Brosnan sparks revival as Kerry land 18th League title

Kerry 2-12 Galway 0-10

After that, a rejuvenated Kerry side which hit a paltry three points in the first half, were transformed and powered to an 18th NFL title at the Gaelic Grounds last evening.

Long before the end, a chastened Galway were left wondering where it had gone wrong.

The answer, partly, lies in the fact that the Westerners did not punish the favourites when they had them on the ropes in the first half.

However, once the real game started on the resumption, there was only one team in it. And, while by no means was it all down to Brosnan, his powerful play reflecting his hurt at being left out for the last two games helped to lift the overall standard to a major degree.

Galway started to flounder, overwhelmed by the power and pace of the favourites' play, and were powerless to halt their surge to victory.

The first half was notable not least for the fact that Kerry only led once, for a brief period. That was when Colm Cooper kicked over a 30-yards free in the sixth minute.

After that, they weren't to score for almost half an hour, due in the main to Galway's better all-round play, especially in defence where left corner-back Damien Burke enjoyed more success in curbing the threat from Cooper than a succession of higher-rated defenders before him. Another to make a significant contribution was Diarmuid Blake at centre-back.

But, as was clear from the reaction of manager Jack O'Connor on the sideline, Kerry were experiencing difficulties in attack which had much more to do with Cooper's lack of input.

It wasn't all because of the success of Galway's covering, especially effective because of the way players supported each other under pressure.

Kerry were ponderous in their attacking moves, which were aided by strong play from Seamus Moynihan and the activity of Darragh Ó Sé, arguably their best player over the 70 minutes. Most noticeably, Eamonn Fitzmaurice suffered because of the lack of movement among the forwards.

When they did resort to the long ball, invariably into Cooper's corner, the Crokes star wasn't able to function.

In contrast, Galway penetrated much more easily at times, with Padraic Joyce and Meehan - who were left on their own inside - both playing cleverly.

But they weren't having matters all their own way either, because Marc Ó Sé enjoyed some success in taking ball off Joyce, while Aidan O'Mahony limited Meehan.

Michael Donnellan was hugely influential on the left flank, regularly tracking back to take hard-earned ball off the backs and carry it forward at pace.

It meant that Galway were three points clear by the 23rd minute - after Matthew Clancy kicked one of the best scores of the game from the right - after Joyce spotted him running into position unmarked.

Before that, Donnellan might have had a goal when Meehan broke down a Joyce sideline at the edge of the square, but he blew his shot high over the bar.

As the game developed, there was little improvement in Kerry's standard. Galway were winning much more ball around midfield due to the industry of Paul Clancy and Niall Coleman in particular. While Joyce and Meehan were not so prominent, Galway still created enough chances to have been further ahead at the break than by the three points they enjoyed, 0-6 to 0-3 - finishing the half with seven wides.

Within less than 15 minutes of the resumption, the high cost of these misses was being appreciated by the Galway players - and their supporters in the smallest crowd to attend a league decider in modern times.

Scores from Brian Sheehan (whose free-taking was once again superb), Cooper (free) and Paul Galvin had Kerry level and their confidence was restored.

Thereafter, the cumulative effect of their backs taking over - with Moynihan again a colossus - Kieran Donaghy finding his form and Darragh Ó Sé turning in a masterly display at midfield, over-powered the Westerners, who were seeking their first title since 1981.

Paul Galvin was much more involved and, not for the first time, Brosnan was majestic, once more reaping a dividend from his understanding with Cooper. For Galway, this was a double negative, with Blake almost anonymous in the centre.

A much sharper Cooper, benefiting from the general improvement, had a hand in both goals.

From the ground, he set up Galvin in the 52nd minute for a score taken in style and Brosnan took a pass from him on the run and produced an even better finish. That was 10 minutes from the end of normal time and by then Galway were demoralised.

Joyce might have had the consolation of a late goal, but 'keeper Diarmuid Murphy's alertness denied him.

Scorers: Kerry: B Sheehan 0-5 frees; P Galvin and E Brosnan 1-1; C Cooper 0-3 (0-2 frees); D O'Sullivan and M Lyons 0-1 each. Galway: P Joyce 0-4 (0-3 frees); M Clancy 0-2; M Donnellan, M Meehan 0-2 (0-1 free); P Clancy 0-1.

KERRY: D Murphy; A O'Mahony, M Ó Sé, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé, S Moynihan, M Lyons; D Ó Sé, K Donaghy; P Galvin, E Fitzmaurice, B Sheehan; C Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan (capt), R O'Connor.

Subs: Darren O'Sullivan for O'Connor (32nd minute); E Brosnan for Fitzmaurice (second half); T Griffin for O'Mahony (68th) and MF Russell for Cooper (70th).

GALWAY: A Keane; D Meehan, K Fitzgerald, D Burke; A Burke, D Blake, M Comer; P Clancy, N Coleman; M Clancy, D Savage, M Donnellan; M Meehan, P Joyce (capt.), S Armstrong.

Subs: P Geraghty for Armstrong (53rd minute); B Cullinane for Savage (58th); V Feeney for Burke (injured, 65th).

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford)

* Attendance 7,598, lowest since 1999 (Cork/Dublin, Páirc Uí Chaoimh - 10,025). Last year: 46,445 (Armagh v Wexford).