THIS opening round of the Garveys Kerry senior football championship at Caherciveen yesterday proved to be much closer than generally anticipated, despite the underdogs being limited by the loss of eight players.

KERRY’s relief at the preservation of their top-flight status in the National Football League was ironically overshadowed by the jubilation of the Monaghan players and a decent travelling support when it emerged that a superior scoring rate to Derry also ensured their survival.

THE Kerry management are confident of having their goal-keeping position resolved before the end of the Allianz NFL, with coach Jack O’Connor indicating after yesterday’s game in Fitzgerald Stadium that they are unlikely to “spread the net” beyond the three players who have filled the position so far in the McGrath Cup following Diarmuid Murphy’s retirement.

THERE was a serious question mark hanging over Kerins O’Rahillys ability to win in Austin Stack Park yesterday until Declan Quill inspired them with a 53rd-minute goal.

THERE was nothing surprising about the outcome of the first of the Kerry SFC quarter-finals in Tralee yesterday, just that it stretched the resources of a Kerins O’Rahilly’s side hampered by the absence of the injured Tommy Walsh more than expected.