Allianz Football League Division 1 – Kerry 0-16 Galway 0-8

Kerry 0-16 Galway 0-8

From the GAA.ie web site

Colm Cooper looked like he was back to his peerless best in Killarney as he laced eight points in a comfortable win for Kerry over Galway in Division 1 of the Allianz League on Sunday. Kerry were never really in any trouble against Tomás Ó Flatharta’s side, leading by five points at the break and extending the lead by three in the second period to eventually coast to an eight-point win. The result gives Kerry a much-needed win in the division but it now means that Galway have lost all four matches in the competition so far, putting them in serious danger of relegation.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Galway made the quicker start, a superb long-range score from Gary Sice and a nifty effort from Cormac Bane responding to Bryan Sheehan’s opener for Kerry. It didn’t take long for Jack O’Connor’s side to assume control though, Cooper gradually coming into his own as he hit two frees alongside a score from midfielder David Moran and a fisted point from Donnacha Walsh. Owen Concannon kept Galway in it with a decent score and he was in excellent form throughout for Galway, finishing as their top scorer overall with 0-4.

Kerry latched on three more points before half-time to lead 0-8 to 0-3 at the break. All three were scored by Cooper from play, with the pick of the bunch receiving a standing ovation a few minutes shy of half-time. The 27-year-old won the ball far from goal, danced elegantly past two tackles before serenely slotting over. Things didn’t bode well for Galway. A further brace from Cooper and a Sheehan point put Kerry further in front after the restart but Galway managed a surprise rally, with three points in a row coming in a two-minute burst. Concannon hit over one from play and another from a free, with Bane also giving the Tribesmen hope with his second of the day. But Galway never got closer than that and although Concannon continued to fight, adding another excellent score, Cooper continued to run things for Kerry and he conducted them to a comfortable victory.

Team News

The Kerry Senior Football team V Galway Saturday 6th March 2011

1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin) 2. Shane Enright (Tarbert) 3. Killian Young (Renard) 4. Adrian O’Connell (St Michael’s Foilmore) 5. Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht) 6. Eoin Brosnan (Dr. Crokes) 7. Brian Maguire (Listowel Emmetts) 8. Seamus Scanlon (Currow) 9. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahilly’s) 10. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) 11. Bryan Sheehan (St. Mary’s) 12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane) 13. Colm Cooper (Captain) Dr. Crokes 14. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks) 15. Kieran O’Leary (Dr. Crokes)
Substitutes 16. Tomás Mac a t’Saoir (An Ghaeltacht) 17. Aidan O’Mahony(Rathmore) 18. David Geaney (An Daingean) 19. Pádraig Reidy (Scartaglin) 20. Anthony Maher (Duagh) 21. Gary O’Driscoll (Skellig Rangers) 22. Daniel Bohan (Austin Stacks )23. Tom O`Sullivan (Rathmore) 24. Declan O’Sullivan (Piarsaigh Na Dromada)

Bainisteóir: Jack O’Connor (Piarsaigh Na Dromada)

Traenálaí: Alan O’Sullivan (Kerins O’Rahillys)

Roghnóirí: Ger O’Keeffe (Austin Stacks) & Diarmuid Murphy (An Daingean)