Big guns lead Kerry to victory

Kerry 2-13 Donegal 0-11

First half goals from Colm Cooper and Tommy Walsh paved the way for Kerry to begin Jack O'Connor's second term as manager with an impressive NFL Division 1 victory over Donegal.

Kerry were rusty at times in Tralee but they did enough in the opening quarter-hour to spoil Donegal's chances of an opening day win.

The newly-crowned Dr McKenna Cup champions started well with Stephen Griffin pointing after only 35 seconds but they had to wait a further 20 minutes for their next score.

Kerry grasped control of what turned out to a one-sided first half when Cooper fisted home his goal from a David Moran through ball.

Walsh then pounced on a rebound to add a second and make it 2-01 to 0-01 to the hosts after barely eight minutes.

Paul Galvin had notched Kerry's first point and he gave a strong display in attack, landing three points during a first half which saw the Kingdom assisted by a gusting wind.

UL student Moran was Kerry's other stand-out performer in the opening 35 minutes. He kicked two points helping establish midfield dominance for the home side and went on to deservedly be named man-of-the-match.

Donegal were 2-08 to 0-03 in arrears at half-time with Griffin and substitute Michael Doherty pointing in the last minute of the half.

The Tir Chonaill men stepped it up a gear on the resumption and substitute Brian Roper, slotting in at centre-forward, caught the eye with three points from play.

Indeed, Donegal outscored the hosts by 0-08 to 0-05 in the second period but the efforts of Roper, who was making a record-breaking 148th senior appearance, were not enough to catch Kerry out.

Cooper (1-03) and Walsh (1-02) led the scoring for the victors, while Griffin and Roper (0-03 each) and Doherty (0-02) finished as Donegal's top-scorers.