1. Kerry’s third quarter revival
FOR THE THIRD time in four league and championship games, a meeting between the two greatest rivals in Gaelic football finished level.
It was an absorbing contest. But when Dublin held onto the ball for the first three minutes of the second-half before Cormac Costello put them seven points clear, it looked like the All-Ireland champions might win at a canter.
Kerry’s third quarter resurgence was impressive. Killian Spillane found himself withdrawn at half-time and his replacement Tommy Walsh made a big difference. In the 44th minute, Peter Keane took off Paul Geaney and David Moran, introducing younger legs in Ronan Buckley and Adrian Spillane.
Over the next 12 minutes, Kerry outscored Dublin by 0-8 to 0-1. David Clifford started to shake free of Mick Fitzsimons, Diarmuid O’Connor came up with some important ball in midfield and the likes of Sean O’Shea and Brian O Beaglaoich made important interceptions.
Paul Murphy broke forward for two vital scores and even after Costello stuck home a penalty, Kerry had enough resolve to win a spot kick of their own through Stephen O’Brien.
It’s been a while since Dublin let a seven point lead slip in such a high profile fixture. Credit must go to Kerry for their second-half fightback.
2. Dublin goal chances
Keane trusted his defenders to go one-on-one with their men and started with six forwards that he backed to outscore the Dublin attack. After the opening 35 minutes, it looked like a big mistake not to shore up the back line more.
Between the 16th and 21st minute, Ciaran Kilkenny was instrumental in the moves that resulted in goals for Con O’Callaghan and Costello. O’Callaghan forced a good save from Kieran Fitzgibbon and then outmuscled Murphy to a long Niall Scully delivery and buried his second goal.
“We were delighted with the creation of the chances, it was just the execution and how we went about our business, we were a little bit off in front of goal today,” remarked stand-in boss Mick Galvin afterwards.
His assessment was correct. Dublin converted just six of 14 shots at the posts in the first period and three of five in the second. Costello’s 59th minute penalty, won by O’Callaghan, glossed over a poor second-half of attacking play.
Yet that’s four penalties they’ve won and five goals they’ve scored in two games, while Paddy Small, O’Callaghan and Costello took Kerry for 4-7.
3. Con v Clifford
At one end there was Con, at the other it was Clifford. It was mesmerising stuff watching arguably the two best inside forwards in the game driving their teams on.
Fitzsimons is among the tightest markers out there and he showed excellent footwork to hold up Clifford brilliantly on many occasions, limiting him of scoring opportunities on his favoured left side. So three of Clifford’s five scores from play came off his right foot, each one guided over with absolute conviction in tight confines.
When Kerry fell seven behind and needed leaders, the Fossa man stood up in a major way.
O’Callaghan (25) is three years Clifford’s senior and already has five Celtic Crosses and two All-Stars in his medal cabinet. He was unmarkable at stages, bullying his way through the Kingdom defence with his uniquely direct approach.
“To be honest with you I think we are just lucky to have two great footballers, one in each county, they are great advertisements and great footballers,” said Mick Galvin of the pair.
“They are different, we’re happy with Con, they’re happy with David, we’ll see how it pans out as the year goes ahead.”
4. Injuries
The big post-match concern for Dublin was the nature of the hamstring injury that forced John Small to limp off in the 51st minute.
“It doesn’t look good, to be honest with you,” admitted Galvin. “I think it’s a hamstring injury, so we just have to get the medics to have a look at him and we’ll see how he is during the week, we’ll get scans done and we’ll know more then.”
On the plus side for Dublin, Evan Comerford returned between the posts. Brian Howard and Jonny Cooper made their first appearances of the year off the bench.
Dean Rock is expected to be fit for the final group game against Galway and Stephen Cluxton will be available for selection within the next two weeks according to the Na Fianna clubman.
One of the biggest plusses that came out of the game for Keane was that Kerry didn’t pick-up any injuries.
“My priority is that we’re injury free,” he said. “We’ve played two games and got 26 players playing for Kerry in those two games. hopefully we’ll have the other three boys to come into it next weekend.”
He confirmed he plans to rotate the team for next weekend’s trip to Roscommon, when he’s hopeful the likes of Shane Ryan, Tom O’Sullivan and Tony Brosnan will return.
5. Next weekend
After two games, Kerry and Dublin sit on top of Division 1 South with three points apiece, while Galway have two and Roscommon are pointless.
Defeat for Dublin against Galway next weekend could still knock them out of contention to reach the Division 1 semi-finals.
Kerry are in a stronger position with their +22 scoring difference, compared to Dublin’s +9. Avoiding a heavy defeat against Anthony Cunningham’s Roscommon should be enough to see them progress.
Dublin need just a point on the final day to guarantee a finish inside the top two, with Galway’s fate still in their own hands following today’s win over the Rossies.
If Kerry avoid a heavy loss and Galway win they’ll both progress. A Galway draw against Dublin would likely send the Tribesmen into the relegation playoffs on scoring difference.
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Robbie Keane has nothing to prove.
Has been a flat track bully over the last half-a-dozen years.
We won’t be playing Faroe Islands in June.
Add Darron Gibson to that list….. Can’t even make the Everton bench now others are back from injury. (Unlike many others who seem to think he got better while injured), dont think he’s good enough to start for us, but would like to see him back playing regular club football.
If – and it’s a big if – Gibson can secure first team football between now and June he deserves to go. He’s a proven commodity at this level unlike Arter.
Everton were in fantastic form when he got a run of games.
Yeah to be honest (and I don’t like saying this because I had high hopes) I’m not sure he is proven at international level – not sure he was ever massively convincing for us. We always had that hope that ‘once he got a run of games’ he’d be better for us, but when they did come (I) it was down to others being injured and (2) he got injured playing for us before he could show anything. It’s a real pity. Arter has been playing first team football, when fit, for two seasons now and has impressed in a way I’m not sure Gibson ever did. I’d take him if it’s between the two.
Rob Elliot has to start in goal, Newcastle No.1 playing week in week out and playing really well, pulled off some top saves against Arsenal at the weekend. No brainier for me.
Couple of those saves were because of strange decisions to punch rather than catch though – ended up leading to further chances (that he admittedly saved). Give him a chance, but Randolph inspires more confidence for me.
Arter and judge are far better options than mcgeady.
I want to know what Keiran Westwood has to do to be considered, the best goalkeeper in the championship last year and consistently starting games every week
He fell out with MON at Sunderland.
What else does Robbie Keane have to do?
Score against teams that aren’t bottom seeds and contribute in overall play like Murphy, Long and Walters do?
I wouldn’t worry about anything Ronny Delia says about McGeady.. Delia is one bad result away from the sack.. O’Neill and Dermot Desmond are good mates, guaranteed McGeady will be a Celtic player come the end of January..
Are related to MON or DD which used be known as Double Diamond years ago ? ?.Some of the comments on articles are so amusing
Sorry Nick could you write that in English please?
The problem is that Deila isn’t one game away from the sack! Celtic are still persisting with him even though the team gets worse every week.
Anyway, to McGeady. The most naturally gifted player we have in the squad but his confidence is shot to feck. McGeady is too inconsistent, he’ll pop up with a piece of brilliance then will be complete muck for the next 5 games.
McGeadys big problem is that he is not a winger but ever since MON brought him through at Celtic that’s where he has played. McGeady was a number 10 through his entire youth. Unfortunately MON didn’t really understand how to use a creative midfielder at Celtic so he was shunted to the wing and has pretty much been there ever since. He doesn’t have the attributes to be a winger other than being able to dribble. Can’t cross and isn’t particularly quick.
McGeady has the same issues he had a 18, glimpses of class but with no end product. I’d love O’Neill to give him a run in midfield but O’Neill has the same issue he had at Celtic he doesn’t know how to effectively use a creative midfielder.
Point taken ! As I belong to a category of the population that is now officially known as “Seniors” I tend to get my fingers crossed, not my wires dare I say, from time on the “ould” smartphone. I also might have been intertupted by one of the grand kids wishing to engage in a blast of Trivial Pursuits.I suppose one could say thats what Im doing right now as I have a little free time on my hands !! What triggered my original post I cannot really recall right now – It obviously didnt engage my brain very well ! Again apologies for the misuse and the abuse of the “ould” English. Its very remiss of me particularly since I used it, albeit in a more cliched format,very extensively in a previous life. I better quit now a I am an avuncular kind of individual prone to a little causticism ! To quote the old Hill Street Blues (before your time I reckon) Bí Curamach out there Níoclás PS; At the risk of being a name dropper I did meet the main man from Kilrea on a few occasions
Keane should not be selected. Huge fan of his, but his time is over.
I am not sure Randolph or Keane have anything to prove. They will make the squad unless injured. The other lads are probably more at risk or have less chance of a call up anyway.
Darren Randolph has nothing to prove. Less of the hate
Darren Randolph has nothing to prove. Stop hating on him