Updated at 22.19
ISCO SCORED TWICE as Real Madrid reduced the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to seven points courtesy of a 2-0 win over Espanyol, on a day where football was dragged into violent political clashes in Catalonia.
Barca had earlier extended their perfect start in La Liga to seven games in extraordinary circumstances as they beat Las Palmas 3-0 behind closed doors at the 99,000 capacity Camp Nou following the police crackdown over an independence vote deemed illegal by the Spanish government.
At least 91 people were injured as Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets and forced their way into activist-held polling stations.
Following La Liga’s refusal to abandon the match, Barca decided to play behind closed doors as a means of protest.
Outspoken Barca defender Gerard Pique broke down in tears as he described the day as “the worst professional experience I have had in my life.”
The political tension also bubbled over at the Santiago Bernabeu where Real fans waved Spanish flags and sang ‘Viva Espana’ (long live Spain).
On the field there was far less conflict as Real eased to an 11th consecutive win over Barcelona-based Espanyol for their first home league win of the season.
Isco was denied the opening goal inside 30 seconds by Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
But the Spanish international made no mistake when he prodded home Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass for the opener on 30 minutes.
Ronaldo volleyed over and then fired straight at Lopez when clean through.
However, Espanyol had a slew of chances themselves to level.
Gerard Moreno hit the post just before the break, whilst Keylor Navas denied Marc Navarro and Nacho produced a brilliant goal line clearance to prevent Leo Baptistao a tap in.
Espanyol’s profligacy was finally punished 19 minutes from time when Isco curled home his second of the evening at the end of a rapid counter-attack.
Victory lifts Madrid up to fifth behind Barca, Sevilla, Valencia and Atletico Madrid.
Valencia’s great start under Marcelino Garcia Toral’s tutelage continued with a thrilling 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Simeone Zaza and Dani Parejo’s penalty gave the hosts a 2-0 half-time lead.
Aritz Aduriz reduced the arrears for Athletic, who have now gone six games without a win.
Rodrigo restored Valencia’s two-goal cushion before Raul Garcia’s late consolation.
The game of the day was undoubtedly at Anoeta where Real Sociedad and Real Betis drew 4-4.
Three times Betis led thanks to goals from Antonio Sanabria, Zoudhair Feddal, Joaquin and Sergio Leon.
But Sociedad kept roaring back as Diego Llorente’s header four minutes from time salvaged a point after earlier strikes from Willian Jose, Mikel Oyarzabal and Xabi Prieto.
Villarreal get off to a winning start under new coach Javi Calleja as Cedric Bakambu hit a hat-trick to see off Eibar 3-0.
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You only turn up to support the football team when they make it to the all-Ireland semi!
Eight All Ireland finals in the last ten years, that’s still a lot of games!
Ye I only get 1 outing a year but for a different completely reason! :(
A Dub in a pub in Kerry might be told ” watch out, you might find an All-Ireland medal in your change”..
That Fitzgerald point is arguably the greatest gaelic point ever kicked!
No argument about it
Agree.
Baby picture inside Sam and an aerial photo of your house are surely first class Kerry credentials.
Dark times ahead maybe, but this list gave me a bit of a pick me up. God, I’m lucky to say I come from Kerry.
You know you’re a sports fan from Kerry when…… You make arrangements in june, to stay in Dublin during the third weekend in september!
And that will be the first match you bother to travel to …
and the Reeks ARE majestic :)
What does a roadside yellow line mean in kerry.. ‘No parking at all’
What does 2 roadside yellow lines mean in Kerry?.
No parking at all,at all..
‘Line’..upgrade from iPhone to Samsung I’d say.
Lol.
Ya won’t drive a ka with a D reg on it .
You need worry, that’s one works both ways
Adebaaaaaayooooooo!
Need not*
You ate hang sangwiches in a layby
In fairness it was a push by Darby.
Prefer the term “out muscled” him.
As John B Keane said: “Any fella born in Kerry has a headstart over the rest of the country”. Says a lot!
When you cross the county bounds and breath in deeply!
And beep the horn to announce your return
kingdom come, kingdom go
A Kerry footballer with an inferiority complex thinks he’s just as good as everyone else! God be with you John B, an t-uasal is fearr!
The Irish Open was better when it was in Killarney.
This was penned by a kingdom passport holder! Brilliant article lads!
“Being a Kerryman, in my opinion, is the greatest gift that God can bestow on any man. When you belong to Kerry you know you have a head start on the other fellow. In belonging to Kerry you belong to the elements, to the spheres spinning in the heavens. You belong to history and language and romance and ancient song. It’s almost unbearable being a Kerryman and it’s an awesome responsibility.” (John B)
Have to admit to alot of these.
Great article. First time I saw that Sheehy goal. What movement, vision and touch of absolute class.
(RIP Tom Creedon for Cork in the buildup, great player and never forgotten).
It’s a sin not to play in the blitz!!
If I was from Kerry I’d boast about the 3 Spillane brothers that have 19 all Ireland’s between them rather than the 15 by the O’ Se brothers both impressive though.
Forget about No 12 Tadgh’s jig.Put on a kilt.Stop Olympians,Motorsports and spread the word of God and “dance dance wherever you may be!!
That baby is in the Sam draped in the cork colours….
Actually, I thought it was the Armagh colours which unfortunately would make that child about 11 years old now.
Never forget listeing to weeshie munster final day…. moyihan kicks it up the field, o se, fitzgerald , russell hes kicked it, where’s it going…. its a goal …. Its a Goal (roaring down the radio) Actually that ball has just juggled wide.
Best Gaelic Football game of all time Dublin v. Kerry 1977 All Ireland semi.Not a Kerry fan but that Kerry team was greatness from top to bottom as they went on to prove.If you’ve never seen that game go check it out.
”Yerra no need for a hotel. Margaret, willu call awna and tell her we’ll be needing the spare room in siptimber”
Awna.
Haha, perfection.
Excellent article, makes one very proud to be a Kerryman. Sad to say the only all Ireland I ever got to see in Croke Park was the one with the infamous Darby goal.
Jackeen
Enjoyed that thanks journal , poor old weeshie he will never live that beyonce moment down , the great micheál a gent could listen to him all day . Hope Kerry get their mojo back this year , but if not the Dubs get my support . Looking forward to the other counties clips . :)
Weeshie, the legend.
http://youtu.be/zNOUbD2I6XU
Weeshie Fogarty it the worst commentator of all time… if youre trying to hear a match when driving somewhere its just frustrating that he goes on and on about everything except what’s happening on the bloody pitch…. “it hit the bottom of the post, or will i say the butt of the post, or maybe the base of the post is it……..” 5 mins of shyte talk about terminology relating to posts later….. “either way no goal”
Hate the guy don’t see why people like him….
I like him even more now after that
like watching a train wreck, you just can’t look away, same feeling I get with Weeshie the more whacky he gets the more I need to listen
Anthony Weeshie is a natural communicator and a broadcasting legend on this island. You sir are a heretic.
I played in the castleisland blitz and got to the finals and lost both finals also, but some of the best b-ball you will see anywhere back home
Everyone is always going on about how great Kerry people are yet it’s a county that has yet to provide us with one famous person.
John o donoghue….
Tom Crean and Daniel O’Connell are quite famous and John B Keane wrote a few books in his time.
Beat me to it Mike
Tom Crean and Daniel O’Connell are quite famous and John B Keane wasn’t a bad writer.
Off the top of the head Hollywood star Micheal Fassbender and his equally as famous appendage.
Pierce Brosnan fathers family came from Tralee Co Kerry, he is pretty famous I think. :)
Fassbender was born in Germany no?
Born in Germany raised in Killarney
Here’s a picture of him with an accordion I hope that appeases you
http://static.independent.ie/migration_catalog/article25276719.ece/ALTERNATES/h342/fassbender1
I knew he was raised in Killarney, I’m from 25 mins over the road, but he was born in Germany and his father is German, to claim he’s a Kerryman is a little bit of a stretch… It’s like claiming Daniel Day Lewis is Irish!
And who the hell are John Keane and Tom Crean? Never heard of either of them!
Where you spend your formative years is more binding than any bloodline. Danial Day was raised in the UK, not the same at all.
Cavan
When your a female from the kingdom on holidays abroad on a night out with the girls in a Kerry jersey O’Neills tracksuit bottoms and hi-tek runners …..classy
You will smell like urine….
Doctor, why do I hear banjos?
‘Cause you are at the Fleadh Ceoil in Lishtowel boy.
You smell like cat food and you still have your grandfathers communion money !
Weeshie on Terrace Talk…haven’t peed myself laughing like that in a long time…”Beeanky….what does he do?” Frickin brilliant!
Those horrific polyester football jerseys which people choose to wear when abroad are just an embarrassment. Presumably Kerry people’s fashion sense is influenced by the Exhange and Mart.
Well that wasnt even the slightest bit offensive….
Ah get over it. Im a jacket dub….wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.
Maybe because Dublin isn’t the butt end of every damn joke in the country!
Pat Spillane is a very good GAA analyst, he is not afraid to speak his mind irrespective of who he might offend (including the Dubs.)
michael fassbenders willy is most certainly NOT from kerry. but watch the last 10 mins of xmen and listen to his accent. janey mac his one of us alright.