Kerry weren’t getting too carried away on Sunday, that was probably the most inspiring thing.
Yes, they had brought Dublin’s 36-game unbeaten run to an end and they won the first bit of major silverware of the season, simultaneously halting Dublin’s dominance of the league and proving that they do not fear the capital.
They allowed themselves about three seconds of celebrations and embraces after the win at Croke Park before they reaffirmed the idea that they are bloody Kerry and this is what they do.
Fionn Fitzgerald’s salute with the trophy was modest enough and he dedicated the climax of his speech to Colm Cooper but, for the most part, it was business-like, eyes ahead.
Kerry don’t play football for April days.
Classy from Fionn Fitzgerald, giving the final mention to @colmcooper13 pic.twitter.com/qQWmBgHk9h
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 9, 2017
It was fitting that it would be the Kingdom who’d bring to a close this streak of their great rivals considering their win in Kerry over Dublin back in March 2015 is what prompted the unbeaten run.
It was more fitting that Eamonn Fitzmaurice should mastermind this latest feat with what almost looks like a whole new team already. Make no mistake about it, these boys are young but they are Kerry men looking more and more comfortable in the green and gold and, just like the legends before them, they’re capable of making their own mark.
All over the pitch, there were performances to take great heart from:
- Mark Griffin was an absolute animal at the back.
- Gavin Crowley came in for Lyne in the first half and flourished.
- David Moran was downright unworkable again.
- Donnchadh Walsh kicked with outside of his boot late on.
- Paul Geaney looks like he owns Croke Park.
Through all that, they still needed the old guard to see them through such a tense affair because injury time was horrifyingly nervy.
They needed Bryan Sheehan.
With 71:37 on the clock, the scoreboard read 0-19 to 1-13 in Kerry’s favour.
47 seconds later, it was 0-19 to 1-15.
That’s where old faithful came into it.
Since his debut in 2005, the right boot of Bryan Sheehan has almost been a guiding light for the Kingdom’s raids and the former captain has been a valuable member of four All-Ireland winning squads.
As a full forward, as a half forward, as a midfielder, Sheehan has been a consistent force for Kerry and it was him who dug them out on Sunday when the wheels looked to be wobbling.
He takes the ball a good bit out after a direct run from Gavin Crowley.
He runs at Dublin, because he doesn’t fear them.
He rides the tackle.
He works the space.
And just look at the flight of this ball.
Straight over the black spots – talk about emphatic.
As it was, the score moved Kerry two ahead and they needed every single one of their 20 points because the Dubs came back for one last scare.
As it was, it was the game-winning score.
As it was, it was an old legend who took them there even if he only got the last two minutes of normal time to help out.
Class is permanent.
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