Kerry ease past Derry

Kerry 1-17 Derry 1-11

Kerry will face Mayo in the All-Ireland Football Championship final next month after an impressive win over Derry at Croke Park today.

A scintillating display of attacking football in the second half blew the Ulster side's challenge out of the water, with Colm Cooper hitting six superb points.

The Munster champions will go in as hot favourites to win the title, but midfielder Darragh O Se is a doubt, after going off with an ankle injury after just 20 minutes.

The ominous sight of O Se thundering through the middle to thump over a first minute point was enough to strike fear into the hearts of the Derry defenders.

And when Kerry went 0-4 to 0-1 ahead with two Cooper points and a Dara O Cinneide '45', Kerry looked well on their way to another dominant display.

But Enda Muldoon plundered a 14th minute goal, collecting a James Donaghy delivery under pressure from three defenders, maintaining his balance to send a low shot past Diarmuid Murphy.

Paddy Bradley gave Derry the lead for the first time, and Kerry suffered another blow when midfield powerhouse O Se was forced out of the game by injury.

Eoin Brosnan filled the void in the central region, ably assisted by Willam Kirby, whose well taken point sparked a revival by the Munster champions.

Paul Galvin levelled the scores for the third time, before attacking wing back Tomas O Se regained the lead for Kerry, who went in with a 0-8 to 1-4 advantage at the break.

And Jack O'Connor's men made a thumping start to the second half, stretching their lead with scores from O Se, Brosnan, substitute Mike Frank Russell and O Cinneide.

Now they were cutting through the Derry defence with ease, and by the 50th minute they led by 0-14 to 1-4.

Manager Mickey Moran made five substitutions during the third quarter, but to no avail. The Kerry full back line was in complete control against danger men Muldoon and Bradley, who found it impossible to break free.

Derry had gone half an hour without scoring by the time centre back Paul McFlynn kicked their first point of the second half, but Kerry continued to fire over points from all angles, another delightful effort from Cooper, who sent Declan O'Sullivan through for a goal four minutes from the end.

Derry finished well with four points, but never looked like bridging the gap.

*************

Earlier, Kerry's minors beat Laois 1-10 to 1-8 in their MFC semi-final.