’Donoghue comes deep, wriggles clear and sends in a cross that Geaney catches. The Dingle man fakes to shoot, turns on to his left and blasts a shot that just clears the crossbar. First score for Kerry since the 13th minute.
Kerry 1-3 Donegal 0-5
28 mins – Odhrán MacNiallais has the ball stripped from his grasp by Donnchadh Walsh but the ball spills loose and MacNiallais gets clear to first time it over the bar from 25 yards.
Good chance for James O’Donoghue to open his scoring account as he breaks onto a ball but his shot from a central position just tails wide.
Kerry 1-3 Donegal 0-6
31 mins – And Donegal draw level! It’s Karl Lacey who grabs the point.
Donegal must be pleased at how this half has developed. They’ve recovered from the body blow of that early Geaney goal and slowly got to grips with the game.
Donaghy close to a glorious point but the ball knocks off the upright and goes wide.
All square at the break. Yellow cards for Neil Gallagher and Anthony Maher just before the half-time whistle. Still all to play for.
Here’s the first half scorers:
Kerry: Paul Geaney 1-2 (0-1f), Kieran Donaghy 0-1.
Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-3 (0-3f), Colm McFadden (0-1f), Karl Lacey, Odhrán MacNiallais 0-1 each.
Donegal 0-7 Kerry 1-3
37 mins – For the first time in this game Donegal go ahead. It’s their captain who points the way as Michael Murphy converts a brilliant score from play.
Kerry 1-4 Donegal 0-7
39 mins – Great point for Kerry and from the most unlikely source. Wing-back Paul Murphy pops up with a long range effort from the Cusack Stand side.
Nearly another fine Kerry score but David Moran’s shot hits the post and Donegal clear their lines.
Shooting leaving plenty to be desired at the moment. McFadden engineered some space but then screwed his shot high and wide.
Donegal continuing to frustrate Kerry as a Kingdom phase of build-up play culminates in Walsh hoofing a shot wide.
Kerry 2-5 Donegal 0-7
52 mins – Incredible! Paul Durcan’s shot kick out goes straight to Kieran Donaghy who races through and billows the back of the net. Moments before the scoring impasse had been broken after Killian Young made a surging run, was fouled and Barry John Keane popped over the free.
Kerry 2-5 Donegal 0-8
53 mins – McBrearty punches over a point for Donegal and then kicks another. Two point advantage with Kerry though.
Kerry 2-5 Donegal 0-10
55 mins – What a response by Donegal to that goal! A third successive point and this time it’s Neil McGee who comes forward to score after a great initial break by McElhinney.
Kerry 2-6 Donegal 0-10
56 mins – Cracking point for Kerry by Johnny Buckley. The game has really come to life now.
Subs: Declan O’Sullivan on for Kerry for Donnchadh Walsh while Donegal bring in David Walsh for McLoone.
Kerry 2-7 Donegal 0-10
58 mins – Kerry showing their mettle. Beautiful through ball by James O’Donoghue to Keane, he’s fouled by Gallagher and then Keane taps over the free.
Kerry 2-8 Donegal 0-10
61 mins – Aidan O’Mahony pumps in a ball that Donaghy wins, he swivels under pressure and fists a point.
Sub: Last throw of the dice from Donegal? Dermot Molloy on for Rory Kavanagh. Six minutes left and they trail by four points.
Kerry patiently recycle the ball and win a vital free 45 yards out. And they’ve brought on Bryan Sheehan for David Moran. Big kick this one.
Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12
68 mins – Sheehan nails it! Kerry go three points in front.
Incredible! Donegal so close to a goal as the ball pinged around the Kerry goalmouth but Kerry clear.
Ffs… storm in a tea cup
@IrishOwl: Or in George’s case we maybe a c cup
@IrishOwl: I agree. The snowflake generation way too sensitive to slagging
Rightly so, no place for this in the game. Munster really let themselves down.
@Paddy Murphy: troll level 1
@Paddy Murphy: just gave him nutrition advice and to cut down on the quality street over xmas,no harm.
@Paddy Murphy: And what’s your take on the Leinster fans booing Northampton players yesterday?
@Decko49: Booing the referees decision. Hardly the same thing and say what you want about Leinster, Munster will always be the fans who booed their own player. So back in your box.
@Niall Mulligan: The Leinster fans were booing Dan Biggar. Not the ref at that time. A saints player. What’s your take on that? And remember the Leinster fans booing O Connor ( coach ) and bent ( player) ? Maybe that was before you followed rugby
@Decko49: no, they were booing a clear obstruction. Any links to articles referencing those incidents? Or are you old enough to handle a search engine? Fairly pathetic that you need to deflect your own teams indiscipline by referencing us….. Anybody would think you’re jealous…..
@Niall Mulligan: On another article a Leinster fan acknowledged it. So I’m deflecting nothing. Facts are facts. But you goys are great to deflect yourselves. Maybe the Leinster fan was lying himself. Ask him
@Decko49: go back to last years Munster Leinster match in thomond park and watch the piece where James Lowe got sent off. He got boos from the time of the incident which was accidental until he left the field. And one of your more prominent posters reckoned that he should have walked back to this chorus of boos and apologize in public. You probably wouldn’t see anything wrong there though
@Eamonn O Connell: And it’s ok for Leinster fans to boo but not Munster? Logic please?
@Decko49: ffs
@Decko49: Whataboutery. Shameful from Munster staff and shameful from their fans….haven’t heard one comment condemning the doctors part in the incident
@Decko49: you’re the one introduced it I just gave you an example the other way. You can’t just say something and not expect to get called out on it. Trying to make out that this incident has anything to do with any other teams than the two involved yesterday is just pure deflection on your part.
@Decko49: I was one of the leinster fans booing yesterday, I and those around me boo’d the ref for allowing the try when there was clearly crossing and mcgrath was taken out. Is that 2 years in a row the mob associated with munster make the headlines rather than the team on the pitch.
@Chris Mc: care to respond to the 12 for Ireland question I posed to you on the other thread? After I gave to you the facts that’s currently Aki is our best performing 12 and yet you don’t think he passes enough even tho he has the second best passing stats after Scannell out of any of the regular Irish 12’s?
@Decko49: I don’t know who is more stupid, the Munster team doctor or Decko. Wouldn’t know what class is if it hit them in the face
@Chris Mc: booing is for children and soccer matches.
Thought you would have more sense Chris.
@Decko49: i was at the game and no Leinster fan Booed any Northampton player…. a very dubious try decision given by referee was certainly booed and rightly so as it was pathetic call
@Decko49: eh no we booed the referee for a silly call
@Decko49: would booing a fan be the same as abusing a player by calling a fat so and so and causing a 30man brawl on the pitch! You’re being a d i c k
@Oran Burns: all rugby fans boo too Oran. Get off your high horse before you fall and hurt yourself
@Ian Verdon: I believe he passes after contact, as a leinster fan you must see that getting quick ball to Ringrose, Lowe, larmour is a huge part of why we are cutting up teams. If your 12 takes the ball into contact even if he passes out of the tackle or offloads after the tackle that ball has no width and the player who takes it is almost always in traffic. I think a playmaker rather than a carrier is a better option at 12 farrell or henshaw more than aki
@Oran Burns: the ref knew well mcgrath was blocked so I was going to call him a fat C but I give him a old fashioned boo as a sign of disapproval.
@Chris Mc:tbh i don’t think we need two play making centers.If Ringrose is our 13 he’s a playmaker who can come in at first receiver. Sbw was a stalwart for Nz for the last few years & he looked for contact(sucked in defenders by doing so & creating space outside him)& then kept his hands free & looked for the offload.Imo that kind of play is more effective then simply using quick hands to feed it to your 13/11/14/15.Aki & mccloskey are certainly not at sbw level of offloading but their direct running & offloading game is our version of it.For me Henshaw is a better 13 than a 12 & he needs to show a level of consistency in his game he hasn’t in a couple of years(injuries taken into account)Farrell needs to play 12 for his province to play 12 for his country imo.I respect your opinion tho.
@BMJF: it was the right call. McGrath tackled a dummy runner. He wasn’t even close to the intended receiver.
@Niall Mulligan: The booing started in the RDS long before anything happened in TP. First the Leinster goys booed Michael Bent and then Jimmy Goppert got a taste of it.
Poor reaction from George and a bit of a weasel move from the Munster doc that we’d all (rightly) be your in arms about if it were the other way around.
Not sure what needs to be investigated though.
@Oval Digest: Have you ever been to a match where players and fans trade abuse? Have you ever been to any match actually? Nothing to be investigated here.
@Decko49: You must’ve missed my last line there Dec lad!
Howver, it’s also not a good look for a member of backroom staff to be doing something like that considering the ‘values’ and ‘traditions’ Munster take great pride in talking about.
And again, if it was a Sarries doctor saying it to John Ryan for example, there’d be uproar on here.
@Oval Digest: I agreed with your last line in my post there Oval lad. My point is George started this. Where is the condemnation of that? He kicked a ball at a player. It could have caused a riot. If a bit of name calling is causing such a fuss then what’s everyone’s take on kicking a ball at a player? That’s what started it. It’s very simple. Also what’s your take on the booing of Dan Biggar?
@Decko49: what’s booing dan bigger got to do with anything do you mind me asking
@Eamonn O Connell: biggar auto correct
@Eamonn O Connell: I asked him a question as part of my post. Am I allowed to ask his opinion?
@Decko49: What a weird non sequitur! WTF has Dan Biggar got to do with this?!
(You also seem to have missed the start of my original post there where I said ‘poor reaction by George’. That doesn’t excuse what Kearns did.)
@Decko49: classic deflection. You are often the one on here referencing that Leinster fans are obsessed with Munster yet you bring Leinster into an article about Munster
@Oval Digest: So you have no opinion on the Dan Biggar booing? Has any Leinster fan an opinion on it? Just asking like? Plenty of Leinster fans on here so I’m trying to make them feel at home
@Decko49: I’ve no idea! Was at the game and didn’t even realise it happened.
But again I’ve no idea what Dan Biggar has to do with a Munster doctor abusing Jamie George!
@Oval Digest: Youve no opinion. Good lad. Like Jim Demps, Eddie, Walter O Brien. I’m finished here. The Leinster Ladyboys are just clowns. As the famous saying goes. What do you expect from pigs but grunts. Good luck pigs
@Decko49: Decko you’ve been saying your leaving for a while. Your taking longer than Rory Best. Except Rory best will be missed.
@Decko49: You’re a weird commenter Dec I’ll give you that!
@Decko49: showing your class there now decko well done !!
I’m trying to follow this thread but I think there’s parts missing???
What’s Dan Biggar got to do with it? Did Dan biggar comment after the game about the Munster Doctor?
For a doctor to apparently make abusive comments to anyone about their physical features is, well, very disappointing, even in the heat of the moment.
Not the values you associate with that profession or what Munster want to be linked with.
Imagine the reaction if an English medic had ever called Stringer “a midget”, Paulie “a ginger ****” or Kilcoyne “a fat ****”. There would be war.
Public apology and one or two game ban would be sufficient.
@Robb Stark: I’d say your great brain at the Christmas party!
@Robb Stark: Ban him for calling him that? No team would be able to field a team after one match ffs. What a world of snowflakes we have now.
Let’s hope Jamie Kearns’ astute professional observation has put this poor afflicted chop muncher on the road to a longer life and tailored shirts. Here in Ireland that advice would cost €200 and a trip to a private hospital.
From all Munster fans – you’re welcome.
@Etherman: Comment of the week. In fact the year. Well done.
God forbid someone at a rugby match called someone a mean name.
Poor Georgie porgy….
Im a leinster fan and I think what a load of nonsense! Poor saracens…. you could hear a lot worse being said on the ref Mike during the game and that will go without investigation..
@jimmy murphy: correct jimmy. Owen Farrell was giving it serious wellie. A top ref would have stopped it. Nigel would have cut it out.
@jimmy murphy: The most sensible comment so far.
The guy acted very unprofessionally and jet Munster down. Yeah it was gear of the moment but you just can’t do that. He’ll have to take his medicine & deservedly so.
@Kevin: I hope you meant that delicious medicine pun.
Fat Kant
Height of stupidity by Munster when they were in the lead with approx 20 mins to go, in possession in Saracens half and hunting for a try to put the game beyond 7 points. Handbags nearly always play into the hands of the home team. And so it was yesterday. This totally unnecessary incident got Saracens fired up and helped them win the game. Another lesson learnt perhaps?….
Services of the backroom staff member need to dispensed with immediately, this not the GAA.
@Colm: This is game where players have stamped on people’s heads. Eye gouging. And numerous bad injuries to lads taken out in the air. As well as the scandalous double player tackle on Brian O Driscoll on the Lions Tour. Yes it’s not GAA. Thanks for the insight. And you want a guy sacked for calling a fella that? Jesus wept
@Colm: correct it’s not the GAA. So why bother bringing the GAA into clearly a rugby article
From what I saw it was sparked by George throwing the ball at a munster player. Calling someone a fat **** is hardly a punishable offense. George needs to man up, I am sure he has been called worse.
I remember flannery years back calling an English hooker something similar which didn’t get up anyone’s nose. George needs to grow a pair and should be punished for his behavior.
@Ro Molloy: Exactly. George started this but the Saracens backroom staff have tried to cover it up by saying it was all about what the medic said. George was the instigator. If he didn’t kick the ball at a Munster player at close range then nothung would have happened. What do you expect from Saracens mind you.
@Ro Molloy: he shouldn’t have kicked the ball but from videos it would seem Jack O’ Donohue trying to be a big man and pushing Jamie George is what started the massive fight, before that it was just them shouting at each other. If he hadn’t have pushed him it probably would have just blown over.
@Sam Harms: So now it’s Jack O Donoghues fault? I’ve seen the video. George started it. Simple
@Sam Harms: You’d know you’ve never played a game of rugby in your life.
You don’t just let some gowel get up in your teammates grill.
@Sam Harms: I’m afraid that’s a serious lack of appreciation of team sports. you back your teammates no matter what. Rugby is a sport of physical dominance and getting the mental edge…as are all field sports really. all this nonsense is total bs…..mccall making a meal out of it is crazy tbh
@k mcnamara: I think it was a nothing incident but Saracens benefited far more from than scuffle than Munster. They went up a few gears and looked like a different team
@Decko49: there one thing simole here alright.
Wow same one eyed nonsense on these boards as when the loafer boy came on the pitch and abused Billy. Munster fans saying he was supporting gay rights lmao.
Desperate behaviour by rugby crowd
Any word on Beirne’s injury?
I don’t understand why this is been investigated. Munster have already been punished.
I thought rugby players were meant to be hard men. This is just lads feeling one another….closer to sexual assualt than dangerous play!
FFS…It’s a physical game….sometimes it boils over…..is the PC contingent infiltrating our game now… it happened…get over it….investigation my ass…Saracens breaking every fair play rule and getting away with it (ask Exeter Chiefs)…35 points & a fine nothing to them….just shows….money talks… should just have been relegated straight off….
All teams have a huge squad of players, coaches, trainers, medics, physios, fans and backroom staff. The primary goal of all of these people to ensure that the team wins, with one exception: the medics. The primary goal of these people is to ensure player safety and welfare. They are the ones who may have to decide that the captain has failed a HIA in a tight game and cannot return. They are not coaches, players or fans.
You could argue that, particularly with players, sledging and “verbals” are part of their role to ensure that they are trying to achieve the primary goal (winning). Hence, lippy scrumhalves, hookers giving stick when scrummaging and fans shouting to disrupt a lineout call.
That is how the medic misbehaved and why an investigation may be justified.
Lol! comments thread has been hilarious. Thank you.
The professionalism of Munsters medic must be a real source of pride for the club. Ffs
FFS….is the PC crowd taking over our game now….physical game…sometimes boils over….get on with it….