Boyle hat-trick edges lacklustre Kerry past 14-man Donegal

Veteran attacker Podge Boyle comes on to rescue Kerry from what would have been an upset win for Donegal

Donegal skipper Gerard Gilmore, who finished with 0-13, before Sunday's Christy Ring Cup clash in Tralee with his Kerry counterpart James O'Connor and match referee Nicholas O'Toole from Waterford. Pic: Kerry GAA

Christy Ring Cup: Kerry 5-18 Donegal 2-22.

FAVOURITES Kerry survived a Christy Ring Cup scare on Sunday in Tralee as they edged 14-man Donegal by five points.

The visitors played over 50 minutes with 14 men after midfielder Danny Cullen was sent off, but Donegal stil led by five points (1-12 to 0-10) in first half added time before Kerry struck for an important solo goal from the outstanding Kevin Goulding to narrow the interval gap to two points.

Having won their opener against Wicklow, Donegal travelled strong and weren't deterred by the dismissal of Cullen, who received a straight red for a high hit on Gavin Dooley.

Donegal were quickly away from traps and led 1-4 to 0-1 inside the opening six minutes thanks to three points from their ace marksman Gerard Gilmore, a point from Kevin Kealy and the goal put away by Josh Cronolly after a super catch.

Kerry were flat and appeared to lack intensity, but Donegal's discipline kept the Kingdom in touch. Ronan Walsh converted five unanswered frees, Tom Doyle levelled the contest and Walsh gave Kerry the lead for the first time. However Donegal were playing out of their skins and 0-5 from Gerard Gilmore, and one each from Peter Kelly, Conor O’Grady and Richie Ryan had them five clear until Goulding’s late intervention with that superb goal before the break.

Kerry introduced veteran Podge Boyle, who is just returning after a year out and he had the ball in the back of the Donegal net inside the opening minute of the second half. Doyle added a point from the puck out and it appeared that the Kingdom were on their way to a big win.

But credit Mickey McCole’s side, they refused to read the script as they fought for every ball and Gilmore hardly missed a scoring opportunity. In fact John Kealy gave Donegal a point lead in the 47th minute but Boyle with a goal, courtesy of a Ronan Walsh assist, saw Kerry lead 3-14 to 1-18 ahead and moved six clear with another Goulding goal. But Donegal refused to throw in the towel and Luke White converted a penalty in the 56th minute and Gilmore leveled from a ’65 in the 61st minute (4-15 to 2-21).

In a nervy finish the experience of Podge Boyle with a well struck penalty to complete his hat trick and a point from the youthful Ivan Conway, saw Kerry over the line. Donegal had Ciaran Bradley black carded so they played the final five minutes with 13 players.

Elsewhere in the Christy Ring Cup Sunday, Wicklow defeated Derry 2-12 to 1-14 in Aughrim.

Scorers for Kerry: P Boyle (3-2, 1-0 pen, 1f), R Walsh (0-8, 7fs), K Goulding (2-0), J Brick and T Doyle (0-2 each), M Leane, E Murphy, M Slattery and I Conway (0-1 each).

Scorers for Donegal: G Gilmore (0-13, 9fs, 1’65), L White (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1f), J Cronolly McGee (1-0), R Ryan and B McIntyre (0-2) each, C O’Grady, K Kealy, J Kealy and P Kelly (0-1 each).

KERRY: C Bohane; E Leen, S McGrath, K O’Connor; J O’Connor, J Diggins, M Leane; K Goulding, H Lenihan; J Brick, E Murphy, T Doyle; M Slattery, G Dooley, R Walsh.

Subs: P Boyle for G Dooley (h/t), a Segal for H Lenihan (53), I Conway for R Walsh (61), , Niall O’Mahony for J O’Connor, 70(+2).

DONEGAL: L White; O Kelly, C Bradley, S McBride; C O’Grady, K Kealy, J Kealy; D Cullen, B McIntyre; D Coulter, R McDermott; G Gilmore; P Kelly, R Ryan, J Cronolly McGee.

Subs: R Hifferty for P Kelly, 49, Conor Diver for J Kealy, 69, C O’Neill for J Cronolly-McGee, 70, D Donnelly for D Coulter, 70.

Referee: Nicholas O’Toole (Waterford)