Kerry power past 14-man Down late on in Joe McDonagh cracker

Kerry took full advantage after Down were reduced to 14 players.

Dan Goggin of Kerry celebrates. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Joe McDonagh Cup: Kerry 0-26 Down 2-12

Kerry made it two wins on the trot in this Joe McDonagh cracker at the Austin Stack Park but at half-time it looked extremely unlikely as they retired on level terms with the visitors having played with a strong breeze.

The second half was nip and tuck as the sides traded points all the way to the hour mark when the game turned in Kerry’s favour. Paul Sheehan had a chance of sending his side in front with a scoreable free but it dropped short and as Daithi Griffin gained possession, Daithi Sands was guilty of a dangerous pull that saw him pick up a second yellow.

Down were now reduced to 14 and Kerry took full advantage of the extra man. From there to the finish home side outscored Down nine points to one, with the first seven of that in-a-row as the home side showed incredible fitness and teamwork to emerge eight point winners.

Top-scorer Maurice O’Connor got the first of those seven with second half subs David Woulfe, Gavin Dooley, and Brandon Barrett all contributing as the Kingdom demonstrated that they now have a bench as Dan Goggin, a first half substitute, also contributed four from play.

But even allowing for the extra man Kerry had showed a vast improvement in the second half with Daithi Griffin, Ronan Walsh, Luke Crowley and Colin Walsh feeding ball to the inside line where Goggin and Maurice O’Connor were on fire.

Kerry had the wind to their backs in the opening half but failed to take full advantage with shooting 12 wides to Down’s four. This profligacy was almost their undoing as they dominated possession in the opening half but Down’s ability to pries open the Kerry defence for two goals at crucial times. 

Kerry had opening points from Ronan Walsh and Maurice O’Connor but also shot four wides in as many minutes. Then Down struck for their first goal in the 10th minute when a long range free from Caolan Taggart dropped in the Kerry danger zone and Daithi Sands found the net with a deft flick ahead of keeper Louis Dee. 

Eoghan Sands added a point for Down’s but Kerry added five more wides in another seven minute barren spell before Down struck for a second goal. It came after Eoghan Sands was allowed race through the Kerry defence and he placed Caolan Taggart who blasted the ball past Dee. 

It was now 2-2 to 0-4 but three Maurice O’Connor points and one from sub Dan Goggin leveled the game at 0-8 to 2-2 with both sides adding two points before half time, as they retired level at 0-10 to 2-4.

Kerry had 12 missed chances in the first half with a 45% shot accuracy rate which was well short of last week’s 72% in Mullingar. But an improved second half and that late scoring onslaught after the dismissal of Daithi Sands ensured that Kerry will face Laois next Saturday in Tralee in a top of the table clash.

Scorers: M O’Connor (0-13, 7s), D Goggin (0-4), F Mackessy (1f) and R Walsh (0-2 each), C Walsh, K Hayes, B Barrett, D Woulfe and G Dooley (0-1 each).

Down: D Sands (1-1), C Taggart (1-0), P Sheehan (0-3fs), T Prenter, E Sands and C Egan (0-2 each), D Hughes and F Turpin (0-1 each) Teams: 

KERRY: L Dee, E Murphy, F McCarthy, D Griffin, K O’Connor, F Mackessy, E Leen, D Shanahan, C Walsh, R Walsh, K Hayes, N Mulcahy, L Crowley, M Leane, M O’Connor.

Subs: D Goggin for N Mulcahy, 24, G Dooley for M Leane, 44, B Barrett for D Shanahan, 48, D Woulfe for L Crowley, 60, T Doyle for K Hayes, (70+1) 

DOWN: S Keith; M Conlan, C Cassidy, J McManus; T Murray , C Taggart, R McCrickard; D Hughes , T Prenter; P Sheehan , E Sands, L Savage; D Sands, C Egan, P Óg McCrickard.

Subs: T McGrattan for P McCrickard, 44, F Turpin for C Egan, 52, M Fisher for J McManus, 56, O McManus for P Sheehan, 61, B Trainor for E Sands, 69 Referee: C Doyle (Tipperary)