Kerry v Dublin player ratings: Paudie Clifford runs the show
Paudie Clifford of Kerry with a Dublin supporter after the game. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Only for his 41st-minute save from Con O’Callaghan, Kerry likely wouldn’t now be now heading into their fourth All-Ireland final in five years; Dublin had all the momentum at that juncture, having temporarily decoded his kickout. Made another key stop from Ross McGarry later on to keep his fourth consecutive cleansheet, while also resuming control of his kickout following that blip when Dulin had foiled five straight kickouts of his.
Found Cormac Costello a handful, and though he managed to always keep goalside of him, that pacy young Mayo full-forward line will pose more of a goal threat next day out. Made the initial goalline stop for that contentious effort of Ross McGarry’s.
As restricted as Con O’Callaghan may have been with injury, he still required serious watching as Galway could attest, and Foley duly showed why he was entrusted with that task. Also made a key block on Cormac Costello.
Shadowed and swept well all through, and it’s a mark of his growing stature that he was switched onto an earlier-rampant Niall Scully during the second half. Coughed up the ball numerous times though in the second half when attempting to come out with the ball.
Kicked a couple of key points in the opening 20 minutes while played his part in maintaining Kerry’s defensive structure all through. 7 MIKE BREEN Only Paudie Clifford was more influential in running Kerry’s slow attacks, particularly in the second half when he helped dictate the pace of the game.
Dublin’s defence meant he could never make the kind of penetrating runs he did here 50 weeks ago but he still had an impact here, making a key interception on the 34th minute to arrest Dublin’s momentum and set in motion Seánie O’Shea’s point on the stroke of halftime. Was then a key outlet for kickouts in the second half.
Not his usual dominant self on kickouts on this particular outing.
Replays show he had a foot on the square when the ball was played in but it still counted, thanks to his deft flick to the net.
While he didn’t get to make any of his trademark driving runs, it was the threat of one that led to Kerry’s early penalty. Critical in the kickout battle, providing an outlet for Kerry’s in the first half, and then in how he attacked Dublin’s after halftime, including one spectacular catch on 62 minutes.
His first start of the summer and how Kerry needed him back, for all 70 minutes too. A leader all through, from claiming the first breaking ball of the day to minding the ball for David Clifford ahead of the Fossa man taking his penalty. Kicked some crucial scores too, like his 15th-minute mark, his levelling point on the halftime hooter, and a two-pointer on 52 minutes.
Won a key kickout on 40 minutes after Dublin had won Shane Murphy’s previous five. Otherwise just kept giving the ball to the Kerry playmakers on their slow attacks.
Ran this game just as much as he did last year’s All-Ireland final. Sprayed some delightful footpasses to set up marks for colleagues, kicked 0-5 himself (including a key go-ahead two-pointer) and then made sure Kerry ran down the clock on most of their subsequent attacks.
Dublin actually guarded him well, repeatedly forcing him onto his right side and blocking him down on numerous occasions. And yet he finished with 1-5 from play, having amassed another tricolour (a goal, a two-pointer, and three white flags).
Was bound to have a quiet game and a missed shot at some point. But even when his 100 percent shooting return ended a goal (Seán O’Brien’s) still came from it.
Keith Evans added some dash upon his 46th-minute introduction, weathering a high challenge to assist a David Clifford two-pointer. And while he and Armin Heinrich were each wayward with a shot at goals Tomás Kennedy fisted over a breakaway point to maintain Kerry’s cushion and control. 7
Kieran Shannon
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Dropped for the kickout malfunction experienced in the second-half of the Leinster final, Comerford had a few hairy moments from dead balls in the first-half. Almost kept out Sean O’Brien’s contested goal early in the second-half.
Drafted in for Sean McMahon, the Ballyboden St Enda’s man came in at wing-back and got up in support of the attack in the first-half. Tailed Paudie Clifford more than once and wasn’t alone finding that an unenviable task. Came off with 20 to go.
Got through a load of work, doing his stint at the back and linking up at the other end, not least when setting up Colm Basquel’s first point. Jim McGuinness says work rates are up 30-35% in the modern game. This was proof. Finally given a rest with 13 to play.
The man with the most difficult job in Croke Park, Byrne was tasked with shadowing David Clifford and did well for long periods on Mr Unmarkable. One great block early in the second almost led to a Dublin goal that could have coloured this very differently.
Another man who ran up and down that pitch with hardly a break. Made a big turnover when Dublin were turning the screw after the restart.
The Crokes man spent a lot of his day keeping tabs on Paudie Clifford, but by no means all of it. That’s not an easy gig when having to stay connected with the rest of the defensive pod, as evidenced by Clifford’s man-of-the-match display.
McMorrow has come in to make a huge contribution this year, and he added to that here. His arcing run for a 33rd-minute score was superb and he doubled that tally later. An absolute athlete with the stride and the engine to match it.
Another Cuala man, O Cofaigh Byrne – unluckily? - gave away the penalty that gave Kerry an early goal, but he made one brilliant steal when the Kingdom pressed early on. Didn’t see much aerial stuff first-half as Dublin looked to avoid Joe O’Connor. Limped off with 15 to go.
Kept driving and raging against the dying of the light until the end. Howard was key in a midfield battle the Dubs did well in, he signed for two points in the second period and had one great block on David Clifford midway through that half, but it wasn’t enough.
Basquel has been crucial to the Dubs, not least since returning on the back of having missed three games earlier in the Championship. Pounced for two points in the second quarter and another after the break.
How fit is O’Callaghan exactly? Whatever the answer is, his importance remains undimmed, and that’s emphasised further on a day when it isn’t all gold. Landed a big and early two-pointer, but he was never able to bend this one to his will.
In superb form this season, Scully is a human dynamo and he did came in to this semi-final as the first-half wore on. Had scored in all but one of six games up to this but added just a single point to those numbers just before the finish.
Had claimed a huge personal tally of 2-24 prior to this and the Ballymun Kickhams man added a few more to the list here. Quiet at times and replaced with eight minutes left. Dublin needed a bit more of a hit from some of their older brigade.
The veteran of veterans, Kilkenny has been in excellent form this year but he took time to come into this one. His first real imprint came when feeding Costello late in the first-half. Won a few kickouts either side of the break as Dublin prospered.
Dublin’s best forward in a first-half where too many snapped at shots. Costello was guilty of one himself but he landed his dead balls and chipped in with two from play. Less influential in the third quarter, he found his range again with two more after that.
Ross McGarry had two attempts on goal in the 58th minute, one saved and the other deflected on to the woodwork. Sean Bugler came up with a late point. That aside, Dublin didn’t get any real turbo boost from their replacements. 6
Brendan O'Brien
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