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Kerry’s Paul Geaney with Johnny Mcgrath and John Maher of Galway. Tommy Grealy/INPHO

Kerry impress as Galway win sends them into league final

13 different scorers for the Kingdom in Salthill, but no two-pointers for the second successive game.

Kerry 3-24

Galway 2-19

John Fallon reports from Pearse Stadium

KERRY PRODUCED AN impressive display despite not shooting a two-pointer for the second game in a row, and did more than enough to book a place in the Allianz Football League Division 1 final against Mayo.

Jack O’Connor’s men had 13 different scorers as they ended Galway’s hopes of reaching the league final for another year.

Galway were without the injured Shane Walsh and were chasing the game from the opening quarter when the Kingdom hit them for a couple of goals.

Kerry led by 2-11 to 1-10 at the end of the opening half with Gavin White striking the opening goal after six minutes after a good build-up down the left.

Kieran Molloy had just landed the only two-pointer of the opening half before that and a Rob Finnerty free pushed the Tribesmen 0-5 to 1-0 in front after nine minutes.

Dylan Geaney pointed and then finished another good move to the net after 11 minutes, Kerry opening the home defence with some excellent running and support play.

dylan-geaney-celebrates Dylan Geaney celebrates his goal. Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Geaney was denied another goal by Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson after the Tribesmen had found the net when Rob Finnerty finished from close range after a high ball broke off goalkeeper Shane Murphy for him.

Points from Paudie Clifford and Brian O Beaglaoich levelled the match at 2-3 to 1-6 after 14 minutes and then after Finnerty edged Galway back in front, Kerry corner-back Paul Murphy was harshly black-carded after a collision with Damien Comer.

Kerry outscored Galway by 0-4 to 0-2 while down a man and three points in a row from David Clifford helped them lead by 2-11 to 1-10 at the interval.

Two points from Paul Geaney and one from Dylan Casey pushed the Kerry lead out to seven points four minutes after the restart before Comer and Finnerty responded for Galway.

paudie-clifford-fossa-with-liam-silke Kerry’s Paudie Clifford with Liam Silke of Galway. Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Galway hit back with a goal from Matthew Tierney and a point from Johnny Heaney to cut the gap to a point but that was as close as Padraic Joyce’s men got as the Kingdom outscored the home side by 0-4 to 0-1 in the next 10 minutes.

And they pushed on from there in the final quarter with Damien Bourke fisting home their third goal, nine minutes from time.

Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney 0-7 (0-6f), Dylan Geaney 1-2, Damien Bourke and Gavin White 1-0 each, David Clifford 0-3 (0-1f), Paudie Clifford, Tony Brosnan, Conor Geaney and Barry Dan O’Sullivan all 0-2, Dylan Casey, Brian O Beaglaoich, Micheal Burns and Killian Spillane all 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: Rob Finnerty 1-6 (0-5f), Matthew Tierney 1-3 (1 2pt free), Kieran Molloy 0-3 (1 2pt score), Paul Conroy 0-2 (1 2pt score), Cillian McDaid, Finnian O Laoí, Cillian O Curraoin, Damien Comer and Johnny Heaney all 0-1.

Kerry

1. Shane Murphy (Dr Crooks)

2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore, 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks)

5. Gavin White (Dr Crokes), 6. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 7. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)

18. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), 9. Sean O’Brien (Beaufort)

10. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes), 11. Paudie Clifford (Fossa), 12. Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks)

13. David Clifford (Fossa), 14. Paul Geaney (Dingle),15. Dylan Geaney (Dingle).

Subs:

  • 21. Damien Bourke (Na Gaeil) for Casey (17-21)
  • 8. Barry Dan O’Sullivan (Dingle) for O’Connor (20-25)
  • 8. Barry Dan O’Sullivan for O’Brien (47)
  • 20. Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes) for Burns (50)
  • 24. Killian Spillane (Templenoe) for G O’Sullivan (55)
  • 21. Damien Bourke (Na Gaeil) for Murphy (57)
  • 17. Conor Geaney (Dingle) for D Geaney (62)

Galway

1. Conor Gleeson (Dunmore MacHales)

2. Johnny McGrath (Caherlistrane), 19. Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin (CLG Oileáin Árann), 4. Daniel O’Flaherty (Salthill/Knocknacarra)

18. Kieran Molloy (Corofin), 6. Liam Silke (Corofin), 7. Seán Kelly (Maigh Cuilinn)

8. Paul Conroy (St James’), 9. John Maher (Salthill/Knocknacarra)

10. Matthew Tierney (Oughterard), 11. Cillian McDaid (Monivea/Abbey, 20. Finnian Ó Laoí (An Spidéal)

24. Cillian O Curraoin (Micheal Breathnach’s), 14. Rob Finnerty (Salthill/Knocknacarra), 25. Damien Comer (Annaghdown).

Subs:

  • 12. Céin Darcy (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Maher (32)
  • 26.Cathal Sweeney (Salthill/Knocknacarra) for O Curraoin (33)
  • 23. Johnny Heaney (Killannin) for Comer (43)
  • 5. Jack Glynn (Claregalway) for O Laoí (45)
  • 21. Jack O’Neill (St. James’) for O’Flaherty (52)
  • 17. Cian Hernon (Barna) for McDaid (57)

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).

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19 Comments
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jan 14th 2025, 2:31 PM

    Hopefully the trio make it! They are an integral part of our Six Nations squad. Keep it up lads!!!

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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Jan 14th 2025, 2:51 PM

    @Ollie Fitzpatrick: lowe and Dan are part of the 6 nations squad but connors is nowhere near that squad. Hodnet, timoney, pendergast are all way ahead of him. Not to mention with conan going to 8 we have doris who can play 7 as can POM. Infact I’d rather see Scott penny get time for leinster than will.

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    Mute Niall Boyle
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    Jan 14th 2025, 4:23 PM

    @chris mcdonnell: I completely agree. I’d ate my own underpants if Connors is named tomorrow

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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Jan 14th 2025, 5:04 PM

    @Niall Boyle: hopefully those pants are in better condition than the pair I wore on Sunday

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    Mute Conor Lynott
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    Jan 14th 2025, 5:35 PM

    @Niall Boyle: I’ll hold you to that

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Jan 14th 2025, 6:42 PM

    @chris mcdonnell: with the best will in the world POM cannot play 7 in the 6 Nations.

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    Mute Andrew Slazenger
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    Jan 14th 2025, 2:53 PM

    Hope they don’t rush Sheehan back this Saturday. 50 mins against the Stormers on the 25th of Jan and then into the 6 nations squad. Connors now needs to stay fit for the rest of the season if he wants to ever make an Ireland squad, at nearly 29 time is running out

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    Mute conor carroll
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    Jan 14th 2025, 5:42 PM

    Lowe is too slow. Osborne a better long term bet.

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    Mute JohnDoe
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    Jan 14th 2025, 5:48 PM

    @conor carroll: Osbourne isn’t a wing, he can do the job but he’s a 12 or 15. Lowe being “slow” didn’t stop him being named in the world XV this year or being one of our best performing players.

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    Mute David Clarke
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    Jan 14th 2025, 6:03 PM

    @conor carroll: not on the wing he isnt,hes not a winger and it showed on sunday,great 12 and 15,lowe though offers far more on the left wing,breaks tackles,carries,big left boot and has vastly improved his defence,also always goes hunting for the ball and gets stuck in to mauls and excellent under the high ball,pace is not everything.

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Jan 14th 2025, 6:46 PM

    @conor carroll: Interesting statement. If you actually watched rugby you’d see that Lowe is probably quicker than Osborne in a foot race. Osborne has many, many strengths. Pace isn’t one of them.

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    Mute Comeonyouknow
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    Jan 14th 2025, 9:31 PM

    @conor carroll: Nash is the pace merchant played all the 6 nations last year

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    Mute Eoin H
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    Jan 14th 2025, 4:52 PM

    Honestly, is Lowe still a starter for Leinster? I just really can’t see how you leave out Jamie Osborne even if he was rusty on the wing at the weekend, like his skill level for that try was ridiculous. He also has just a big left boot as Lowe.

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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Jan 14th 2025, 5:05 PM

    @Eoin H: lowe is the left winger for both ireland and leinster.

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    Mute Gary D
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    Jan 14th 2025, 5:38 PM

    @Eoin H: Osborne isn’t a winger and should only be playing there in a pinch. Lowe is also the better player generally right now

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    Mute Eoin H
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    Jan 14th 2025, 6:08 PM

    @Gary D: He definitely isn’t the better all round player generally, no way

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Jan 14th 2025, 6:45 PM

    @Eoin H: Well he has been a starter for the last 7.5 years. And he was a starter right up until his injury. Osborne is far far better utilised at 12 or 15. Let’s just play lads in their correct positions.

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    Mute Petter Sellberg
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    Jan 14th 2025, 8:01 PM

    @Eoin H: I partially agree with you. Osbourne has an ability to hold on to passes that others would knock on and is too good to leave out of the team. Lowe is a try scoring machine as well though so not sure I’d leave him out either. I’d probably play Osbourne at 12 and leave Henshaw on the bench for impact

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