All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Final – Kerry 2-18 Mayo 0-10

Kerry defeated Mayo by 2-18 to 0-10 in the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Final on Saturday August 8th at Croke Park.

Rampant Kerry stroll to All-Ireland JFC crown

By Cóilín Duffy for RTE.ie

Kerry 2-18 Mayo 0-10

Kerry produced a powerful performance to bag the All-Ireland JFC title, cruising to a comfortable win over Mayo at Croke Park this afternoon. The Kingdom led throughout this contest to deliver their second title in four years, and had six points on the board before Mayo opened their account after 12 minutes.

The Munster champions never looked troubled and led by 1-09 to 0-06 at half-time, with Thomas Hickey, who notched 2-04 on the day, netting a 26th-minute goal. Mayo were held to just four points on the restart, with Hickey netting the winners’ second goal seven minutes into the second half, on the way to a 16th All-Ireland crown.

A rampant Kerry were 17 points to the good with ten minutes left on the clock. Mayo battled on gamely and tried to salvage some pride with points from Declan Healy, Michael Togher and Cathal Freeman, but they were a beaten team long before the final whistle. It was Kerry manager Stephen Wallace’s fourth All-Ireland success.

Coming into this decider Kerry were eager to claim silverware, and edge closer to the top of the roll of honour, with Munster rivals Cork topping the list with 17 All-Ireland wins. Kerry had disposed of Wexford in the semi-finals, while Mayo had a testing clash against first-time All-Britain title winners Kilkenny at O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

The Kingdom started strongly with Brian Crowley opening their account after a minute, before scores from Alan O’Donoghue and Conor Cox handed Kerry a 0-03 to 0-00 lead after three minutes. Kerry were hungry for scores, with Killian Spillane having a fourth-minute goal chance, but he failed to plant the ball in the back of the Mayo net.

A second Cox point opened up a four-point gap before Mayo were dealt a major blow with an injury to forward Ronan Malee after just eight minutes, and found it hard to recover with Kerry continuing to tag on scores. However, Malee’s replacement Andrew Farrell made a strong contribution for a battling Mayo side, and finish the Westerners top-scorer with five points, including two from frees.

Hickey and Spillane points handed Kerry a 0-06 to 0-00 lead, before Damien McGing opened the Mayo tally after 16 minutes, for his lone score of this game A quick brace of Alan O’Donoghue points, including one fisted effort extended Kerry’s lead to seven points after 22 minutes. Substitute Farrell registered a much needed score, but this was quickly cancelled out.

Kerry continued to pile on the pressure, and were rewarded after Hickey bagged his first goal, cutting through the heart of the Mayo defence and sending the ball past keeper Blake Forkan. Mayo were hit hard before the break, with Belmullet’s Sean Gaughan just three minutes on the pitch, before being shown a black card by referee Noel Mooney.

Defender Eoin O’Donoghue slotted over a much required score for Mayo, and although the Westerners rallied, Kerry held a double scores lead at the break on a 1-09 to 0-06 score-line. Kerry were ruthless and tagged on 1-04 without reply on the restart, including Hickey’s second goal to build up a 13-point lead.

Mayo’s first score of the second half came in the 44th minute, when Farrell slotted the ball over the cross-bar. Despite the sides being well matched in the closing quarter, Kerry had done enough, with their captain Alan O’Donoghue accepting the cup from GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail after the game.

Mayo’s quest for a first All-Ireland title at this grade since 1997 continues, but for Kerry, the Munster side are just one title off sharing top of the Roll of Honour with Cork.

Kerry: S Murphy (0-01, 1 45); D O’Donoghue, J McGuire, D Culhane; T Morley (0-01), J Walsh (0-01), G Crowley; B O’Sullivan, L Kearney; P O’Connor (0-01), B Crowley (0-02), K Spillane (0-01); A O’Donoghue (0-04), C Cox (0-02, 2f), T Hickey (2-04).
Subs: B Sugrue for McGuire (HT); J O’Donoghue (0-01) for Cox (35); G O’Sullivan fo Spillane (39); M Brennan for O’Sullivan (BC 42); E Kiely for Kearney (49); D Griffin for B Crowley (53).

Mayo: B Forkan; P Barrett, B Moran, B Leonard; E Collins, D McHugh, E O’Donoghue (0-01); P Collins, P Feerick; G Conway, C Freeman (0-01), D Durcan; D McGing (0-01), J Hutton, R Malee.
Subs: A Farrell (0-05, 2f) for Malee (8); S Gaughan for Leonard (24); M Barrett for Gaughan (BC 27); M Forde for Durcan (HT); D Healy (0-01) for Moran (48); M Togher (0-01) for Collins (49).

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)

Fixture Details

08.08.2015 (Sat)
GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Championship Final
Páirc an Chrócaigh 14:00
Ciarraí v Maigh Eo
Referee: Noel Mooney (An Cabhán)
(E.T. if Necessary)

Team News

The Kerry Junior team for All ireland Junior Final is announced: http://t.co/bCNwpyqNQM

— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) August 6, 2015

The Kerry Junior Football Team to play Mayo in the All Ireland Junior Football final in Croke Park on Saturday at 2pm shows three changes in personnel from the side that started in the Semi Final win over Wexford – Jack Maguire, a late withdrawl in that game due to injury, resumes in the full back position, Brendan O’Sullivan, introduced against Wexford is named at centre field along with Liam Kearney and Thomas Hickey, who did not start the drawn game due to illness, resumes in the corner forward position.
The players to lose out are Eamonn Kiely, Brendan O’Sullivan and Jordan Kiely.

The team, captained by Alan O’Donoghue of John Mitchels is as follows:

1 Shane Murphy Kilcummin
2 Dan O’Donoghue Spa
3 Jack McGuire Listowel Emmets
4 David Culhane Ballylongford
5 James Walsh Knocknagoshel
6 Tadhg Morley Templenoe
7 Gavin Crowley Templenoe
8 Brendan O’Sullivan Valentia
9 Liam Kearney Spa
10 Brian Crowley Templenoe
11 Jeff O’Donoghue Glenflesk
12 Philip O’Connor Cordal
13 Thomas Hickey Castleisland Desmonds
14 Conor Cox Listowel Emmets
15 Alan O’Donoghue (C) John Mitchels

Fir Ionaid:

16 Darragh O’Shea Ballydonoghue
17 Eamon Kiely Brosna
18 Brian Sugrue Renard
19 Michael Brennan Churchill
20 Gary O’Sullivan Listry
21 Jordan Kiely Dr Crokes
22 Adam Barry Brosna
23 David Griffin Ardfert
24 Killian Spillane Templenoe