Allianz Football League Division 1 – Derry 0-16 Kerry 0-14

Derry defeated Kerry by 0-16 to 0-14 in round 2 of the Allianz Football League Division 1 on Sunday February 9th Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney.

Brilliant Derry stun Kerry in Killarney

Allianz Football League Division I: Kerry 0-14 Derry 0-16

Report courtesy of derrygaa.ie

The power of Emmett McGuckin and Mark Lynch proved pivotal as Derry claimed a fully merited win and emerged with two valuable points against Kerry in Killarney. McGuckin in particular caused havoc in the Kerry full-back line and kicked three second points from play in the second period as Brian McIver’s men showed the same resolute spirit that had earned a draw against Tyrone last Saturday night.

Playing into the wind it looked as if Derry were going to struggle initially as points from James O’Donoghue, Conor Cox and a Barry John Keane free saw the Munster side lead by 0-3 to no score after only six minutes. However, the Oak Leaf men soon settled, skipper Lynch got them off the mark with a free and Sean Leo McGoldrick raised a white flag and Enda Lynn followed up to level matters by the 15 minute mark.

Kerry were dealt a blow on 17 minutes when Peter Crowley was black-carded for a foul on Lynch and Derry edged in front for the first time when Kevin Johnston pointed after good work by McGuckin. The Kingdom responded with Barry John Keane converting a free and Jack Sherwood finishing off a flowing move to make it 0-5 to 0-4 on the 21 minute mark. Kerry really should have extended their advantage when Conor Cox lashed the ball wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

The Oak Leafers took full advantage of that let off as Ciaran McGoldrick fisted the ball over the bar before James Kielt added two quick scores, the first from a free, the second at the end of a flowing 16 pass move to lead 0-7 to 0-5. And although Conor Cox pulled one back for the home team before the break, Derry led by 0-7 to 0-6 going in.

With the wind at their back Derry opened the scoring when Emmet McGuckin took a high catch and pointed on the turn. Cox responded for Kerry with a pointed free and the home team thought they had levelled through Keane only to see his effort waved wide. A free from Mark Lynch saw Derry edge 0-9 to 0-7 in front but the travelling support were then relieved to see Thomas Mallon pull off a great save to deny Stephen O’Brien.

Perhaps encouraged by that close shave, Jonathan Lyne and O’Donoghue both kicked points to level proceedings at 0-9 apiece, that however was a good as things would get for Kerry. Emmet McGuckin edged Derry into a lead they would hold to the finish by arcing the ball high over the bar from 21 metres. Mark Lynch then kicked a super score from 50 metres to see Derry edge further ahead and with Sean Leo McGoldrick getting his second Derry led by 0-12 to 0-9.

Cox from a free and then from play narrowed the margin but with Fergal Doherty getting a grip at midfield, Enda Lynn, Emmett McGuckin and substitute Benny Heron went a long way to securing Derry’s win with three quick fire points. Cox continued to keep Kerry in touch but Mark Lynch’s 64th minute free saw Derry leading 0-16 to 0-13 as the game entered its closing minutes.

With time running out Kerry went hunting for the goal they needed to claim something from the game. Stephen O’Brien was within inches of claiming it when his effort skimmed the top of the crossbar on its way over but that was as close they came. Derry can now look forward to a home game against Westmeath on Sunday March 2, knowing that win would go a long way to securing their status in Division I.

Derry: T Mallon; D Brown, C McKaigue, D McBride; G O’Kane, M Lynch (0-4, 2f), A McAlynn; F Doherty, P Bradley; SL McGoldrick (0-2), J Kielt (0-2, 1f), E Lynn (0-2); K Johnston (0-1), E McGuckin (0-3), C McGoldrick (0-1). Subs: Benny Heron (0-1) for C McGoldrick 53, D Mullan for Johnston 53, C O’Boyle for Lynn (69), McFaul for McGuckin (69).

Kerry: B Kelly; P Murphy, M Griffin, S Enright; P Crowley, B McGuire, J Sherwood (0-1); A Maher, D Moran; J Lyne (0-1), S O’Brien (0-1), D Walsh; BJ Keane (0-2,2f), J O’Donoghue (0-2), Cox (0-7, 4f). Subs: D Culhane for Crowley (Black card) 17 mins, M Geaney for McGuire 61, A O’Mahony for Maher, P Kilkenny for Lyne 61.

Referee: C Lane (Cork).

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KERRY (NFL v Derry): B Kelly (Legion); P Murphy (Rathmore), M Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore), S Enright (Tarbert); P Crowley (Laune Rangers), B McGuire (Listowel Emmets), J Sherwood (Firies); A Maher (Duagh), D Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys); J Lyne (Legion), S O’Brien (Kenmare), D Walsh (Cromane); BJ Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys), J O’Donoghue (Legion), C Cox (Listowel Emmets)
Subs: B Kealy (Kilcummin), M Geaney (Dingle), A O’Mahony (Rathmore), P Geaney (Dingle), P Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar), D Culhane (Ballylongford), A Fitzgerald (Castlegregory), J Walsh (Knocknagoshel), B Shanahan (Austin Stacks), S O’Callaghan (Austin Stacks), M Mangan (Milltown-Castlemaine)

DERRY: Thomas Mallon; Declan Browne, Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride, Gerard O’Kane, Mark Lynch, Aidan McAlynn; Fergal Doherty, Niall Healy; Seán Leo McGoldrick; James Kielt, Enda Lynn; Kevin Johnston, Emmett McGuckin, Ciaran McGoldrick