Kerry’s self-belief is restored

Kerry 1-13 Armagh 2-8

The unpalatable version of how they lost last September's All-Ireland final has less to do with oppression, helicopters and British troops in Armagh and more to do with stomach for the fight.

In many Kerry people's eyes, the Kingdom came up short because their opponents wanted it more, and after losing their chance of making the knockout stages of the League with a home defeat to Tyrone two weeks ago, yesterday was a watershed of sorts.

How Paidi Ó Sé must have skipped home to Ventry last night after his players proved to themselves more than anyone that they can still walk the walk. Marc Ó Sé, at fault for Armagh's first goal, had the gumption to rifle home the winning strike in the fourth minute of added time to give his side the points.

Damage to Armagh's confidence will be superficial, though defeating Kerry in their own backyard would have been a convincing way to approach the League semi final especially as they played the last 18 minutes without Kieran McGeeney, harshly shown a second yellow card for a collision with Declan Quill.

The decision by referee, Michael Ryan, was in keeping with a generally poor display by the Limerick official. Though unknown to many of the protagonists beforehand, his inconsistencies left Joe Kernan musing: "I won't forget him in a hurry."

While the All Ireland champions advance, Kerry move into what Darragh Ó Sé called "a critical phase" of their season without a competitive fixture to prepare them for the Championship opener on June 15th.

Two questions remain, the same issues they started the season fretting about who will man the No 3 jersey for the Championship and who will partner Darragh Ó Sé at midfield? Currow's Seamus Scanlon advanced his claims for the latter yesterday, though the claims of the injured Michael McCarthy for the full back slot were probably improved in his absence.

Despite the territorial edge given them by the awesome Darragh Ó Sé in the first half yesterday, Kerry found themselves 2-4 to 0-8 down at half time as a result of schoolyard defending against a particularly potent visiting two man full forward line of Steven McDonnell and Diarmuid Marsden.

Marc Ó Sé's dropped catch gifted Armagh's Martin O'Rourke a 12th minute goal to give the visitors a 1-0 to 0-2 lead but worse was to follow in the 25th minute after Kerry had clawed their way back into the lead. Both Tom O'Sullivan and Tomas Ó Sé were guilty of ball watching as Marsden flicked to McDonnell who promptly goaled.

"I'd have to admit they were two defensive blunders," admitted coach, John O'Keeffe. "We have been somewhat vulnerable to balls overhead for about two years."

Five bookings in the first half underlined how lively proceedings were, but it was to get more fractious still in the second period for the bumper Tralee crowd of around 9,000. Kerry reclaimed a 0-12 to 2-5 lead 13 minutes into the second half when corner back Mossy Lyons claimed his second point. If Darragh Ó Sé was Kerry's enforcer, All-Star Steven McDonnell was Armagh's assassin, rediscovering his form of last season to torment the Kerry defence off left and right sides. After he had won the free from which Paddy McKeever levelled matters again with twenty minutes left, McDonnell became even more potent once McGeeney had been sent off necessitating Tony McEntee's redeployment at centre back. That gave McDonnell and Marsden even more room in attack to flourish and twice the Killeavey man pointed from frees to keep his side in front the second coming in the final minute of normal time, giving Armagh a 2-8 to 0-13 lead.

Kerry's late siege would yield a winner but Armagh's poise under pressure underlined the psychological edge enjoyed by champions and Joe Kernan will be pleased that young corner back Andy Mallon has given him another selection headache for the future.

The problem for Kerry now is keeping their heroes in cotton wool. Heaven help them if anything happens Darragh Ó Sé or Seamus Moynihan, who was introduced yesterday for the final 13 minutes to stunning effect. With his ankle heavily strapped, he landed an astonishing point with eight minutes left before finishing the game hobbling from a dead leg.

His fevered exhortations to his team mates underlined the psychological importance of the occasion to the hosts. In the 74th minute, Eoin Brosnan and Declan O'Sullivan set up Liam Hassett. He clipped past the last defender before teeing up O Sé for the Roy of the Rovers finish. And you thought the League meant nothing to Kerry?

Scorers for Kerry: D. O Cinnéide (0-6, 5 frees), D. Quill (0-3), M. O Sé (1-0), M. Lyons (0-2), A. MacGearailt, S. Moynihan (0-1 each).

Armagh: S. McDonnell (1-5, 3 frees), M. O'Rourke (1-0), P. McKeever (0-2), K. McGeeney (0-1).

KERRY: D. O'Keeffe, T. O Sé, T. O'Sullivan, M. Lyons; M. O Sé, E. Fitzmaurice, J. Sheehan; D. O Sé, S. Scanlon; A. MacGearailt, D. O Cinnéide, P. Galvin; D. Quill (capt), D. O'Sullivan, J. Crowley. Subs: S. O'Sullivan for MacGearailt (47 mins); S. Moynihan for Crowley (57); E. Brosnan for Galvin (58); L. Hassett for T. O Sé (65); B. Sheehan for Quill (68).

ARMAGH: P. Hearty, A. Mallon, J. McNulty, P. McCormick; A. O'Rourke, K. McGeeney (capt), A. McCann; J. Toal, P. McGrane; P. McKeever, D. Turley, M. O'Rourke; S. McDonnell, D. Marsden, T. McEntee. Subs: K. Hughes for McCann (31 mins); P. Duffy for Turley (51); F. Bellew for McNulty (54); E. McNulty for McCormick (70).

Referee: M. Ryan (Limerick)