As it happened: battling Kerry overcome Galway in thrilling finale
CUP OF CHEER: Kerry's Sean O’Shea and Joe O’Connor lift the Sam Maguire for Kerry.
Thanks for your company throughout the afternoon for what was a hugely-enjoyable climax to the football season. We'll have analysis and reaction throughout the evening and, of course in tomorrow's newspaper.
See you in D2!
“In 1964, my father was a selector for Kerry against Galway," Pat Spillane told Joanne Cantwell, in explaining the resonance of Kerry-Galway. "The night before the game he had a pain in his chest, wouldn’t go to the doctor, went to the game the following day as a selector and was dead on the Tuesday.” Read more here.
Pat Spillane gets really emotional as he remembers his father and his legacy. More to follow on that.
Kerry found the answers, says Tony Leen
All Ireland champions for the 38th time, the manner of that @Kerry_Official victory will please them no end. Prosaic more than poetic, never panicked. 0-20 to 0-16 it finishes. Galway asked serious questions, and Kerry found answers which they havent always done in that scenario.
— Tony Leen (@tonyleen) July 24, 2022
Graham O’Sullivan on Sky: It’s absolutely unbelievable. We knew they would stay with us right until the end. The bit of legs in the end got us through. Shane Walsh was remarkable, we put our best man marker on him in Tom (O’Sullivan). Myself getting a score? It’s a rare one, it doesn’t happen very often. I’ll take them when they come.”
David Clifford always dreamed and believed this day would come.
“It’s very hard to put into words. It’s something I’ve dreamed of all my life. I was always confident we’d get over the line even though over the last few years it didn’t work out for us.”
The roll of honour after that latest episode in the GAA's history?
Kerry 38 Dublin 30 Galway 9 Meath 7 Cork 7 Wexford 5 Cavan 5 Down 5 Tipperary 4 Kildare 4 Tyrone 4 Mayo 3 Louth 3 Offaly 3 Limerick 2 Roscommon 2 Donegal 2 Derry 1 Armagh 1.
Kevin McStay on RTÉ: “Remember they’ve taken out Mayo, they’ve taken out Dublin, now they’ve taken out Galway. The five-in-a-row minors have come of age. What does that mean now for the rest of the country?”
Mike Finnerty on Sky Sports: “The old order has been restored. Kerry are back on top.”
Jack O'Connor, his staff and team are celebrating on the pitch as they bridge an eight-year gap. What a game with memorable performances from Shane Walsh and David Clifford. A superb finish to the season.
Connor Glesson rushes out from his goal again and concedes another free. Seanie O'Shea makes no mistake, of course. We're into the last minute and Kerry lead by four.
Sean O'Shea pops the ball in for Gavin White and he punches over the bar. A goal in it, deep in injury time.
Graham O'Sullivan is booked and Shane Walsh has a free again; he misses it.
Killian Spillane turns on the afterburners in the corner and punches over from a narrow angle. Five additional minutes.
McDaid drags a shot wide. Big one.
Two points in succession for Galway. This will go to extra-time if it finishes level, Darragh Maloney clarifies. But no pens. Replay.
Every ball now is literally your life on it, says McStay ominously.
David Clifford drops over a free. Massive.
Some personnel news to catch up on; Eoin Finnerty replacing Johnny Heaney for Galway. McDaid looked shook before that point, after falling awkwardly on his head. Paul Murphy on for Brian Ó Beaglaoich.
Cillian McDaid -- who has been excellent -- levels it!
After a couple of minutes' delay due to injury, Shane Walsh hits a huge, huge kick to get Galway going again at last. A point in it.
The longest backwards assist of the season there from Paudie Clifford? No, Hawkeye says it’s wide from Tom O'Sullivan.
Galway have a couple of sacred cows that need subbing but the discussions continue on the sideline. Paul Conroy is blowing hard and making errors - John Fogarty observes from Croker.
Joyce finally pushes the button, Cathal Sweeney on.
Micheál Burns on for Stephen O’Brien.
A goal would blow this game wide open if either side were to get it, says McStay.
Billy Morgan said a few years back that he didn’t know why Graham O’Sullivan wasn’t in the Kerry set-up. Five assists and a point so far today, his marker off the field… Kerry’s best player - John Fogarty
Paudie Clifford points and pushes Kerry into a two-point lead. The next score is, to state the obvious, important.
Kerry lead for the second time in the match thanks to a David Clifford free.
Graham O'Sullivan arrives to take a pass and side foot over the bar to - yes -- level it again.
Shane Walsh is in unmarkable form. Kerry won’t shift Tom O’Sullivan off him because it’s unlikely anyone else will do any better on him - John Fogarty
Darragh Maloney: What a game. What a cracking All-Ireland final.
Paudie Clifford returns to the fray with a nosebleed staunched.
Connor Gleeson rushes from his goal-line and pulls down Killian Spillane. No black card somehow, but Seanie O'Shea pops over the free.
Killian Spillane scores, then Cillian McDaid hits a brilliant effort. This is unreal stuff.
It's Clifford v Walsh here in a battle for the ages. The Galway talisman just lofted over a magnificent free again; the Connacht side lead again.
Galway turn it over and the ball is ultimately popped into Cilllian McDaid's hands. He makes it a draw game again.
Paudie Clifford gets his first real sight of the net; he goes for the goal after another brilliant ball from Graham O'Sullivan but it blazes over.
And - go tobann -- David Clifford punches the air and jumps for joy as he points to put Kerry ahead.
Kerry's Diarmuid O'Connor cuts in and curls a lovely point to level it up once more. This is bubbling now.
Shane Walsh keeps his hot streak going this afternoon though to push the Tribe into double figures for the day.
Here we go for the second half. Shane Walsh picks up where he left off with a converted free. And Clifford responds with a point from free.
The two Spillanes, Adrian and Killian, on for Kerry. David Moran and Paul Geaney replaced - John Fogarty.
Pat Spillane: "Kerry are struggling with Galway’s defensive system. I’ve never seen a 20 minutes so nervous from Kerry in an All-Ireland final. 7 scores from 18 shots. 43% scoring accuracy is just not good enough."
Won’t be a happy Kerry dressing room after sloppy half, reckons Tony Leen:
So many sloppy moments in the first half from a @Kerry_Official side that looks well off it. Lucky to be going in only 0-8 to 0-7 behind. @Galway_GAA was more efficient. Summed up as David Moran kicks turnover ball over the sideline. Won't be a happy dressing room.
— Tony Leen (@tonyleen) July 24, 2022
: "Just two points from play for Kerry but 14 shots at goal compared to Galway’s nine. Kerry will have the wind in the second half but it’s been a flawed first half and David Moran is close to getting the curly finger" - John Fogarty.
Galway go in a point up after a thrilling first period. This is going right to the wire, you suspect.
Cillian McDaid with a superb point; he picked up the ball from the Galway kick-out, combined with Robert Finnerty well and dispatched it well. Three minutes of added time.
Seán O'Shea levels it up with a straight-forward free.
Paudie Clifford has had a slow start, which will worry Kerry, observes McStay.
Walsh hits Galway's first wide of the half while Kerry are up to seven.
That magnificent Shane Walsh point:
Shane Walsh increases @Galway_GAA's lead to three with an outstanding point. pic.twitter.com/FsDSzUcXUv
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 24, 2022
"The sublime and the ridiculous from Kerry in this half. Galway so economical but it’s difficult to believe Kerry haven’t even been ahead in the game" - John Fogarty
Jack Glynn puts Galway ahead again with a good effort under pressure.
David Clifford yellow carded for a challenge on Sean Kelly, as we rewatch a massive block from Stephen O'Brien.
Moments later, Connor Gleeson makes a big mistake with a short kick out that piles huge pressure on Galway. Clifford gathers, Sean O'Shea tries to get a shot off but is forced out and then O'Brien shoots wide. Let off.
Shane Walsh adds to his tally with another free. 'It's a cracker' says McStay of this half so far.
David Clifford then fetches and converts. Three marks scored by Kerry, three balls in from Graham O’Sullivan.
Stephen O'Brien lofts over a good point to make it a level game.
"Geaney, O’Connor and Barry have all turned over Galway in the middle third of the field. McDaid is not being given an inch by Barry. Kerry have settled," John Fogarty tells us.
David Clifford urges the crowd to lift it after he kicks Kerry's first point from play and they're a point behind now.
Shane Walsh with 'the point of the championship' and he's on fire. Ominous for the Kingdom. Paul Geaney with an important score, as I type.
Kerry dominating the kick-outs but have looked suspect centrally when Galway have pushed up. John Daly playmaking as well as he did in the All-Ireland semi-final - John Fogarty
Paul Geaney gets into the game with some nice forward play, Diarmuid O'Connor's progress is illegally halted and David Clifford hits the free. 'Galway looked open there,' Daragh Maloney says.
Free into Galway as David Moran slips into a tackle. Shane Walsh converts.
John Daly splits the defence with a lovely ball and Johnny Heaney's effort is deflected over by Stephen O'Brien. David Clifford gets Kerry ticking with a point and Shane Walsh responds. Phew!
Match-ups: Seán Kelly is picking up David Clifford. Liam Silke is tagging Seán O’Shea. At the other end, as expected, Jason Foley is on Damien Comer, while Tom O’Sullivan is picking up Shane Walsh.
Diarmuid O’Connor skies wide. Kerry looking a touch nervy.
No such problems for Shane Walsh, who puts Galway in front from a free.
Kerry going the aerial route early on. Two long balls down on top of Gleeson. He has punched both away.
Early collectors’ item: A Sean O’Shea miss from a free from slightly closer range than his worldly against Dublin.
A massive roar greets the end of the anthem, Sean Hurson throws the ball in and we're off!
Kerry’s goalscoring record very poor in this year’s championship, Pat Spillane reminds us. “They’re not even creating goalscoring chances.”
Whelan goes for Kerry, Spillane goes for a great game -- and Kerry! -- while Cavanagh picks Galway. Here we go for the parade.
From this remove, both camps look relaxed, don't they? Jack O'Connor shares a joke with Mike Quirke while Páraic Joyce and Cian O'Neill chat casually, while Michael D takes his leave.
Here comes President Higgins to meet the players and we're 10 minutes from throw-in.
From John Fogarty: Kerry have won the toss and it appears they will play against the wind in the first half and into the Davin End.
A big day for Darragh Maloney on RTÉ as he commentates on his first All-Ireland final.
The players are out and we're into the last few minutes of the pre-game ritual.
It's All-Ireland final day! pic.twitter.com/to8XOsBcmQ
— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) July 24, 2022
On Sky, Kieran Donaghy is concerned Kerry find it difficult dealing with teams who pull everyone back inside the 45.
“If they start forcing ball and turning it over they are feeding the oxygen of the crowd at the Galway players.”
Eamonn McGee is ready for the Kerry after-party.
Not long now. Familiarise yourself with the cast on show with, first, Oísin McConville on the Galway players.
And Christy O'Connor on the Kerry hopefuls.
John Fogarty writes, from the press box: "Extended members of the Galway panel, those not in the 26, were all togged out for the run-out. That is an entitlement on All-Ireland final day. All of those players were wearing the No 10."
The No 10 jersey? Well, they have won nine All-Irelands.
: Word from Croke Park: "NO CHANGES TO EITHER TEAM." Gavin White, who had been a doubt, will start. Wind blowing into the Hill.
The respective managers named unchanged teams during the week.
: Shane Ryan; Graham O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaíoch, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; David Moran, Diarmuid O'Connor; Jack Barry, Seán O'Shea, Stephen O'Brien Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Paul Geaney.
: Connor Gleeson; Liam Silke, Seán Kelly, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Kieran Molloy; Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; Patrick Kelly, Matthew Tierney, Johnny Heaney; Robert Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.
Dessie Farrell was not with the Dubs' jubilee team.
Ciarán Whelan: "As far as I know he took a bit of a holiday after the Kerry defeat. Lot of rumours, three-year term seems to be up. Whether he’ll go for an extension, a lot of rumours saying not. There could be change on the way for Dublin."
Spillane on Jack’s media consumption: "Jack says he never reads newspapers or goes on social media but I can tell you this: if you ever write anything bad about Jack, the text will come in."
The Dublin 1995 are shown parading at Croke Park for their overdue celebration.
Kieran Shannon's big interview with some of the warriors from the 90s -- who'll be represented today -- is definitely worth a read.
RTÉ get their tribute to Pat Spillane in early. Ciarán Whelan presents the Kerryman with the ‘one thing he doesn’t have’, a five-in-a-row jersey, signed by the Dublin team.
Pat Spillane: It’s been a wonderful ride. Plenty of ups and downs. I thank RTÉ for sticking with me for 30 years.
We had a nice Edith Piaf-soundtracked montage and you suspect the Templenoe man is emotional.
"He's like a sixth-year student on his last day," says Whelan.
Can this exciting Kerry team begin to realise their huge potential today? Or will another Blue Blood football county and Páraic Joyce’s Galway upset the Kingdom?
We’ll know the answer to the big questions by tea-time. Stick with us throughout a huge afternoon for updates from our staff at Croke Park and on the Irish Examiner sportsdesk.
Send your pre-game predictions and in-game thoughts to adrian.russell@examiner.ie.
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