Quarter-hour fracas sparks Clifford and Kerry into life and ultimately past Tyrone

David Clifford was delivering a passing impression of William Tell, kicking his seventh point in the 55th minute from seven attempts

Sun, 03 Mar, 2024 - 16:50

Tony Leen, Fitzgerald Stadium

Allianz FL Division 1: Kerry 0-18 Tyrone 1-11

Ultimately it’s conjecture, but the influence on proceedings of a 14th minute exchange of unpleasantries on the stand side of Killarney's Fitzgerald Stadium is as interesting a place as any to jump in on this one.

By the third quarter, you could stick a fork in this one. Kerry had gained their third win of the League campaign over their old foes and in a relatively benign manner as it transpired. But examining Kerry in the opening 13 minutes of Sunday’s Division 1 tie against Tyrone was an interesting study in mood. Something looked off. They felt flat and rather predictable.

Another injection of raw pace from the wonderful Gavin White looked to have unlocked something after eight minutes, but he offloaded when the goal was there for the taking.

Sean O’Shea’s effort was blocked from short range and referee David Coldrick put the moment out of its frustration with a free out. The ground was quiet. It was 0-3 to 0-2 in favour of Tyrone and Brian Dooher’s men looked more purposeful in possession.

15 nóim #KERvTYR @Kerry_Official 0-02@TyroneGAALive 0-03

Tá rudaí teasaí ar pháirc na h-imeartha faoi láthair 👀

Tempers flaring early on here in Killarney!

BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺#AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/S1Cb6lhCGl
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 3, 2024

Then the tempo of things underwent a remarkable transformation. Maybe David Clifford sensed it too. He hopped into Conn Kilpatrick on the stand sideline with a late shot that merited a yellow card. Three minutes later, lads were still swinging handbags and Clifford got bounced to the ground himself.

Neither he nor Kilpatrick ended up being cautioned. Referee David Coldrick had an odd afternoon himself, and on more than one occasion was too quick to blow.

By the time Coldrick booked Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan and Peter Harte, the natives had got off their hands to engage. Kerry kicked the next score from Sean O’Shea and it all felt rather different.

So Kerry do have a temper. It’s rare that it feels as visceral, and perhaps if it wasn’t Tyrone it may not have sustained.

But over the next 30-odd minutes, Kerry outscored their rivals 0-11 to 0-3, Darragh Canavan eventually arresting the slide in the 44th minute to make it 0-13 to 0-7 for the Kingdom.

By that juncture, Tyrone had lost their will. Their tackling was sloppy, their shooting was often frustratingly ambitious - Devlin, Hampsey and Joe Oguz all wideing from low percentage efforts.

Worse for them, David Clifford was delivering a passing impression of William Tell, kicking his seventh point in the 55th minute from seven attempts. He would add an eighth from the prairies before the finish. His colleagues weren’t far behind.

Up to the hour mark, the hosts kicked a mere two wides, though Conor Geaney – who started in Cillian Burke’s stead – will be frustrated with leaving two scoring opportunities short.

Though Mayo manager Kevin McStay fears counties may need seven points to stave off the peril of Division 1 relegation, Jack O’Connor will feel rather comfortable now that has charges have accumulated their third win.

Adrian Spillane got a start and kicked a point and Paul Murphy did a fine job quelling the threat of Darragh Canavan. And it is some threat.

Sean O’Brien kicked the game’s first point and played an hour, but nobody was an instrumental in sustaining Kerry’s post-squabble tempo than Gavin White. The Dr Crokes wing back may not have contributed on the scoreboard, but he was all over this Kerry victory.

The pace he brings, plus the timing of his runs and boundless energy are an asset no side is equipped to be without.

On 28 minutes, Darren McCurry kicked a trademark score in off the right to make it a one point game, 0-7 to 0-6, but Kerry would add three more before the break to bring a four-point buffer into the dressing room.

Clifford added an early second half brace before Darragh Canavan replied, but the extent of Kerry’s confidence at this stage was highlighted by a 22-pass move which culminated in Sean O’Shea curling over a super point.

That gave Kerry a double-score lead (0-14 to 0-7) and it took Ciaran Daly’s 66th minute goal to stir anything like a glance at the scoreboard.

That reduced the Tyrone leeway to four points, 0-17 to 1-10, but David Clifford closed the door with an eighth point from the sideline.

Scorers for Kerry: D Clifford (0-8, 6 frees), S O’Shea (0-4, 1 free), P Clifford (0-3), S O’Brien, A Spillane, D Moynihan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tyrone: C Daly (1-1), D Canavan (0-3), D McCurry (0-2, 1 free), B Cullen, C Kilpatrick, R Canavan, S O’Donnell, N Morgan (45) (0-1 each).

KERRY: S Ryan; G O’Sullivan, J Foley, P Murphy; Seán O’Brien, T Morley, G White; D O’Connor, J O’Connor; A Spillane, P Clifford, D Moynihan; D Clifford, S O’Shea, C Geaney.

Subs: T Brosnan for C Geaney (HT), R Buckley for Spillane (51), S Okunbor for O’Brien (60), S O’Brien for Moynihan (62), D Roche for P Clifford (66), D Casey for Foley (68) blood sub.

TYRONE: N Morgan; C Devlin, P Hampsey, C Quinn; B Cullen, P Harte, N Devlin; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; C Daly, D Mulgrew, J Oguz; D McCurry, D Canavan, S O’Donnell.

Subs: R Canavan for Harte (22), K McGeary for Mulgrew (39), A Donaghy for Kilpatrick (42), C McShane for D Canavan (61), L McGarrity for McCurry (67).

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)