Paidí's warriors crush the Lilywhites

Kerry 2-10, Kildare 1-5

Kerry kept their renewed challenge on track with a performance that was far from perfect but rounded than the best Kildare had to offer.

The bottom line was Paidí Ó Sé's team managed victory more easily than Dublin did in the Leinster final with their early second-half goal from Eoin Brosnan proving crucial.

But for the excellence of opposing 'keeper Enda Murphy in stopping four probable goal chances, the issue would have been decided in even firmer fashion and at an earlier stage.

Kerry met the Kildare challenge head on, as indicated by the personal challenge mounted by team captain Darragh Ó Sé.

He set down a significant marker at the beginning by dominating against Dermot Earley, who had been outstanding against Dublin. Both in practical terms (the huge amount of ball he won) and psychologically (exuding the type of confidence which quickly spread through the team) it was leadership of the highest order.

"We always knew it was going to be difficult,'' he said afterwards. "But, John O'Keeffe has us in good shape, we managed to stay with them, and then get the scores.''

Kerry were in front 1-2 to 0-1 after a mere four minutes, with Colm Cooper showing his class with a perfect finish from a move initiated by Ó Sé when he won a Kildare kick-out. The impressive Liam Hassett made the killer pass.

Strong support from Donal Daly at midfield and imaginative play from the forwards (among whom Mike Frank Russell was off form), meant Paidí Ó Sé's highly motivated team controlled the game until the Lilywhites started to settle.

After Enda Murphy made the first of his saves from Cooper in the 10th minute, (followed by Sean O'Sullivan in the 20th, Hassett and Eoin Brosnan in the second half) Kildare were unfortunate not to goal five minutes later themselves after Declan O'Keeffe mishandled a ball just in front of his line.

"It hit off my arm, and while I still had it , I pulled it back and it nearly rolled into the net. In fairness, Michael McCarthy made a super save," he said. At a stage when John Doyle was prominent at centre-forward (causing the Kerry management to move Tomás Ó Sé to centre-back, where he was to excel), Kildare lost further ground when the Kingdom picked off three quick scores from play to open up a gap of five points.

Dara Ó Cinneide, playing well out from goal and exploiting Glen Ryan's lack of pace, looked very sharp. Brosnan tackled very well, Hassett's positional sense was admirable and while Brian Lacey covered well against Cooper, the young Crokes star remained a threat.

At the other end, it was notable that Martin Lynch was causing all sorts of problems for Seamus Moynihan, who was yellow-carded at one stage and looked unusually vulnerable.

And, it was Lynch who made the opening for a resurgent Earley to goal for Kildare in the 33rd minute, to see them trail 1-7 to 1-3 at the break. Immediately following the resumption, Kildare were again out of luck when a Tadhg Fennin shot came back off the butt of an upright.

They were more competitive, with Damien Hendy effective at centre-back for a period and the defence in general coping better.

However, even after the move of Ronan Sweeney to midfield, Darragh Ó Sé and Daly continued to reign supreme with the captain giving arguably his best display of the year.

John Crowley's introduction boosted the Kerry attack, even though his shooting wasn't reliable.

Crucially, Moynihan was much more composed and able to dictate the play at the heart of the defence. It meant Kildare's attacking options were even more limited.

Twelve minutes into the half came the second Kerry goal, a super score from Brosnan. Pointing out afterwards that he prefers playing in the centre, he said: "It gives you a freer role, blasting through the middle.''

And that was exactly when he did before unleashing a powerful shot.

As selector John O'Dwyer agreed afterwards, it was the turning point.

He said: "It really settled us and settled down the match. The buzz went out of their supporters and from our point of view we were well and truly home."

Later, in their dressingroom, his father Micko paid Kerry the ultimate compliment.

"It was a wonderful display of football, as good as I have seen from any Kerry team in a long time,'' he said. "You are starting to play like the team that Paidí and Johnno were part of.'' Praise indeed, but nobody on the Kerry side is going to get carried away.

Gerry Kinneavy from Roscommon did a convincing enough job of refereeing.

Scorers: Kerry - C. Cooper and E. Brosnan 1-1 each; D. O Cinneide 0-3 (0-2 frees); S. O'Sullivan 0-2; L. Hassett, J. Sheehan and J. Crowley 0-1 each.

Kildare: J. Doyle 0-4 (0-2 frees); D. Earley 1-0; P. Hurley 0-1.

KERRY: D. O'Keeffe; M. Ó Sé, S. Moynihan, M. McCarthy; T. Ó Sé, E. Fitzmaurice, J. Sheehan; D. O Se (capt.), D. Daly; S. O'Sullivan, E. Brosnan, L. Hassett; M.F. Russell, D. Ó Cinneide, C. Cooper. Subs: J. Crowley for Russell (42nd minute); A. MacGearailt for O'Sullivan (45th); T. O'Sullivan for Fitzmaurice (63rd); R. O'Connor for Ó Cinneide (70th).

KILDARE: E. Murphy; B. Lacey, G. Ryan, K. Doyle; K. Duane, D. Hendy, A. Rainbow (capt.); K. Brennan, D. Earley; E. McCormack, J. Doyle, R. Sweeney; T. Fennin, M. Lynch, P. Murray. Subs: D. McCormack for E. McCormack (24th minute); P. Brennan for D. McCormack (42nd); P. Hurley for K. Brennan (50th); K. O'Dwyer for Murray (61st); T. Harris for O'Dwyer (injured, 63rd).

Referee: G. Kinneavy (Roscommon).

Attendance: 18,210.