Kerry hit back at critics with brilliant display

Dublin 1-7 Kerry 1-24

Kerry reserved their best display of the year for Croke Park this afternoon as they tore Leinster champions Dublin to shreds in a 17-point bank holiday Monday massacre.

Having lost to eventual champions Tyrone by 12 points at this stage last year, the Dubs suffered another humiliating All-Ireland quarter-final defeat.

Jack O'Connor's Kerry charges, under fierce pressure after some poor outings in the qualifiers, signalled their intent right from the off.

Colm 'Gooch' Cooper slotted home the Kingdom's only goal after just 38 seconds of play, setting the tone for what surely ranks as one of the greatest first-half performances in Gaelic football history.

Dublin simply had no answer to Kerry's footballing class as they blazed to a 1-14 to 0-3 interval lead, with Barry Cahill and Bernard Brogan (0-2) claiming the Metropolitans' scores.

A 57th-minute goal from Conal Keaney salvaged some pride, but Kerry, with Declan O'Sullivan conducting things in a man-of-the-match display, cantered through.

Their ninth All-Ireland quarter-final victory in as many years has teed up an August 30 semi-final encounter with either Mayo or Meath.

Kerry lorded possession throughout today's one-sided clash and could comfortably afford to kick 13 chances wide of the target - eight in the opening 35 minutes.

The Kingdom were certainly under pressure coming into this game, with a lot of the critics predicting Dublin's first Championship victory over Kerry since 1977.

However, the men who came through the qualifier route had not read the script.

An attendance of 81,890 watched some champagne football as Pat Gilroy’s side were left stunned by Kerry’s early onslaught.

Declan O'Sullivan fed Cooper for the goal, breaking through as part of a typically flowing Kerry move.

Kerry net minder Diarmuid Murphy brilliantly saved a goal-bound shot from Bernard Brogan and Diarmuid Connolly also hit the post, midway through the first half.

However, such was Kerry’s dominance, Dublin could only amass one point inside the opening 27 minutes as the green and gold powered to a 1-10 to 0-1 lead, with Declan, Darran and Tom O’Sullivan along with Paul Galvin, Cooper and Tomas O Se sending over fine scores.

The Dubs desperately tried to change things, hauling off Darren Magee, Jason Sherlock and Bryan Cullen and introducing Ciaran Whelan, Pat Burke and Cian O'Sullivan in their places.

Bernard Brogan pointed twice in the 29th minute to somewhat settle Dublin’s nerves, but Kerry again remained clinical until the interval, with their 'total football' approach setting up points for Cooper (0-2) and skipper Darran O’Sullivan.

The younger Brogan got the pre-match favourites off to a positive start in the second half with his third point, but the Dublin defence remain all at sea as Cooper and company pushed hard for scores.

Alan Brogan got on the scoresheet, cutting the gap to 12 points, yet with Darragh O Se, energetic substitute Tadhg Kennelly and experienced defender Mike McCarthy driving Kerry forward time and again, Dublin never got close.

O Se's midfield partner, Seamus Scanlo, slotted over his only point of the afternoon, while Cooper made Denis Bastick pay for his indiscipline as he planted another free between the posts.

The scores continued to flow freely for Kerry who built up a 16-point lead with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining and many disappointed Dublin supporters heading for the exits.

Gilroy’s charges only had pride to play for and a goal from Keaney, after a great lay-off from Bernard Brogan, raised the decibel level briefly with Alan Brogan tagging on another point.

Again though, Kerry ensured normal service was resumed as substitutes Kennelly and Paul O'Connor both scored two excellent points each and Dublin's weary defenders had goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton to thank for sparing their blushes on two occasions.

Full-back Bastick, who already had a yellow card, was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a couple of frustration-filled tackles, while substitute Ciaran Whelan should have been punished for elbowing Aidan O'Mahony.

That dominant first half showing had left a shellshocked Dublin trying to pick up the pieces and potential semi-finalists Mayo and Meath should beware - there is plenty of life left in this Kerry side just yet. They seem to be peaking at just the right time.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, D Bastick, P Andrews; P Griffin, B Cullen, B Cahill (0-1); R McConnell, D Magee; P Flynn, D Connolly, B Brogan (0-3, 0-2f); A Brogan (0-3), C Keaney (1-0), J Sherlock.

Subs used: C Whelan for Magee (14 mins), P Burke for Sherlock (23), C O'Sullivan for Cullen (27), A Hubbard for Henry (39), S Ryan for McConnell (65).

KERRY: D Murphy; M O Se, T Griffin, T O'Sullivan (0-1); T O Se (0-2), M McCarthy, K Young; D O Se, S Scanlon (0-1); P Galvin (0-2), Declan O'Sullivan (0-3), D Walsh (0-1); C Cooper (1-7, 0-4f), T Walsh, Darran O'Sullivan (0-3).

Subs used: T Kennelly (0-2) for Walsh (30 mins), P O'Connor (0-2, 0-1f) for D Walsh (48), S O'Sullivan for Darran O'Sullivan (59), A O'Mahony for Young, M Quirke for D O Se (both 60)

Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan).