Kerry unimpressive against Longford

Longford 0-11 Kerry 1-12

Kerry limped to an unconvincing 0-11 to 1-12 SFC Qualifier win against Longford at Pearse Park today.

Tommy Walsh hit an 11th-minute goal, and five Colm Cooper points helped Kerry to a 1-10 to 0-4 interval lead.

However, an inspired Longford side took the game fearlessly to the Kingdom in the second half, with Paul and David Barden and Kevin Smith hitting points.

They shot 11 wides, however, and with a little more accuracy could have sparked a major shock against a Kingdom side that scored just two second-half points.

Tommy Walsh got in for an 11th-minute goal, somewhat against the run of play, after the home side had made a bright start, but failed to convert attacking possession into scores.

Donnacha Walsh and Colm Cooper both collected lay-offs from Donaghy to shoot points, and by the 27th minute, Jack O’Connor’s men had strolled into a 1-10 to 0-2 lead, and were already well on their way to the third round of the Qualifiers.

But late in the half, Longford staged a revival, and Kerry needed a brilliant double save from Diarmuid Sheridan, who twice denied Paul Barden.

Cian Mimnagh and David Barden landed points, but Kerry took a 1-10 to 0-4 advantage into the interval.

Longford’s flourish in the early stages of the second half was blighted by wayward shooting and a failure to spot colleagues in smarter positions.

However, they did narrow the gap with scores form David and Paul Barden and Kevin Smith.

Walsh was in the mood at the other end, however, and stroked over a couple of delightful scores.

Kerry could have had a second goal had Donaghy been able to stretch his frame just an inch further to reach a Sean O’Sullivan cross. That marked the end of Donaghy’s game, for he landed awkwardly and had to be helped off with just 10 minutes of the second half played.

Kerry lost their shape, going almost half and hour without scoring as Longford sensed that they could salvage substantial honour from the contest, with Padraig Berry, Kevin Smith and Paul Barden leading by example

The Barden brothers lofted over points to narrow the gap to five with 10 minutes to play, and Declan Reilly and Enda Williams tackled like tigers each time Kerry threatened.

Kerry were under sustained pressure for almost the entire second half, but Longford kicked wide after wide when they should have been breathing down their opponents’ necks.

Smith’s second free left just four between the sides, but time ran out for brave Longford.

Longford: D Sheridan, D Reilly, B Gilleran, D Brady, D Masterson, E Williams, N Farrell, G Dennigan, K Smith (0-2, 2f), P Berry, F McGee (0-1, f), S Mulligan, P Barden (0-4, 1f), C Mimnagh (0-1), B Kavanagh.

Subs: D Barden (0-3 for Kavanagh (23), P Dowd for Dennigan (31), P Foy for Farrell (44), A Maher for Smith (72)

Kerry: D Murphy, K Young, T Griffin, T O’Sullivan, T Ó Sé (0-1), M Ó Sé, A O’Shea, D Ó Sé, S Scanlon, D Walsh (0-1), D O’Sullivan (0-1), S O’Sullivan (0-2, 2f), C Cooper (0-5, 2f), K Donaghy, T Walsh (1-2).

Subs: Darran O’Sullivan for Declan O’Sullivan (44), BJ Walsh for Donagh (46), M Quirke for Scanlon (58), D Moran for S O’Sullivan (58), B Sheehan for D O Se (63)

Referee: G O Conamha (Galway).