All-Ireland Senior Football Final – Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12

Kerry defeated Donegal by 2-9 to 0-12 in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday September 21st at Croke Park.

Kerry prove too strong for @officialdonegal to claim their 37th #GAA All-Ireland Championship http://t.co/AfzrtFDJoj

— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 21, 2014

All-Ireland SFC: Kerry win glorious 37th title

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final: Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12

Report from GAA.ie

Of all Kerry’s 37 All-Ireland wins, this was surely their most unlikely. Having been written off by pretty much everyone at the start of the year – a new team, a rookie manager, an injury to their star player and a host of multiple All-Ireland winners having retired at the start of the season – the Kingdom came to Croke Park and proved exactly why they are the aristocrats of Gaelic football.

If Kerry’s was an unlikely success story, Kieran Donaghy’s emergence as their match-winner and saviour for the third game running was equally incredible. ‘Star’ proved his enduring quality once again with the goal that changed the game in the 52nd minute, intercepting Paul Durcan’s weak kick-out and placing a superb shot to the back of the net, to add to the two points points he scored and the general mayhem he caused on the edge of the square.

Match Stats
Kerry-Donegal
Own kick-outs: 19-14
Own kick-outs won: 11-15
Own %: 58%-63%
Shots: 32-24
Scores: 11-12
Scores: 34%-50%
Turnovers Lost: 7-7

It was all the more remarkable, too, because Kerry kicked 13 wides over the 70-odd minutes and their top scorer James O’Donoghue failed to score in the game, having been shackled superbly by Neil McGee and forced to spend most of his time coming deep in a frustrated attempt to have some impact on the game.

While Donaghy had no direct involvement in Kerry’s first goal, which, remarkably, came inside the first minute, all eyes were on the giant Austin Stacks man from the throw-in when Kerry instead went straight for Paul Geaney, who like a ghost had swept unmarked into the area and fired Kerry into a lead they would never give up to Donegal.

At the very end of an absorbing second half, Donegal, who had won on each of their two previous All-Ireland final appearances, had a chance to force a replay, but when the loose ball fell for Colm McFadden in the second minute of added time, he struck a post and ‘Sam’ was heading to the south-west.

Kerry won the game despite hitting eight wides in a second half they dominated, and it would have been cruel had they been denied on a day when they kept punching holes in Donegal’s packed defence until they finally created some gaps in the final quarter. Donegal were still hanging in at 0-7 to 1-4 at the end of a third quarter that produced just one point for each side when Killian Young was fouled by Donegal defence that had been hugely disciplined up to that point. Barry John Keane snapped over the free and then Donaghy pounced on Durcan’s wayward kick-out to spark a manic, free-scoring final 18 minutes.

Donegal hit back with three quickfire scores, Patrick McBrearty slinging over two after coming off the bench and Neil McGee adding another after an impressive raid from the back, leaving a point in it with 15 minutes left. By now, cracks were starting to appear in Donegal’s defensive wall, however, and Kerry hit back with three successive points of their own. Johnny Buckley started that run with a superb shot he lofted over the blanket, before Keane knocked over a second free and then Donaghy, who won yet another high ball placed in the area he thrives and fisted over the bar, put Kerry four clear with 10 minutes left, a position they somehow managed to lose the 2011 final to Dublin from.

Although he was a picture of calm on the line, Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice must have been in agony on the sideline when first sub Dermot Molloy and then Christy Toye ate into that precarious lead. For the 2011 survivors – Declan O’Sullivan, Donaghy, Tomás Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony, Donnchadh Walsh and Killian Young – their thoughts must have gone back to that harrowing experience three years ago.

But in the closing stages, Kerry’s calm assurance and ability to close out the game must have given their young manager huge satisfaction. Instead of panicking, the Kingdom held onto the ball and toyed with Donegal, passing laterally in front of their defensive wall before the 2012 champions’ patience finally cracked and they conceded a free, which Bryan Sheehan converted seconds after coming on as a sub in the 69th minute.

Having failed to create any real goal chance over the course of the game – a Darach O’Connor attempt from a narrow angle in the 25th minute notwithstanding – Kerry must have felt that with a three-point lead the game was as good as won. Donaghy was even taken off in the final minute and was given a hero’s reception by a jubilant Kerry support.

There was one final twist, however, when, with the game just having entered the third minute of added time, Donegal carved out their best chance of the game. McBrearty grabbed possession in a crowded goalmouth and his shot was half-blocked by Brian Kelly, but the loose ball fell to McFadden and he could only fist it onto the post.

Kerry survived, and they deserved to. Completing the minor and senior double for the first time since 1980, the Kingdom delivered the clearest statement of their eminence as the country’s greatest force. Many expected a tight, tactical battle, and that madcap opening aside, that’s how the first half turned out. Both sides set up very defensively and the free-flowing football of the semi-finals was a distant memory as Donegal crowded their defence, aware of the aerial threat Kerry carried in attack.

Donegal’s first three points all came from the boot of Michael Murphy, who punished Kerry’s indiscipline in defence – by contrast Donegal conceded one free in the first half – with a succession of booming efforts with his right boot, before McFadden added a fourth from a placed ball in the 23rd minute.

Both sides then had good goal chances. Rory Kavanagh broke the gain line for Donegal and sent Darach O’Connor – who was a surprise inclusion in the Donegal team – through, but his shot slipped through Kerry goalkeeper Brian Kelly’s legs and trickled wide. O’Donoghue struggled to make any sort of impact in the first half such was McGee’s tight marking, but when he did get the ball he immediately sought out Donaghy or Paul Geaney on the edge of the square. On 27 minutes, Geaney rose brilliantly, created the space for himself cleverly but blazed over the bar.

Darach O’Connor’s missed goal chance was his last involvement, with Toye coming on in his place after 28 minutes. Toye brought a huge injection of energy to Donegal’s play and they kicked the last two points of the half, through Odhrán Mac Niallais and Karl Lacey, to level at half-time, 0-6 to 1-3.

Within two minutes of the restart, Murphy became the first Donegal forward to score from play when he kicked a peach of a point, before Paul Murphy replied with a rare score for Kerry. Twelve painstaking minutes without a score elapsed before Keane’s free ended the stalemate and Donaghy’s goal breathed a fresh impetus into the game. The rest will go down in Kerry folklore, their 37th All-Ireland title and the completion of a rare double that reasserts their place at the very top.
***

Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney 1-2 (0-1f), Kieran Donaghy 1-2, Paul Murphy 0-1, Barry John Keane 0-2 (0-2f), Johnny Buckley 0-1, Bryan Sheehan 0-1 (0-1f).

Scorers for Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-4 (0-3f), Colm McFadden 0-1 (0-1f), Odhrán Mac Niallais 0-1, Kark Lacey 0-1, Patrick McBrearty 0-2, Neil McGee 0-1, Dermot Molloy 0-1, Christy Toye 0-1.

KERRY: Brian Kelly; Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony, Fionn Fitzgerald (capt); Paul Murphy, Peter Crowley, Killian Young; Anthony Maher, David Moran; Stephen O’Brien, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh; Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy, James O’Donoghue
Subs: Michael Geaney for Stephen O’Brien (HT), Barry John Keane for Paul Geaney (49), Shane Enright for Fionn Fitzgerald (55), Declan O’Sullivan for Donnchadh Walsh (57), Bryan Sheehan for David Moran (68), Kieran O’Leary for Kieran Donaghy (71).

DONEGAL: Paul Durcan; Éamonn McGee, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath; Anthony Thompson, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn; Neil Gallagher, Odhrán Mac Niallais; Rory Kavanagh, Leo McLoone, Ryan McHugh; Darach O’Connor, Michael Murphy (capt), Colm McFadden
Subs: Christy Toye for Darach O’Connor (28), Patrick McBrearty for Ryan McHugh (46), Martin McElhinney for Odhrán Mac Niallais (52), David Walsh for Leo McLoone (58), Dermot Molloy for Rory Kavanagh (64).

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)

Attendance: 82,184
***
Report: Brian Murphy

Sunday Game Man of the Match for the All-Ireland SFC final is Kerry's Paul Murphy

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) September 21, 2014

Fixture Details

21.09.2014 (Sun)
GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship Final
Páirc an Chrócaigh 15:30
Ciarraí v Dún na nGall
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)

Team News

Team News: Two @Kerry_Official changes for #GAA All-Ireland Final vs @officialdonegal http://t.co/M2dxK1pe07 #KYDL pic.twitter.com/pTEJgYpM6N

— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 18, 2014

KERRY (SF v Donegal): Brian Kelly; Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony, Fionn Fitzgerald; Paul Murphy, Peter Crowley, Killian Young; Anthony Maher, David Moran; Stephen O’Brien, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh; Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy, James O’Donoghue.
Subs: B Kealy, S Enright, M Geaney, Declan O’Sullivan, B J Keane, B Sheehan, Darran O’Sullivan, K O’Leary, J Lyne, M Griffin, P Kilkenny

DONEGAL (SF v Kerry): P Durcan; E McGee, N McGee, P McGrath; A Thompson, K Lacey, F McGlynn; N Gallagher, O MacNiallais; C Toye, L McLoone, R McHugh; P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden.
Subs: M Boyle, D O’Connor, D Walsh, D Walsh, D Molloy, H McFadden, L Thompson, L Keaney, M McElhinney, M O’Reilly, R Kavanagh

DONEGAL AND KERRY ON THE DOUBLE FOR FOOTBALL’S BIG DAY

The biggest day of the GAA’s football year beckons as Kerry and Donegal prepare for next Sunday’s All-Ireland final double-header when the counties meet in both the senior and minor finals in Croke Park.

The minor final throws-in at 1.15pm, followed at 3.30pm by the senior decider in what will be the first All-Ireland final between the counties. It’s the first time since 1979 (Kerry v Dublin) that the same two counties contested the minor and senior finals.

Kerry, who last won the senior title in 2009, are bidding for their 37th title. Donegal are seeking their third title, having previously won in 1992 and 2012. Both counties arrive in the final, via the direct route as provincial champions. Donegal won all five games while Kerry won four and drew one. This will be only the second championship clash between the counties, with Donegal having won the first one in 2012, beating Kerry by 1-12 to 1-10 in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Paths to the final

DONEGAL
Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-11 (Ulster quarter-final)
Donegal 3-16 Antrim 0-12 (Ulster semi-final)
Donegal 0-15 Monaghan 1-9 (Ulster final)
Donegal 1-12 Armagh 1-11 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Donegal 3-14 Dublin 0-17 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Average For: 1-16 Average Against: 0-13

Donegal scorers
Michael Murphy………..0-17 (0-11 frees, 0-1 ‘45’, 0-1 sideline)
Colm McFadden………..1-12 (0-9 frees)
Odran MacNiallais……..1-9
Leo McLoone……………2-3
Ryan McHugh…………..2-3
Patrick McBrearty………0-8
Darach O’Connor……….1-3
Dermot Molloy…………..1-1
Christy Toye………………0-3
Karl Lacey…………………0-3
Anthony Thompson…….0-2
Martin McElhinney…….0-1
Neil McGee……………. ..0-1
Rory Kavanagh………….0-1
Frank McGlynn………….0-1

KERRY
Kerry 1-17 Clare 1-13 (Munster semi-final)
Kerry 0-24 Cork 0-12 (Munster final)
Kerry 1-20 Galway 2-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Kerry 1-16 Mayo 1-16 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Kerry 3-16 Mayo 3-13, aet (All-Ireland semi-final replay)
Average For: 1-19; Average Against: 1-14

Kerry scorers
James O’Donoghue……………. 4-24 (2-0 pens, 0-4 frees)
Paul Geaney……………………….0-18 (0-4 frees)
Bryan Sheehan……………………0-9 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘45’)
Johnny Buckley…………………..0-7 (0-2 frees)
Barry John Keane………………. 0-6
Donnchadh Walsh……………….0-5
Declan O’Sullivan……………….0-4 (0-1 free)
Paul Murphy………………………1-1
Stephen O’Brien…………………0-4
Kieran Donaghy………………… 1-0
Michael Geaney………………….0-3
David Moran………………………0-3
Kieran O’Leary…………………. 0-2
Jonathon Lyne…………………… 0-2
Anthony Maher…………………. 0-1
Killian Young…………………….0-1
Marc O Se………………………….0-1
Fionn Fitzgerald………………….0-1
Peter Crowley…………………….0-1

Last Championship Clash
Donegal 1-12 Kerry 1-10 (2012 All-Ireland quarter-final)
An early goal by Colm McFadden directly from a sideline kick gave Donegal the initiative and when they led by six point with six minutes remaining, they seemed set for an easy win.
However, a Kieran Donaghy goal and points from Paul Galvin and Anthony Maher cut the deficit to a point before Karl Lacey kicked Donegal’s final point.

Donegal: Paul Durcan; Eamonn McGee, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath; Frank McGlynn, Karl Lacey (0-1), Anthony Thompson; Martin McElhinney, Rory Kavanagh; Paddy McBrearty (0-1), Mark McHugh, Ryan Bradley; Colm McFadden (1-5, 1-0 sideline, 0-2 frees), Michael Murphy (0-3, 0-2 frees), Leo McLoone (0-1).
Subs: Neil Gallagher for McElhinney, David Walsh for Bradley; Christy Toye (0-1) for McLoone, Daniel McLaughlin for McBrearty.

Kerry: Brendan Kealy; Shane Enright, Aidan O’Mahony, Marc O Se; Tomas O Se, Eoin Brosnan, Killian Young; Anthony Maher (0-2), Bryan Sheehan (0-1 free), Paul Galvin (0-1), Declan O’Sullivan (0-1), Donnchadh Walsh; James O’Donoghue (0-1), Colm Cooper (0-4, 0-2 frees), Kieran Donaghy (1-0).
Subs: Brian Maguire for Brosnan; Darran O’Sullivan for Young; Johnny Buckley for Sheehan; Kieran O’Leary for Declan O’Sullivan; Patrick Curtin for O’Donoghue.

GAA ALL-IRELAND SF ROLL OF HONOUR
36 – Kerry (1903-04-09-13-14-24-26-29-30-31-32-37-39-40-41-46-53-55-59-62-69-70-75-78-79-80-81-84-85-86-97-2000-2004-2006-2007-2009)
24 – Dublin (1891-92-97-98-99-1901-02-06-07-08-21-22-23-42-58-63-74-76-77-83-95-2011-2013)
9 – Galway (1925-34-38-56-64-65-66-98-2001)
7 – Meath (1949-54-67-87-88-96-99)
7 – Cork (1890-1911-45-73-89-90-2010)
5 – Down (1960-61-68-91-94)
5 – Cavan (1933-35-47-48-52)
5 – Wexford (1893-1915-16-17-18)
4 – Kildare (1905-19-27-28)
4- Tipperary (1889-95-1900-1920)
3 – Louth (1910-12-57)
3 – Mayo (1936-50-51)
3 – Offaly (1971-72-82)
3- Tyrone (2003-2005-2008)
2- Donegal (1992-2012)
2 – Limerick (1887-1896)
2 – Roscommon (1943-44)
1 – Armagh (2002)
1 – Derry (1993)

2014 Championship – Top Scorers
Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor is poised to top the 2014 championship scoring charts as he leads Kerry’s James O’Donoghue by 15 points. Unusually for All-Ireland finalists, Donegal have no one in the top ten. Michael Murphy is their leading scorer on 0-17.

The following are the top ten scorers:
Cillian O’Connor (Mayo)……..5-36 (51 points)… 0-24 frees, 5-0 penalties
James O’Donoghue (Kerry)…..4-24 (36 points)… 2-0 pens, 0-4 frees
Shane Walsh (Galway)…………1-29 (32 points)… 0-15 frees, 0-2 ‘45s
Conor Sweeney (Tipperary)….4-19 (31 points)….0-13 frees, 1-0 penalty
Conor McManus (Monaghan)…1-27 (30 points)….0-20 frees, 0-1 lineball
Tony Kernan (Armagh)……….0-25 (25 points)…..0-16 frees, 0-2 ‘45s’
Donie Kingston (Laois)…….0-23 (23 points)…….0-12 frees
Seamus Quigley (Fermanagh)..3-14 (23 points)…0-9 frees, 1-0 penalty
Bernard Brogan (Dublin)…….2-17 (23 points)……0-11 frees
Darren McCurry (Tyrone)…….2-16 (22points)…0-11 frees

ALL-IRELAND FINAL SHORTS
*Jim McGuinness is in his fourth season as Donegal manager, leading them to All-Ireland glory in 2012 and to Ulster titles in 2011-2012-2014. Donegal’s championship record under McGuinness reads: Played 23; Won 20, Drew 0, Lost 3. The defeats came against Dublin in the 2011 All-Ireland semi-final, against Monaghan in last year’s Ulster final and against Mayo in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
*Eamonn Fitzmaurice is in his second season as Kerry manager, leading them to Munster titles in 2013 and 2014. Kerry’s championship record under Fitzmaurice reads: Played 10; Won 8, Drew 1, Lost 1. The defeat came against Dublin in last year’s semi-final.
*While this is only Donegal third appearance in the All-Ireland final, Kerry have played in ten finals in the new Millennium. Their record in that period reads: Played 10; Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 4. They won in 2000 (replay v Galway), 2004-2006-2007-2009 and lost in 2002-2005-2008-2011.

KERRY AND DONEGAL IN UNIQUE DOUBLE BILL

The GAA All-Ireland senior football final on September 21 will create history when Donegal and Kerry meet in the decider for the first time.
The same pairing will also meet in the minor final, where more history will be made as it’s the first time Donegal have reached the U-18 final. It’s the first time since 1979 (Kerry v Dublin) that the minor and senior finals featured the same pairings.
Kerry seniors are back in the final for the first time since 2011 while Donegal were last there in 2012, when they won the title for the second time.
Kerry and Donegal have met only once previously in the championship, with the Ulster men winning the 2012 All-Ireland quarter-final by 1-12 to 1-10.
Donegal dethroned defending champions, Dublin in a 3-14 to 0-17 win in the semi-final on Sunday, while Kerry earned their place in the final with a 3-16 to 3-13 win over Mayo in a replay, which went to extra-time at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

GAA FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2014
CONNACHT
Quarter-finals: May 4: Mayo 4-18 New York 0-8, Gaelic Park; May 18: Roscommon 1-18 Leitrim 0-13, Dr. Hyde Park; May 25: Galway 3-17 London 0-7, Ruislip.
Semi-finals: June 8: Mayo 0-13 Roscommon 1-9, Dr. Hyde Park; June 21: Galway 0-16 Sligo 0-11, Markievicz Park.
Final: July 13: Mayo 3-14 Galway 0-16, Castlebar.
LEINSTER
1st round: May 17: Louth 1-14 Westmeath 1-9, Cusack Park; May 18: Longford 0-19 Offaly 0-15, Glennon Brothers, Pearse Park; Laois 0-21 Wicklow 1-11, Aughrim.
Quarter-finals: June 7: Wexford 1-15 Longford 1-13, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park; June 8: Kildare 1-22 Louth 1-7, Croke Park; Dublin 2-21 Laois 0-16, Croke Park; June 15: Meath 7-13 Carlow 0-6, Dr. Cullen Park.
Semi-finals: June 29: Dublin2-25 Wexford 1-12, Croke Park; Meath 2-16 Kildare 0-17, Croke Park.
Final: July 20: Dublin 3-20 Meath 1-10, Croke Park.
MUNSTER
Quarter-finals: May 31: Tipperary 2-14 Limerick 1-11 Gaelic Grounds; June 7: Clare 2-8 Waterford 2-8, Ennis; June 14: Clare 3-11 Waterford 0-12, Fraher Field (replay).
Semi-finals: June 21: Cork 0-16 Tipperary 1-11, Pairc Ui Chaoimh; June 22: Kerry 1-17 Clare 1-13, Ennis.
Final: July 6: Kerry 0-24 Cork 0-12 Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
ULSTER
1st round: May 18: Tyrone 2-11 Down 3-8, Omagh; May 24: Tyrone 3-11 Down 0-12 (replay), Newry
Quarter-finals: May 25: Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-11, Celtic Park; June 1: Antrim 2-18 Fermanagh 3-13, Brewster Park; June 8: Armagh 1-12 Cavan 0-9, Athletic Grounds; June 15: Monaghan 1-12 Tyrone 0-14, Clones.
Semi-finals: June 22: Donegal 3-16 Antrim 0-12, Clones; June 28: Monaghan 0-14 Armagh 0-14, Clones; July 6: Monaghan 1-18 Armagh 1-13, Clones.
July 20: Final: Donegal 0-15 Monaghan 1-9, Clones.

ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS
Round 1: June 21: 1A: Limerick 1-16 London 1-13, Gaelic Grounds; Longford 2-16 Derry 2-14, Celtic Park; Laois1-19 Fermanagh 2-15, Portlaoise; Wicklow 3-12 Offaly 0-17, Aughrim; June 28: IB: Cavan 1-15 Westmeath 1-14, Kingspan Breffni Park; Tyrone 2-21 Louth 0-10; Omagh; Carlow 0-17 Waterford 1-13, Dr. Cullen Park; June 29: Down 4-18 Leitrim 0-9, Newry.
Round 2: July 5: 2A: Tipperary 2-17 Longford 0-6, Thurles; Sligo 0-12 Wicklow 0-10, Aughrim; Limerick 3-11Antrim 0-15, Gaelic Grounds; July 6: Laois 0-18 Wexford 0-17, Wexford Park.
July 12: 2B: Roscommon 0-16 Cavan 0-5, Kingspan Breffni Park; 3A: Sligo 0-12 Limerick 0-10, Markievicz Park; Tipperary 3-17 Laois 4-9, Portlaoise.
July 13: 2B: Kildare 1-18 Down 0-11, Newry; Clare 4-26 Carlow 2-13, Dr. Cullen Park; Armagh 0-13 Tyrone 0-10, Omagh.
July 19: 3B: Armagh 1-17 Roscommon 1-12, Dr. Hyde Park; Kildare 0-13 Clare 0-12, Ennis.
Round 4: July 26: 4A: Galway 4-17 Tipperary 4-12 Tullamore; Cork 0-21 Sligo 1-11, Tullamore
August 2: 4B: Armagh 0-18 Meath 0-13, Croke Park; Monaghan 2-16 Kildare 2-14 (after extra-time) Croke Park.

ALL-IRELAND QUARTER-FINALS
August 3: Kerry 1-20 Galway 2-10, Croke Park; Mayo 1-19 Cork 2-15, Croke Park; August 9: Donegal 1-12 Armagh 1-11, Croke Park; Dublin 2-22 Monaghan 0-11, Croke Park.

ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINALS
August 24: Mayo 1-16 Kerry 1-16, Croke Park.
August 30: Replay: Kerry 3-16 Mayo 3-13 (aet), Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
August 31: Donegal 3-14 Dublin 0-17, Croke Park.

ALL-IRELAND FINAL
September 21: Donegal v Kerry, Croke Park.

Kerry will play Donegal in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Final on Sunday September 21st at 1:15pm in Croke Park.

2014 Football Final Referees Announced

The GAA has confirmed the referees and match officials for the 2014 GAA Football All-Ireland Senior and Minor Championship finals on September 21 with Eddie Kinsella from Courtwood, Co. Laois confirmed as the referee for the senior final, while Fergal Kelly of Longford will officiate in the Minor game between Donegal v Kerry.
This will be Eddie Kinsella’s first senior assignment, as he takes charge of the Donegal vs Kerry contest having previously taken charge of the All-Ireland Minor Final in 2009. He has also officiated the All-Ireland Under 21 final in 2011, the All-Ireland Senior Club final in 2014 between St. Vincent’s (Dublin) and Castlebar Mitchells (Mayo), one Leinster Football Championship Final, and one Munster Football Championship Final.
In this year’s football championship, Eddie has refereed the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final between Kerry and Galway, the Round 3B Qualifier between Roscommon and Armagh, Roscommon and Mayo’s Connacht Football Semi-Final and and Ulster Quarter-Final meeting of Monaghan and Tyrone.
His umpires on the day will be Arthur O’Connor, Alan O’Halloran, Pat Connell and Niall Murphy (all Courtwood).
Sligo’s Marty Duffy will be the standby referee. The other linesman is Padraig Hughes (Armagh), while the sideline official will be Rory Hickey (Clare).
Fergal Kelly, who will be officiating the Minor match, is a member of the Ballymahon club.
In this year’s football championship Fergal has refereed the Connacht Quarter-Final between London and Galway, the meeting of Cork and Tipperary in the Munster Semi-Final and the Football Qualifier between Sligo and Limerick.
Fergal has also refereed the 2014 Leinster Colleges Senior Football Championship Final, the Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup Final in 2014, the 2013 Intermediate Club Championship Final, the Allianz Football League Division Four Final in 2012, and the Leinster GAA Football Minor Championship Final 2011.
His umpires on the day will be Paul Kelly and Phelim Kelly (both Ballymahon), Patrick Maguire (St. Mary’s, Granard) and Tomás O’Rourke (Longford Slashers).
Wicklow’s Anthony Nolan will be the standby referee, the other linesman is Jerome Henry (Mayo) and the Sideline Official will be James Molloy (Galway).

21.09.2014 (Sun)
GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final
Ciarraí v Dún na nGall RTÉ/SKY Sports
Páirc an Chrócaigh, 15.30

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)
Stand By: Marty Duffy (Sligeach)
Linesman: Padraig Hughes (Ard Mhacha)
Sideline: Rory Hickey (An Clár)
Umpires: Arthur O’Connor, Alan O’Halloran, Pat Connell and Niall Murphy

Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Final
Ciarraí v Dún na nGall TG4
Páirc an Chrócaigh, 13.15

Referee: Fergal Kelly (An Longfort)
Stand By: Anthony Nolan (Cill Mhantáin)
Linesman: Jerome Henry (Maigh Eo)
Sideline: James Molloy (Gaillimh)
Umpires: Paul Kelly, Phelim Kelly, Patrick Maguire and Tomás O’Rourke