2019 GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Championship Final – Kerry 3-14 Galway 0-13

Kerry defeated Galway by 3-14 to 0-13 in the GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Championship Final on Saturday July 20th at O’Moore Park Portlaoise.

Kerry retain All Ireland Junior Football title

KERRY 3-14 GALWAY 0-13

Report By David Connors at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise for GAA.ie

After completing an unprecedented four-in-a-row in 2018, the Kerry Junior footballers went a step further this evening completing an unrivalled five All-Ireland titles on the spin.

Three second half goals from the Kingdom courtesy of corner forwards Barry O’Dwyer and Stephen O’Sullivan along with substitute James Crean took the wind out of Galway’s sails as Kerry ran out for a convincing victory over a depleted western outfit in the decider.

The men in maroon started the game the brighter and on five separate first half occasions held the lead but each and every time they were pegged back by Jimmy Keane’s irrepressible men.

Williamstown’s Garry Kelly was his elusive best early on and finished the first half with five points, four from play, a couple of which were half goal chances that went array. Patrick O’Donnell the only other teammate to get on the scoresheet in the first half.

Kerry were slow to find their rhythm but when they did get into their grove they caused the Galway rearguard serious issues with six different first half scorers in Daniel Daly, Stephen O’Sullivan, ‘keeper Eoghan O’Brien from placed balls and marauding wing-back duo of Jack Brosnan and Michael Foley.

O’Brien and his opposite number Cormac Haslam were called into action throughout the first half and both pulled off stunning saves to deny the opposition full-forwards Colm Brennan, who was a real handful early doors, and Daniel Daly who used his quick thinking from a free to call the Glenamaddy netminder into action.

Kerry’s late burst left them two points to the good at the interval, 0-8 to 0-6.

Matt Duggan’s troops had pegged Kerry back by the 33rd minute through scores from Kelly and Sean Ó Currin but Kerry’s three goal salvo ensured there was no way back.

Barry O’Dwyer fisted to the back of the net on the 34th minute and six minute later the exceptional Stephen O’Sullivan put the game beyond all doubt with their second.

Galway continued to toil hard but a professional and clinical Kerry kept them at arm’s length and repelled their advances.

James Crean finished off his side’s third goal with three minutes remaining to ensure the All-Ireland Junior Cup would be heading back to Kerry for the the 20th time.

Scorers for Kerry: Stephen O’Sullivan 1-4, Barry O’Dwyer and James Crean 1-0 each, Eoghan O’Brien 0-3 (1f, 2 45s) Daniel Daly (1f) 0-2, Jack Brosnan, Michael Foley, Caolim Teahan, Mike Breen and Thomas Lynch 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Garry Kelly 0-8 (4fs), Lorcan Molloy 0-2, Patrick O’Donnell, Seán Ó Currin and Sean Denvir 0-1 each

KERRY: Eoghan O’Brien; Cian Ó Murchú, Padraig O’Connor, Padraig Jackie O’Sullivan; Jack Brosnan, Mike Breen, Michael Foley; John Mark Foley, Nathan Breen; Phillip O’Connor, Chris Farley, Brandon Barrett; Stephen O’Sullivan, Daniel Daly, Barry O’Dwyer.
Subs: Caolim Teahan for Farley (38), James Crean for O’Dwyer (46), Thomas Lynch for Barrett (57), Gerald O’Sullivan for Daly (59), Fionán Clifford for Ó Murchú (59), John Spillane for Brosnan (60+1)

GALWAY: Cormac Haslam; Eddie O’Sullivan, Dara Ó Ruairc, Thomas Rabbitte; MacDara Geragthy, Conor Costello, Patrick O’Donnell; Alan Molloy, Enda Tierney; Sean Denvir, Jonathan Ryan, Thomas Gleeson; Padraig Éoin Ó Curraoin, Colm Brennan, Garry Kelly.
Subs: Seán Ó Currin for Tierney black car (7), Lorcan Molloy for Gleeson (37), Enda Concannon for Ó Ruairc (46), Connor Brady for Padraic Éoin Ó Curraoin (57), Aongus Ó hIarnáin for Ó Currin (59), Ger Gibbons for Ryan (60+3).

REFEREE: Martin McNally (Monaghan).