All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Semi-Final – Kerry 2-21 Sligo 0-10

Kerry defeated Sligo by 2-21 to 0-10 in the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Semi-Final on Saturday August 9th at Cusack Park Ennis.

Kingdom find second wind and seal final slot

By Denis Hurley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Kerry 2-21 Sligo 0-10

In the end, it was routine for Kerry as their quest for a 16th All-Ireland JFC title took them above and beyond Sligo at Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday. At half-time, however, it looked as if the Munster champions would face a real arm-wrestle to progress to the final against Cavan in a fortnight as Sligo reeled off five unanswered points to go in level at 0-8 points each.

The Kingdom’s response was emphatic, though. By the time Sligo would get their ninth point, from midfielder Ray Connolly in the 47th minute, Kerry had added 1-7 to their score after an incredible start to the second half. From there, the outcome was inevitable and the closing stages were a procession.

Kerry manager Stephen Wallace believed it was a good test for his team for long periods, despite the imbalance on the scoreboard at the end. “We went in at the break eight-all and were very worried in the dressing room. There were a few strong words and the players came out, as they’ve always done, and produced it. “It was the first test of the team, bar a 10 or 12 minute spell against Cork. They had to stand up, they did and that’ll stand to them.”

Wallace wasn’t exaggerating when he highlighted the worries, for Sligo had really taken hold of the game from the 25th minute, eradicating an 0-8 to 0-3 deficit in the five minutes plus injury time. Centre-forward Barry O’Mahony was the chief architect of the fight-back, along with Cathal Brennan and Mark McGoldrick inside, as Kerry’s incisive thrust disappeared. Up until then, they had looked far superior, with Gavan O’Grady to the fore as they built the lead.

The strong words referenced by the manager had the desired effect though as Kerry reasserted themselves upon the resumption. Ciarán Keating’s point got the momentum going and then O’Grady – who would finish with nine points – added two more while only a fine Chris McGlynn save denied Brian Crowley.

Andrew Garnett and Brendan O’Sullivan had restored their midfield dominance while wing-back Greg Gibson and impressive subs, Dara Roche and Alan O’Donoghue, got in on the scoring act too before Keating added another. That left eight between them and then O’Donoghue’s good work ended with Roche netting to put the game to bed.

Connolly ended Sligo’s drought after that – incidentally, their first wide wouldn’t come until the 50th minute, followed immediately by their second – but Kerry were in the groove by now, with the auditions for final places ensuring there was no let-up. O’Grady continued his near-flawless shooting while Roche, who had come on for injured captain Thomas Hickey in the 12th minute, did much to advance his claims, finishing with 1-3. Edmund Walsh also came off the bench to remind the management what he is capable of and late on, centre-back Denis Daly capped his energetic performance with a brilliant run from deep, ending with the second goal.

Scorers for Kerry: G O’Grady 0-9 (two frees), D Roche 1-3, C Keating 0-3, D Daly 1-0, G Gibson, T Hickey, E Walsh, A O’Donoghue, S Murphy (one ‘45’), J O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Scorers for Sligo: M McGoldrick 0-3 (0-2f), B O’Mahony, C Brennan, R Connolly 0-2 each, D Cummins 0-1.

KERRY: S Murphy (Kilcummin); F Clifford (Waterville), K O’Dwyer (do.), D Wrenn (Tarbert); G Gibson (Waterville), D Daly (St Mary’s), G Crowley (Templenoe); A Garnett (Spa), B O’Sullivan (Valentia); P O’Connor (Cordal), C Keating (Skellig Rangers), B Crowley (Templenoe); G O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar), P Kennelly (Ballydonoghue), T Hickey (Desmonds).
Subs: D Roche (Glenflesk) for Hickey (12, inj); E Walsh (Knocknagoshel) for Kennelly (h/t); A O’Donoghue (John Mitchels) for B Crowley (35); S Moloney (John Mitchels) for Gibson (46); P Ó Sé (Gaeltacht) for Garnett (56); J O’Donoghue (Glenflesk) for Keating (56).

SLIGO: C McGlynn (Coolera/Strandhill); L Bree (St Vincent’s), B McGarry (St Mary’s), R Reid (Eastern Harps); J Kelly (Tubbercurry), D O’Connor (St Mary’s), C Surlis (Tubbercurry); R Connolly (Coolaney/Mullinabreena), D O’Boyle (Calry/St Joseph’s); C Burns (St Molaise Gaels), B O’Mahony (Coolera/Strandhill), C Davey (Coolaney/Mullinabreena); C Brennan (Curry), C Egan (St Mary’s), M McGoldrick (St Mary’s).
Subs: S Curley (Castleconnor) for Brennan (ht), G Feeney (Drumcliffe/Rosses Pt) for Reid (45), E McDonagh (Coolaney/Mullinabreena) for McGlynn (45), O Fox (St John’s) for O’Boyle (50), D Quinn (Shamrock Gaels) for Curley (57), D Cummins (Calry St Joseph’s) for Kelly (57).

Referee: F Barry (Kildare)

Congrats to the Kerry Junior team who qualified for the All Ireland Final Today. Match Report http://t.co/UilZiR6oID pic.twitter.com/lwAqvyADgA

— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) August 9, 2014

Kerry Junior Team Qualify for All Ireland Final

Report from the Kerry GAA web site

Kerry 2-20 Sligo 0-10

Kerry qualified for Junior All Ireland final thanks to an emphatic second half display against Sligo in Ennis on Saturday. With Gavan O’Grady to the fore, Kerry got the better start and led by 5 points to 2 after 15 minutes despite the loss of the injured Thomas Hickey, who had opened the scoring, through injury.

With Andrew Garnett in good form around the middle ,Kerry and O’Grady in particular, continued to force the pace and led by 8 points to 3 with 22 minutes gone. Sligo finished strongly however and points from the likes of Cathal Brennan and Barry O’Mahony had the sides on level terms, 0-8 each, at the interval.

Kerry restarted in determined mood and quickly put the game out of Sligo’s reach when scoring 1-7 without reply during the third quarter – Glenflesk sub Dara Roche getting the goal. Gavan O’Grady (2), Roche and Jeff O’Donoghue added further points before Denis Daly sealed the issue with a fine goal as the game drew to a close.

So Kerry now await the winners of the second semi final between Cavan and Scotland which takes place later on Saturday evening.

Scorers:

Kerry; Gavan O’Grady 0-9 (3fr), Dara Roche 1-3, Ciaran Keating 0-3, Denis Daly 1-0, Shane Murphy (45), Thomas Hickey, Greg Gibson, Alan O’Donoghue, Jeff O’Donoghue, and Edmund Walsh 0-1 each

Team News

KERRY (JF v Sligo): S Murphy (Kilcummin); F Clifford (Waterville), K O’Dwyer (do.), D Wrenn (Tarbert); G Gibson (Waterville), D Daly (St Mary’s), G Crowley (Templenoe); A Garnett (Spa), B O’Sullivan (Valentia); P O’Connor (Cordal), C Keating (Skellig Rangers), B Crowley (Templenoe); G O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar), P Kennelly (Ballydonoghue), T Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds). Subs: S Óg Ó Ciardubháin (Cordal), A O’Donoghue (John Mitchels), S Lynch (Spa), M Brennan (Churchill), S Moloney (John Mitchels), E Walsh (Knocknagoshel), D Roche (Glenflesk), J O’Donoghue (Glenflesk), P Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht).