Kerry-Donegal ratings: Gallen and Langan lead charge with low-wattage Clifford off best
TOUGH OUTING: David Clifford of Kerry dejected after the match after theGAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1 clash at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. Pic: INPHO/James Lawlor
Restarts like a well-controlled seven iron into the breeze in the first half. Had zero chance with either goal, in reality. Good save from Shea Malone late on.
Started on Oisín Gallen, and struggled to keep the Ballybofey man under wraps. What’s a real positive about the young Dr Crokes defender is his temperament, never looks flustered.
Given the Gallen posting from the second quarter, finger the dyke stuff after the sending off. Seen feeling his leg late on, crucial for Kerry he stays healthy.
Effected one excellent turnover in the first half that should have led to a score at the other end. Again, left chasing an extra shadow throughout the second period.
Pumped up from the get-go, and looked particularly exercised when Michael Murphy was in the vicinity. Got forward for a point in the first half, was replaced at half time by Eddie Healy.
Tough day keeping an eye on the returning Michael Langan but still got on a share of ball in potentially productive situations up to half time. All these ratings are realistically based on the first 35 mins!
Showed remarkable energy from a man returning from injury and landed a fine first half point from wing back. Jack O’Connor will be pleased but also relieved to have his club mate and Swiss army knife back.
Dominated the skies and won several clean off Donegal kickouts in the first half. In fact looked the dominant midfielder on the pitch in that first half. Grafted as long as he could too after HT but was going backwards.
Wasn’t due to start but looked sharp and lively in midfield, eventually replaced by Cillian Trant, but again showed no major ill effects from the injury that threatened his start.
The man in the eye of the storm was playing really well in the first half, kicking an opening score and spraying accurate and quality ball to the inside line. Then the half-time melee changed everything.
Not at his sharpest, one for five in terms of shots for scores, and well policed by Finnbarr Roarty. Frustrated clearly because he is short of match readiness. But the Fossa man will bank this day for future use. 5
Not a day where the Na Gaeil man was anywhere as influential on the game – or first half really – as he would like and tend to be. Fine assist for Dylan Geaney point, mind.
Finished with 0-4 but it was a low wattage afternoon for Clifford. Brendan McCole was given his second chance to shadow and did so effectively but it was not like he was schooling the Kerry man in hand to hand combat. The game got away from Kerry too soon for that.
Kerry’s best performer on the day. Looked razor sharp in possession, kicked three points, created three more and looked the attacker causing Donegal the most problems up to half time.
The first time the Keel talent saw reality head on in the shape of fast, strong defenders who he wasn’t able to skin with his pace. Every day is a school day, and Evans will look at the tape and learn from this one.
Tony Brosnan, who was selected but didn’t start was again the pick of the Kerry changes (7.5), scoring 0-4; an upside for Kerry management was getting Joe O’Connor (6) and Brian O’Beagloaich (6) back; Cillian Trant did his trajectory no harm with a cameo and a point (7), and Killian Spillane (6) had one unsuccessful effort for a two pointer.
Kerry did their homework. A big win came midway through the first half when Sean Hurson penalised the Donegal goalkeeper for taking too long. At that stage, Donegal’s short kickout was proving successful but the Kingdom were conquering midfield. His job was to become significantly easier in the second half.
Had some trouble with Dylan Geaney early on. He took Killian Spillane after that and impressed.
So much for the end of this dual. Caolan McColgan came out of the named team just before throw-in with Max Campbell coming in. McCole made straight for Footballer of the Year David Clifford. Even when it was 15 versus 15, he was terrific.
A pocket knife. Does his job in defence and more than capable of contributing in attack. He kicked a point as Donegal hit the first three points of the second half and added another before the hooter. 7
His two-point kick was a beauty. McHugh went about his job impressively until he was cut in the half-time incident that saw Micheál Burns sent off. He was clearly cut above his eye and came off soon after. Eventually, he came on again in the final ten minutes with strapping on his head. 7
After a terrific display in Croke Park for the league final, the exciting prospect impressed again in Killarney. He kicked a point in the first half and had a superb strike tackle to turn over Joe O’Connor just after the All-Star came on in the second. Admittedly, that possession ended in him being blocked down.
What a gem. With 45 minutes played, Paudie Clifford was taken off having kicked one point from six shots. His final effort was blocked down by his dedicated man-marker. Jim McGuinness changed his approach from the 2025 decider and tagged Clifford wherever he went. Roarty comprehensively bested him.
A vital player out of possession for the league champions. When Kerry broke fast from a turnover and Paudie Clifford went for goal, it was the number eight who raced back to the line and denied him. Paudie Clifford missed the subsequent 45 too. 7
Another important cog in executing the unglamorous stuff. Kerry did well early on in midfield until the red card.
So much for a serious injury. Donegal kicked three two-points from three attempts in the first half. The benefit of being able to include Langan is that they have multiple threats who can actually raise orange flags. It makes them harder to defend. A funny moment in the final quarter when Langan was penalised for taking a sideline from the wrong location. He immediately turned and pointed at the linesman, who apparently had informed him where to kick it. Sean Hurson reversed his call and allowed Langan to take it again. He found a man, took off and tapped over his fourth point of the day.
Another man who proved his fitness is fine. He kept going until the end, adding a point late on.
Beat Shane Murphy for his goal superbly. He gave the initial pass to Oisin Gallen, continued his run, settled himself with a bounce and tapped in.
Struggled to impact the game. He was marked by Dylan Casey and clashed with the corner-back off the ball on the 55 minute mark. Casey went down but referee Sean Hurson took no action.
The man in the arena. He was the focus of so much throughout. Kerry offered him a warm greeting before the start. Tadhg Morley took issue with a tackle early on but linesman David Coldrick dismissed his protests. It got to a stage where the Kerry crowd were booing his every possession while the away support were cheering him. He curled over a score with only shot and came off when the game was over as a contest. With two minutes left, he walked down the sideline and headed for the dressing room.
An absolute livewire. Four points scored in the first half including a sensational two-pointer when they needed to make the most of the wind. After the half-time throwdown, he settled his side with a cut from the left wing and the first point of the second half. The travelling support came him a huge ovation when he came off after 55 minutes.
Shane O’Donnell came on and scored. Shea Malone should have added a goal with his first shot and eventually found the net when Langan put it on a plate for him. The reality is that to received a red card in the new rules is a stinging penalty and the task of any player coming on in those circumstances was straightforward. Work the ball, find the free man, score.
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