Forward thrust powers Kingdom to League crown

Kerry 3-11 Galway 1-16

What was relevant was that they played enough quality football to have put themselves in a strong position before Galway rallied to score a goal and four points without reply in the last eight minutes.

And, there was the added bonus that they ended their sequence of defeats in major competitive games in Croke Park in recent years.

Overall, it's possible this victory may not necessarily be a harbinger of greater things to come. But, on its own it marked a significant achievement for the new management and a team which included only three of the starting line-up in their last success seven years ago. And, all of the signals that have so far emanated from a united camp have been entirely positive.

While the game only really sparked into life in the last quarter, it was notable for a number of factors. John Crowley marked his return with a vital goal in each half, Mike Frank Russell hit a penalty after an early injury had threatened to force him off and 'keeper Diarmuid Murphy made a timely save from Declan Meehan.

Then, a difficult afternoon for Michael McCarthy got worse when he gave away the ball which led to a Michael Donnellan goal in the 62nd minute which inspired the Galway recovery.

However, one factor proved crucial, the excellence of the Kerry backs under pressure in the second-half. And, surprise, surprise, who was hugely influential and the obvious man-of-the-match Seamus Moynihan, who was given a licence to play all over the field when assigned to mark the roaming Tommy Joyce!

Largely as a result of Crowley's seventh minute first goal, Kerry made the early running in a game played in perfect conditions. Indeed, while Galway opened the scoring, through Joe Bergin after a mere ten seconds, they only led once more after Joyce scored in the third minute to cancel out a point from Russell. That situation was partly explained by the fact that Galway depended too much on Padraic Joyce who, on the day, always had the beating of McCarthy while Michael Meehan rarely managed to penetrate against Tom O'Sullivan.

More significantly, Kerry's forwards regularly threatened more, with the full-forward trio gelling extremely well and each them individually posing a problem. But, not for the first time, Declan O'Sullivan was the main driving force in the centre.

With Galway losing their momentum up front at a time when the backs were able to work the ball out of trouble impressively, Kerry enjoyed a bigger share of possession because of an increasing dominance at half-back and a higher work-rate at midfield.

It was noteworthy that Eamonn Fitzmaurice did a lot of good work against Donnellan, while Aidan O'Mahony (playing at left-half because of Galway operating with just Padraic Joyce and Meehan inside), was to play very consistently on Matthew Clancy.

At midfield, Eoin Brosnan did some valuable work in close exchanges Bergin was prominent only at stages and William Kirby's high work-rate against Sean O Domhnaill saw him contribute a lot. Further forward, O'Sullivan's pace and skill saw him by-pass Paul Clancy regularly, Paul Galvin had another good outing and the crafty Liam Hassett was always on hand to pick up possession and use it wisely.

The nett effect was to virtually starve Padraic Joyce at the other end, which was critical for Galway because he was able to win the ball every time it was played into him accurately.

Scores were level by the 25th minute, when a more involved Donnellan was put through by Joyce, but Kerry's greater consistency saw them turn over at the break two points in front, 1-8 to 0-9.

The third quarter was more competitive, with Galway wasting a few early opportunities and being distinctly lucky when Russell (set up beautifully by Colm Cooper) saw a powerful shot come back into play off the crossbar. Kerry, too, spurned several scoring chances at a time when Bergin was starting to come into his own, Sean Og de Paor was also prominent and Gary Fahey was giving good leadership at the heart of the defence.

There was still only two points dividing the teams when, in the 58th minute, Kerry 'keeper Diarmuid Murphy was well positioned to stop a low shot from the impressive Declan Meehan. But, in another five minutes, substitute Nicky Joyce had scored to give Galway real hope for the first time.

Dramatically, however, Crowley was on hand for a killer second goal (after Cooper did the spade-work) and Brosnan pointed all in the space of three minutes.

And, within five minutes, Galway's plight deteriorated after Russell expertly converted a penalty awarded to Moynihan 'fed' by Crowley after 'keeper Alan Keane prevented a goal by tackling him with his feet.

It was to Galway's immense credit that they came so close to saving the game, even if they were helped by Michael McCarthy's unfortunate error when an intended pass was snapped up by Donnellan.

Bergin was seen at his best as Galway thundered forward before a Donnellan free in injury-time brought them to within a point. The subsequent kick-out was to prove vital, as Kerry won possession before Moynihan moved to set up an attack. With that, the title was theirs and deservedly so.

*Pat McEnaney's refereeing was as usual, competent, confident and as close to what might be considered faultless. It was his first League final.

Scorers: Kerry: M. F. Russell 1-6 (1-3 frees); J. Crowley 2-0; E. Brosnan 0-2; T. Ó Sé, L. Hassett and C. Cooper 0-1 each. Galway: M. Donnellan 1-4 (0-1 free); P. Joyce 0-5 (0-2 frees); N. Joyce 0-2; J. Bergin, M. Clancy, S. Óg de Paor, D. Meehan and T. Joyce 0-1 each.

KERRY: D. Murphy; T. O'Sullivan, M. McCarthy, A. O'Mahony; T. O Se, E. Fitzmaurice, S. Moynihan; E. Brosnan, W. Kirby; L. Hassett, D. O'Sullivan, P. Galvin; C. Cooper, J. Crowley, M.F. Russell. Subs: D. O Cinneide for Crowley (61st); M. O Se for Galvin (66th).

GALWAY: A. Keane; K. Fitzgerald, G. Fahey, M. Comer; D. Meehan, P. Clancy, S. Og de Paor (capt.); J. Bergin, S. O Domhnaill; M. Clancy, M. Donnellan, J. Devane; M. Meehan, P. Joyce, T. Joyce.

Subs: N. Joyce for Devane (49th minute); C. Monaghan for Comer and D. Savage for M. Clancy (64th).

Referee: P. McEnaney (Monaghan)

*Attendance: 28,072 (last year 30,293).