How Kerry won it: Two-pointers, a kickout masterclass, and Clifford

Maurice Brosnan looks at the three things that contributed to Kerry beating Donegal in the All-Ireland final 

David Clifford of Kerry in action against Brendan McCole of Donegal during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kerry and Donegal at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The two-pointers 

For their first score, Gavin White took off from the throw-in and fed Dylan Geaney. For their second trick, Paudie Clifford went for two. They set the tone.

The number 14’s shot dropped short but Sean O’Brien’s fist still managed to direct the ball over the bar. In the first half into the Canal End, Kerry went for 11 two-pointers. They converted four. In total they went 5/13. As the Ulster champions started chasing, Patrick McBrearty and Jamie Brennan were introduced and went for two. They had three attempts and didn’t score a single one.

The final shot tally was 35 for Kerry, 31 for Donegal. It was 22 scores to 19. In a year when the sport has been changed spectacularly, Jack O’Connor’s side showed you have to be able to mix it up. They had the ability to kick the ball and run it. They can press aggressively and zonally. Kerry hit ones, twos and a three.

David Clifford versus Brendan McCole 

It only took eight minutes for David Clifford to make his mark. A punch-for-punch opening exchange was swung towards the Kingdom with a terrific effort from outside the arc that stretched the margin to four. The first ever orange flag in an All-Ireland final was produced by the Fossa sensation, closer to the 45m line than he was the arc.

McCole dedicated himself to the task but it proved formidable. When Clifford wasn’t involved, he brought himself out wide to disrupt Donegal’s zonal system and ensure they could only defend with ten. Just before the turnaround, Kerry worked the clock until the hooter had sounded. Everyone in the ground knew what was coming. No one knows how to stop it.

Clifford roared off his brother’s shoulder and swung over his third two-pointer of the afternoon. That relationship was a key feature of an awesome attacking display. Paudie’s second-half kick to Clifford cutting in towards goal was pure genius.

Clifford’s championship record is now phenomenal. 45 games, 22-222 scored, two All-Irelands in the pocket. Remember, he is 26 years old.

The half-back burst 

This was a kickout masterclass. Shane Ryan finished with 71% retention. A crucial part of that was their half-back axis, with Mike Breen and Gavin White in particular excelling. Together they were monsters on breaking ball. White roared into the contest with his very first involvement. He scored three points from play.

The third was the definition of a captain’s score. Michael Murphy nailed a point to cap three successive scores and make the gap just four with 15 minutes late. White took it upon himself to drive forward and fist over a point.

Jim McGuinness made one late change, bring in Caolan McGonagle as expected but in place of Hugh McFadden. They sorely missed his physical presence on restarts early on, losing five of their first 11 kickouts while Kerry won all of their own during the same stretch. McFadden was brought on for McColgan at half-time.

White managed to show all the ways a half-back can impact a game.

It has been a whirlwind year for the Dr Crokes man. He led his club to county and Munster titles before suffering a nail-biting defeat to Errigal Ciarán after extra-time in the All-Ireland club semi-final. In the aftermath of that, White was criticised in places for a late free that they failed to retain. He sat down, watched it again and backed his decision.

On the biggest stage, he showed exactly why he trusts his instincts.