What a performance!
Kerry boss Jack O’Connor masterminded a 1-26 to 0-19 win over Donegal in the All-Ireland SFC final this afternoon, with his side never behind in the game, and looking comfortable throughout.
The Kingdom made hay against Donegal’s zonal defence, with David Clifford, Joe O’Connor, Gavin White, and Paudie Clifford all outstanding.
Kerry went into half-time with a seven-point lead, similar to the six-point lead held by Cork over Tipperary in last weekend’s All-Ireland SHC final.
The Rebels were well beaten in the end, and after today’s game, O’Connor threw a small dig at the Kingdom’s fiercest rivals.
He said: “We said to each other in the dressing room, what happened to Cork last week wouldn’t happen to us.”
Kerry vs Donegal
Scorers – Kerry: David Clifford 0-9 (2tp, 1 tpf), Sean O’Shea 0-6 (2 tpf), Joe O’Connor 1-0, Dylan Geaney 0-3, Gavin White 0-3, Paudie Clifford 0-3, Sean O’Brien 0-2.
Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-8 (0-6f), Conor O’Donnell 0-4, Oisin Gallen 0-3, Shane O’Donnell 0-2, Caolan McGonagle 0-1, Daire O Baoill 0-1.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Sean O’Brien, Mark O’Shea; Joe O’Connor, Sean O’Shea, Graham O’Sullivan; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Dylan Geaney.
Subs: Diarmuid O’Connor for O’Brien 50, Killian Spillane for Geaney 54, Evan Looney for O Beaglaoich 63, Tadhg Morley for Breen 65, Micheál Burns for O’Sullivan 69.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Caolan McColgan, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Finbarr Roarty, Ryan McHugh; Caolan McGonagle, Michael Langan; Ciaran Moore, Ciaran Thompson, Shane O’Donnell; Conor O’Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.
Subs: Daire O Baoill for Thompson 23, Hugh McFadden for McColgan h/t, Jason McGee for McHugh 41, Patrick McBrearty for Gallen 50, Jamie Brennan for Gallagher 59.
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).
