NFL Rd 3 - Kerry v Donegal - Killarney Sun 20 Feb 1:45pm

[Aodhan]

Feb 20, 2022 19:05:02 GMT Mickmack said:

Jason was like a Fordson Major opening a furrow up through the centre at the end....i was hoping he would score.

Jason would almost certainly have scored a goal if Tom O’Sullivan had played the one two with him instead of laying it off to Seanie for the last point. Probably a good thing as we would never hear the end of it. A poem would ensue added as a signature for eternity.

[gamechanger10]

A great performance considering the atrocious conditions from several of our top players. Definitely a need to have a good luck at a kick out strategy in challenging conditions as we presented Donegal with a purple patch by kicking to our big men when they were in circled by most of the Donegal middle eight. I’m confident that jack will develop some strategy that develops the options available to the keeper in similar situations going forward.

I was very fearful going into the second half with the way Donegal appeared to control the ball with the intention of just launching an all out attack when they had the hurricane at their backs in the second half. I couldn’t believe how polite they were when they had their opportunity ,,,,,, I’d be a very pissed off supporter if I watched that on tv in Donegal never mind having made that bloody journey in the prevailing conditions. I’d say the heat of Declan Bonner’s seat is fast increasing.

[horsebox77]

At long last the blood is back in the fingertips, Christ that was one bitter cold game, it brought back memories of the pre xmas league games. Apart from the cold, I can’t remember when I left a league game so content, admittedly I’m a bottle half full man but today I saw positive improvement in major failings of previous years. In addition certain players are seriously putting their hands up and growing in to roles.

From the back out, I though Ryan had a good game and commanded his square, I see above some are bemoaning his kickouts in the last quarter, but at this juncture, for my viewpoint on the 45 you could see the northern line, the cut off of the shot kick and unfortunately both mid fielders got sucked to the same wing, Jack and Diaemuid should have split and let Seanie man ghe centre, in addition Adrain had departed the scene.

Dan Donoghue has continued to steadily impress and is growing in confidence. As a defensive unit, we have most definitely improved, the way we squeezed the Donegal team in the second half and restricted their play to outside our forty five was excellent, in addition, we conceded very few frees in or around the D. In this regard I have to commend two players in particular. Tadgh Morley who was outstanding, he’s positional sense and covering was top notch and one aspect we have been missing by his deployment to the full back role. Filey’s consistent form here has afforded us to release Morley and this has enhanced the solidity of our defence. The second man I have to mention is Adrain Spillane, his work rate, physicality and turnover count is seriously high and often goes unnoticed. Twice today in the first half he overturned, one was a two vs one he intercepted which resulted in Paudie scoring from play, the second was when he dived in and overturned a Donegal man when he was outnumbers in the Lewis Road terrace side, the ball was worked out and a Killian pointed.

I think he was really grown into this role and both he and a kerry are benefiting as a result.

Up front, Seanie was outstanding, Dare and Paudie were as industrious as ever, but we need a better scoring return from Dara. Inside Killian frustrates me because he is exceptionally talented, he needs to show for the full 70 minutes, Geaney will always give everything and will invariably choose in with two or three and put himself about a bit.

But back to our defensive set up, to restrict the opposition to many little scoring opportunities against a yellow wind warning without conceding frees or turnovers is the most pleasing aspect for me.

Meeting a Monaghan less McManus should be another stiff challenge especially up there, what I am most looking forward to is how we counteract the Beggan aspect of their play. Can we crank it up another notch.

[The16thMan]

Lads Donegal were absolutely brutal today. I'm aware they had a wind to fight in the 1st half but I can't recall them taking a shot at all in the 1st half, only 2 fisted points. It's almost like they were playing damage limitation from the start. They had no intention to penetrate Kerry in the 1st half only deny possession. To beat a better team you have to outplay them and take risks, all of which Donegal didn't do.
Kerry were decent but nothing fantastic, they beat what was in front of them without being spectacular. Seánie was a real positive, able to score from anywhere within 60 yards now from a placed ball and his contribution from play was also top notch. He belongs at 11, not at 8 but it we know that now for sure. His spell at midfield was worth experimenting on. Also Dan O'Donoghue was very good, he looks like he belongs on the team.

[mg72]

Feb 20, 2022 17:17:43 GMT onlykerry said:

Feb 20, 2022 17:04:13 GMT givehimaball said:

Ryan has to take a serious amount of blame here - hoofing it out to the same spot 5/6 times in a row making it a complete lottery was clueless stuff. His "hanging" style of kickout makes it easier for the opposing side to attack the kickout especially when he is kicking it out to the same side of the pitch 6 times in a row. I'd say he'll be doing well to start another game for Kerry this year.

He had few options - Donegal were covering the short kick out and Kerry loaded their big men into the spot under the stand he was kicking into. Our big men were out jumped time after time. Where would you suggest he kick it ? He looked to be following instructions to me and we were cleaned out in the air.

I wouldn't be blaming Ryan for us losing so many kick outs.
The 2 keepers and a couple of coaches were out on the pitch for a good while discussing and practicing the kick out options long before the rest of the team emerged from the dressing room.
The conditions were atrocious today.....he tried a kickout straight down the middle before the match. It went out about 55 yards, hung up in the air and then came back towards him again. It ended up being 2 yards in front of where he kicked it from!!!!
They obviously decided that the area under the stand 50 yards out was the only feasible place that he could kick to against the wind if Donegal were pushing up to cut off the short ones.
Donegal were way bigger than us around the middle of the pitch, so they had a huge advantage when it came to catching clean ball and winning breaking ball.
I'd be in favour of Ryan getting another chance the next day. Ruling him out after today would be harsh on him.

[Annascaultilidie]

I would like to see Kerry win a game in the rain in Croke Park.

[thehermit]

There are days that make you believe that a summer is a phantom of an overacted imagination, today in Killarney was such an occasion. True for a mockingly brief moment the azure pierced the grey and the sun materialized. Yet like some conjurer its appearance seemed but an illusion, an apparition to torment the huddled masses. I've been fortunate to travel a lot of this fine world and yet I know of no colder place than Killarney when the daffodils are blooming. Lille wonder a long ago Lithuanian romance once damned my country as that "wet, frozen spot".

And as we reached the front of the stand I figured that was to be my own experience of the day. The heart sank to see its covered benches jammed. In that great match going tradition we headed for the far corner praying there might be some space. Alas it looked like we were out of luck as we ascended the steps and searched helplessly for a spot until a couple of fellow supporters winked and hollered some room here boys - as Blanche DuBois knew only too well a life is often dependent on the kindness of strangers.

You can only credit Kerry for chalking up a comprehensive win in these conditions. I mean I did have a moment of extensional crisis there in the first half when I wondered what I was at with this lark, shivering myself to death. And surely to good God as the rain drenched wind blasted their faces Seanie and co would not have been human if they didn't question some of their life choices.

In truth Donegal never looked comfortable, like the plus one at the wedding of their partner's ex. I thought their decision to drill out in the open would be a statement of intent - we wild men of the North don't give a hoot for storms we're here to win. Instead they were abject. I think the most tellingly expression of this came when all the hellish elements were in their favour in their second half. Despite being well behind and Patton having a boot like a field gun they constantly choose the short kick out. The lack of game intelligence was bewildering, an attitude of lets do what's been drilled into us regardless instead of letting a few high ones fly into the square where they might cause havoc in such weather.

As for Kerry we played the conditions like a fiddle. Some beautiful scores from range, gratefully wind assisted. Seanie performing the archtypical captains role. The No 24 Donegal sent on to bite at his heels managed to get a yellow out of him but Seanie decided running rings around him was amble revenge.

Dan O'D looks more and more the real stuff with each game. Hard, crafty and determined. Dara O'Cinnede said on the radio during the week he wouldn't be starting him if he was picking a Championship 15. I wonder by League's end will Dara be reconsidering. Adrian, yet again, looked desperate to hang on to the jersey. More power to him.

Our defence was pleasingly solid albeit never under serious pressure. Midfield was a slight concern and I would say Ryan has done himself little favours. It was maddening to see him constantly telegraph his kickouts to the middle left time after time (though I take the points raised above about the lack of options).

This was an important victory in the sense that the League is ours now to do with as we please. We are safe and can go win it or just experiment. As someone for who the League will always be 'only the League' my inclination would be to shake things up completely next weekend and pick the subs as the starters and see how they do. What is there to lose? League titles are grand but we've plenty of them. We are a team that has left behind 2-3 All Irelands already. What we need now is options and to find plans B and C for the summer. I don't know what we can learn by only giving the likes of Casey or Horan 5 or 10 mins when a game is won.

Ernest Hemmingway always said a good story should be like an iceberg and its those same hidden depths which hopefully this Kerry team are building. Anyway I'm off to bed, a long drive in the morning and work that afternoon but as always its a worthwhile trek after a Kerry win. Hopefully see some of you in Insikeen.

[horsebox77]

Agree MJ72 regarding Ryan, I think he commands his square better, two balls today in or around the square he was in total control, he physically is more imposing and as he plays outfield for his clubs seeing the w6 the role has evolved, he is also, more comfortable in possession outside the safety of his square.

Next week, If Jack wants to experiment, then we could see starts for Casey, Crowley, Horan, Savage as well and Brosnan and Killian, is he wise to start all the ones listed, I wouldn’t, we stall wants. Win but I don’t see why Seanie and DC couldn’t be left in Kerry with Paudie taking the forty position and Brosnan starting upfront with Geaney and Brosnan.

I like other have advocated for Donal O’Sullivan getting a call up, apart from DC he was UL’s next best player in the Sigerson

[Mickmack]

Feb 17, 2022 8:40:24 GMT Mickmack said:

Feb 15, 2022 19:55:22 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

So that’s the crop that came in in 2018 under Fitzmaurice and three or four others who came in in 2019. You’re looking at Shane Ryan, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan, Gavin White, Gavin Crowley, Diarmuid O’Connor, Dara Moynihan, Sean O’Shea, Killian Spillane and David Clifford. 5 of them I would class as our best players now along with Paudie. 3 others are likely starters and very good players but not top class as of now, as we would have hoped for when they came in. The remaining 2 are strong subs. It’s difficult to answer your question though, if we’re talking of a starting All Ireland winning level I do think a lot of them are at that level which is positive but of course they have to go out and do it.

I would highly recommend having a look at that 2019 game v Donegal.

A fews obs

A super open game well reffed by Paddy Neilan.

So much has changed in 3 years. Back then there was no stupid offensive mark. Also a black card meant that you were gone for the whole game and a sub was allowed. GW was having a super game till his black card ...he slipped while pulling a jersey and pulled his man down...very unlucky.

The main point i want to make is just how good SOB was in 2019. 3 points from play and lots of other good stuff including defensive covering...he was unlucky with giving away the peno as he stood his ground and the attacker ran at him.

Killian Spillane was starved of possession yet got 3 points..none of them easy. Jason popped up to fist a point. I forgot that.

Geaney got 1.04. He was very good even if he missed a lot too.



The following have improved since 2019
David Clifford
Tom Sullivan (he was very good that day too)
Diarmaid oConnor


The following were playing better in 2019 than they played in 2021
Paul Murphy
Gavin Crowley
Adrian Spillane
Sean oShea
Killian Spillane
Paul Geaney

If those 6 could find form again Kerry would take a lot of beating






Kerry:

S Ryan;
J Foley (0-01), T Morley, T O’Sullivan (0-01);
P Murphy (0-01), G Crowley, G White;

A Spillane, D O’Connor;
Enright, S O’Shea (0-04, 3f), K Spillane (0-03);
D Clifford (0-03, 1f), P Geaney (1-04), S O’Brien (0-03).

Subs:
J Lyne for White (BC 34),
J Sherwood for O’Connor (43),
M Griffin for Enright (55),
G O’Sullivan for Crowley (62),
M Burns for A Spillane (68),
T O Se for K Spillane (72)

;lofr the vwas

Adrian Spillane and Sean oShea look like they are returning to their 2019 form. This is really encouraging. I think Killian showed well too. I was disappointed when he was taken off.

Jack looks like he wants to win every game which is entirely understandable but maybe he should put out a more experimental side the next day....


Donegal butchered a clear goal chance from Jack Savages poor lineball. A goal then would have tested their mental resolve.


Those tests will surely come in the coming weeks.

[royalkerryfan]

Feb 20, 2022 21:57:35 GMT Mickmack said:

Feb 17, 2022 8:40:24 GMT Mickmack said:

I would highly recommend having a look at that 2019 game v Donegal.

A fews obs

A super open game well reffed by Paddy Neilan.

So much has changed in 3 years. Back then there was no stupid offensive mark. Also a black card meant that you were gone for the whole game and a sub was allowed. GW was having a super game till his black card ...he slipped while pulling a jersey and pulled his man down...very unlucky.

The main point i want to make is just how good SOB was in 2019. 3 points from play and lots of other good stuff including defensive covering...he was unlucky with giving away the peno as he stood his ground and the attacker ran at him.

Killian Spillane was starved of possession yet got 3 points..none of them easy. Jason popped up to fist a point. I forgot that.

Geaney got 1.04. He was very good even if he missed a lot too.



The following have improved since 2019
David Clifford
Tom Sullivan (he was very good that day too)
Diarmaid oConnor


The following were playing better in 2019 than they played in 2021
Paul Murphy
Gavin Crowley
Adrian Spillane
Sean oShea
Killian Spillane
Paul Geaney

If those 6 could find form again Kerry would take a lot of beating






Kerry:

S Ryan;
J Foley (0-01), T Morley, T O’Sullivan (0-01);
P Murphy (0-01), G Crowley, G White;

A Spillane, D O’Connor;
Enright, S O’Shea (0-04, 3f), K Spillane (0-03);
D Clifford (0-03, 1f), P Geaney (1-04), S O’Brien (0-03).

Subs:
J Lyne for White (BC 34),
J Sherwood for O’Connor (43),
M Griffin for Enright (55),
G O’Sullivan for Crowley (62),
M Burns for A Spillane (68),
T O Se for K Spillane (72)

;lofr the vwas

Adrian Spillane and Sean oShea look like they are returning to their 2019 form. This is really encouraging. I think Killian showed well too. I was disappointed when he was taken off.

Jack looks like he wants to win every game which is entirely understandable but maybe he should put out a more experimental side the next day....


Donegal butchered a clear goal chance from Jack Savages poor lineball. A goal then would have tested their mental resolve.


Those tests will surely come in the coming weeks.

Was Sean o shea not the championship top scorer last year?

[Mickmack]

Feb 20, 2022 22:20:39 GMT royalkerryfan said:

Feb 20, 2022 21:57:35 GMT Mickmack said:

Adrian Spillane and Sean oShea look like they are returning to their 2019 form. This is really encouraging. I think Killian showed well too. I was disappointed when he was taken off.

Jack looks like he wants to win every game which is entirely understandable but maybe he should put out a more experimental side the next day....


Donegal butchered a clear goal chance from Jack Savages poor lineball. A goal then would have tested their mental resolve.


Those tests will surely come in the coming weeks.

Was Sean o shea not the championship top scorer last year?

I presume those stats include games against the munster hurling counties.

[kerryeastcoastusa]

I wouldn’t agree with the negative comments on Shane Ryan today at all. I would say he had a very good game. Commanded the square and very comfortable on the ball which was really important into the wind. The kick outs were always going to be difficult into the wind as Donegal were always going to cut off the short one and our midfielders were struggling with the height and physicality of Donegal. I think it was damage limitations game plan … both midfielders to bunch close to the sideline so even if we lose the kickout we aren’t opened through the middle. I think he is a step or two ahead of Shane Murphy at this stage.

[royalkerryfan]

Feb 20, 2022 22:35:55 GMT Mickmack said:

Feb 20, 2022 22:20:39 GMT royalkerryfan said:

Was Sean o shea not the championship top scorer last year?

I presume those stats include games against the munster hurling counties.

What more could he have done so than be the championship top scorer ?

[fitz]

I think despite second half kick out losses and a couple ill judged finishes it was a really solid performance. To outscore opposition against that wind and leave 3 goals behind us is serious operating. Fitness levels are very impressive. Tbh I’d didn’t think 7 points was enough at half time. I think Killian was hauled for losing a ball on the ground out on right wing.

[john4]

Sean O'Shea is probably our most influential player. DC will finish amazingly but everything goes through SoS. Tyrone were onto this last summer, doubled up on him and that finished us. I agree with earlier comments, 11 is his spot. He and DC are irreplaceable.

[keane]

Should be noted that Begley was very good today. Paul Murphy also on his best vein of form in a long time. Morley back from the dead. That half back line is going to be competitive for places.

[fitz]

Feb 20, 2022 23:09:48 GMT john4 said:

Sean O'Shea is probably our most influential player. DC will finish amazingly but everything goes through SoS. Tyrone were onto this last summer, doubled up on him and that finished us. I agree with earlier comments, 11 is his spot. He and DC are irreplaceable.

Great points. I think it was the freakish concession of second and third goals that finished us last summer

[Deleted]

Happy enough today, I thought Shane Ryan was excellent and when a high dangerous ball was launched into his small square late on it was held with real strength and he gives me a great sence of calm that Shane Murphy doesn't give me.

Dan O'Donaghue was brilliant, looks like he's been on the team with years, Jason didn't put a foot wrong all day and got up in support of the forwards as all the fullback line, Tom O'Sullivan did a great job on McHugh.

Paul Murphy was sharp but ran into the Donegal wall 1/2 times and got turned over.
Morley was solid cleaning up lose ball.
O'Beaglaoich was very strong and played some great football, he needs a spot on this team whether that's at White or Murphys expense I'm not sure.

Jack Barry very good very busy, did the simple things right.
O'connor had a quite game but up against McGee who is a beast.

Adrian Spillane is quick becoming my favourite player, great honest to god hard work, took 2 blows to the face (a ball and a fist) but kept going.

Seánie was very busy and his kicking was sublime, being back home at centre forward suits him, 1 little thing though, Seánie got through on goal 3 times and punched 3 points where I think he should have gone for the jugular, they could be costly down the road.
Dara was good.

Paudie did a great linking job.
Geaney did a lot of work off the ball but didn't threaten the goals.
Killian gave us a good 35 minutes and 2 great points.

Clifford came on and kicked 1:01, he didn't look tired or worn out, he just wants to play ball,
Stephen ó Brien was very good when he came on.
Jack Savage nearly gave Donegal a goal when he kicked a ball straight to McHugh.
Greg Horan not much time to do much.
Tony Brosnan did well, held up the ball and was play making from what I could see.

All in all a good day out, the pitch held up well.

[fitz]

Feb 20, 2022 23:16:47 GMT keane said:

Should be noted that Begley was very good today. Paul Murphy also on his best vein of form in a long time. Morley back from the dead. That half back line is going to be competitive for places.

He’s getting the habit of being good every day, very hard to bench him now

[keane]

Feb 20, 2022 23:22:30 GMT fitz said:

Feb 20, 2022 23:16:47 GMT keane said:

Should be noted that Begley was very good today. Paul Murphy also on his best vein of form in a long time. Morley back from the dead. That half back line is going to be competitive for places.

He’s getting the habit of being good every day, very hard to bench him now

Which one? Was trying to figure out which one of Begley or Murphy is most likely to be left out in the end. I guess Begley is more likely to lose out and White will come in. It'll be very hard to Breen to take a spot ahead of the other three I think.

It's probably a waste of mental energy now but I seem to have a memory of Paul Murphy having a good season flitting around the half forward line maybe as far back as 2016?

[taggert]

Feb 20, 2022 23:09:48 GMT john4 said:

Sean O'Shea is probably our most influential player. DC will finish amazingly but everything goes through SoS. Tyrone were onto this last summer, doubled up on him and that finished us. I agree with earlier comments, 11 is his spot. He and DC are irreplaceable.

This is spot on. SoS is the key man. Tyrone totally nullified him and he had a real off day as a result - both decision making and pass execution suffered royally on the day. When he plays well, the team plays well.
He made no impact from play that day after an amazing league and c'ship up to that point.

[Moderator]

So 36 voters had Kerry to win by 5 or less, while 9 gave it to Kerry by 6 or more.

4 went for the draw and nobody picked a Donegal victory.

I'm sure a few of the early voters might have upped from the 5 or less victory margin when Michael Murphy was declared unavailable.

No poll on the Monaghan game as only the poster who starts the thread can do so (I think).

[Ballyfireside]

Feb 20, 2022 21:51:56 GMT Annascaultilidie said:

I would like to see Kerry win a game in the rain in Croke Park.

Jazus I'd hate that, I think we should be choosey about what weather we will accept victory in Croker, I mean we are Kerry so we have that luxury, BTW who's idea was it to win in Killarney in the rain?

Seriously, the avalanche of reports from those who attended shows what we are missing with behind closed door training and restricted access by media to players. As this was the most revealing public show so far it is like a breath of fresh air to know what our player options really are.

I'd say Jacko will measure the blooding by the Farneys vs Orchard encounter and the stony grey soil boyos will look to take us back a peg, they will also remember 2019 when they had us cooked until the boiling water spilt over the chef just as the meal was ready. They are an open book in that respect so it will be interesting to see who will benefit most from that specific Farney strain of blooding. Be jazus but they tortured DC that sunny day and in one instance ended up hurting themselves when they found rock!

[Mickmack]

Feb 20, 2022 23:32:35 GMT taggert said:

Feb 20, 2022 23:09:48 GMT john4 said:

Sean O'Shea is probably our most influential player. DC will finish amazingly but everything goes through SoS. Tyrone were onto this last summer, doubled up on him and that finished us. I agree with earlier comments, 11 is his spot. He and DC are irreplaceable.

This is spot on. SoS is the key man. Tyrone totally nullified him and he had a real off day as a result - both decision making and pass execution suffered royally on the day. When he plays well, the team plays well.
He made no impact from play that day after an amazing league and c'ship up to that point.

He is our most important player. Like Declan was in Jacks previous team was in my opinion. In our exits from the championship in 2020 and 2021 he didnt or wasnt let perform.

He had a huge run of club games etc prior to 2021, was injured etc.

Hopefully 2022 will see him at his brilliant best in Croker in late June and July.

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2022 9:34:09 GMT Mickmack said:

Feb 20, 2022 23:32:35 GMT taggert said:

This is spot on. SoS is the key man. Tyrone totally nullified him and he had a real off day as a result - both decision making and pass execution suffered royally on the day. When he plays well, the team plays well.
He made no impact from play that day after an amazing league and c'ship up to that point.

He is our most important player. Like Declan was in Jacks previous team was in my opinion. In our exits from the championship in 2020 and 2021 he didnt or wasnt let perform.

He had a huge run of club games etc prior to 2021, was injured etc.

Hopefully 2022 will see him at his brilliant best in Croker in late June and July.

I watched the game on league Sunday last night and Paudies point that he scored on the run from 35 yards out was very Declan like.

I'd have liked Seánie to be a bit more brave in front of goals yesterday but maybe hitting the 1 off the bottom of the post shook him a bit.

[dc84]

Feb 21, 2022 10:48:35 GMT @asprilla said:

Feb 21, 2022 9:34:09 GMT Mickmack said:

He is our most important player. Like Declan was in Jacks previous team was in my opinion. In our exits from the championship in 2020 and 2021 he didnt or wasnt let perform.

He had a huge run of club games etc prior to 2021, was injured etc.

Hopefully 2022 will see him at his brilliant best in Croker in late June and July.

I watched the game on league Sunday last night and Paudies point that he scored on the run from 35 yards out was very Declan like.

I'd have liked Seánie to be a bit more brave in front of goals yesterday but maybe hitting the 1 off the bottom of the post shook him a bit.

We were 8 points up with the game nearly over if it meant something he would've I'm sure. On a wet pitch going to round the goalie could easily lead to an injury. We spurned some good goal chances all the same we need to be more clinical in that regard all right the one we got was nothing to do with good play

[southward]

Feb 7, 2022 21:00:53 GMT sullyschoice said:

Can we please just have the National Anthem played over the sound system and abandon the phenomenon of some person murdering it. It seems to be the norm in all Ulster games and its creeping in elsewhere.

I think we unveiled a new champion yesterday. Guy at the Dublin game was like Pavarotti compared to this effort.

[veteran]

They said the weather conditions at the Dublin match could not be replicated for the Donegal match. I think they got it wrong. I parked on the Cork bypass and as I muddled along the back of the pants and shoes were saturated. When I rounded the corner for the Lewis Road I was assailed from the front and within a couple of minutes the front of the pants was wringing. What could a man do but put the head down and battle on and pretend that he was lying on the beach on a sunny day in Ballybunion. Drenched or not, I was determined to procure a seat in the stand. I duly spotted one, occupied by a satchel, and was about to sit down when the owner of the said satchel said he was keeping the seat for this friend. I handed him his satchel told him if he was so concerned about his friend he could vacate his seat own seat and give it to him. Never display concern for a friend in the hope of winning favour from an old guy who had more or less to swim to his seat.

We lost the throw in as we did the second one. A harbinger of our midfield aerial submission all through the game. Those opening phases were tedious and wearisome as Donegal , who have a patent on this endless keep ball, indulged in their seemingly congenital approach to football- pass the parcel. It was infuriating to watch Kerry retreat in the face of this abomination. rather than coming out and taking them man for man. Gradually we did and build up a handsome half time lead of seven points. This was not insurmountable but was likely to be enough in view of the good play of our backs and the ineptitude of Donegal. That confidence at half time was slightly tempered by the fact that our midfield was being submerged and continued to do so for the bulk of the game.

In that opening half and indeed all through , Tadgh Morley was a dominant figure, highlighted by a flying interception when Donegal, for once, seemed to have an overlap. I don't think I have seen Tadgh play with such authority in any Kerry game. Further back, Dan O'Donoghue continued with his venomous, cheeky form of the previous games. It is not to say that the other backs were not competent. They were but the laborious Donegal tactics did not over stretch them. As the half developed the Kerry forwards got the into the swing of things and lofted over a few beauties from hand and ground. Sean O'Shea was immaculate in every aspect of play- kicking from hand and ground, displaying aggression and leadership. Paul kicked one over from near the sideline, leaving two men sprawling in his wake. He struck another impossible one which hit the upright and , as far as I can recall, Killian gathered and struck over. Killian kicked another one as did Paudi Clifford. To compound matters, the imposter Dan O'Donoghue roamed up and kicked over one as good as any that went before. Kicking long range points is the way to break the back of the opposition's insipid tactics.

The second half was not too old when it became apparent that Donegal were not going to do too much damage. Our backs as a unit were largely bullet proof in spite of Donegal's dominance at midfield. To make matters worse for Donegal, the golden boy came on and did a bit of damage! Scored 1-1 and struck another against the crossbar. People tell me his goal was fortuitous. Not at all. I would describe it as divine intervention! Tony Brosnan also came on and assiduously set up a point for Sean O'Shea.

Adrian Spillane seemed to get a blow of the ball in the face in the early stages and this seemed to stun him for a while as he seemed to wander aimlessly about for a while. For example he went down to tie a lace and took an inordinate amount of time to complete the task. He went off for a while, ? blood injury, and came back on rejuvenated. He horsed into any thing that moved and somethings that did not move . He turned over a few which looked like lost causes before eventually being replaced by an extremely effective Stephen O'Brien. I suspect an exhausted Adrian slept well last night.

As I have already hinted, the most disquieting aspect of our game was the poor form of our midfielders, both of whom were taking on water all through the game. This manifested itself especially for a period in the second half of the second half when Donegal enjoyed a period of supremacy as a result. We were being obliterated in the air and on the ground. This uncertain period was exacerbated by Shane Murphy's kicks out. He directed a sequence of them to the same spot near the sideline in front of the stand. We could not claim any of them. Eventually, he did change direction, of his own volition or from command via management? His cause was not helped by the naivety of Diarmuid and Jack. Why in the name of goodness did they not split and thereby give Shane two targets. Not a good day at the office for those two boys.

Interestingly, Tom O'Sullivan seemed to take up Ryan McHugh. I am not sure who was marking who but they seemed to cancel each other out. Advantage Kerry, because Ryan tends to be a fulcrum for a lot Donegal attacks.

By the end of the match , the rain had largely disappeared. I happily discarded the rain soaked clothes into the boot and sank into the luxury of the car. In no time, I got entry into the stream of traffic , the heating came on, as did the radio and headed for home with victory secured. Ah, the simple things in life.

I was in the door only a short time when I had an influx of children and grandchildren. All had come to welcome home the hero. I was given the honour of cuddling the latest recruit to the grandchildren galaxy. Four/five months old. An adorable urchin. Another impish grandchild took it upon herself to try and entertain him. Not interested. He was interested only in surveying the room, processing, in wonder, the assorted faces, sights and sounds. Occasionally, he glanced up at me ,as much as to say, haven't I seen you around before. And then that smile, that smilecalculated to melt the coldest of cold hearts. I responded, it's the simple things in life, little man. He responded, I know grandpa. For you it's Kerry football. For me it's sleep. He nodded off.

[MeathExile]

Job well done yesterday......I wasnt able to make it down and was thankful enough when I saw the conditions.

Donegal must be the most boring team ever to play football - if I was from Donegal I would seriously consider moving across the county border while they are playing this type of football. They remind me of Kildare several years ago - non-stop hand-passing and going nowhere.

The second half in particular was beyond belief. The goalie actually had a kick-out that was caught by none other than our goalie - such was the length he was able to get into it with the aid of the wind. And yet they persisted with the short kick-outs and possession football. All they needed to do was move one of their big midfielders to full/centre forward and aim the kick-outs to him.

From our perspective, I wouldnt be getting carried away with the result. Donegal are brutal, and we drew with Kildare who looked brutal (and lost) yesterday against half a Tyrone team.

I can understand why Jack is playing as strong a team as possible, but he needs to try out a few more lads in the remaining games. Defence in particular has seen little experimentation. I fear that we end up in Croker in June/July throwing a newbie into the lions den when our defence needs an improvement. Monaghan away is the ideal place to try this as they seem to be one of the weaker teams this year. All of the main contenders for championship are trying out new lads (Dubs with no success so far), but at least they are seeing what their options are/are not for later on

Some posters above are lauding the half-back line. Delighted for Morley as I thought he was treated terribly last year. But I still fear for us with all 3 of TomOS, Paul M, and Brian in the back 6. I think 2 of those at most can play in order to maintain a more physical presence. Tom is a definite starter, so its one of the other 2. However, I would prefer to see Mike B and Gavin W at 5 & 7. Hold Paul and Brian to come on in the second half when things open up. I wouldnt rule Paul out to come on at wing forward - he has the shooting boots.

[fitz]

If Seanie had stuck his two goal chances, if DC his, we'd be out of sight BUT also if Ryan McHugh hadn't made a pigs trousers from intercept Jack Savage line ball, gap down to 3, still a few mins to play- mindset would have changed no doubt about it. That would have been a big test then. It was a big moment. A penny for Shane Ryan's thoughts then for the follow up kickout...