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East Kerry 2-15 Mid Kerry 0-9
Two goals in two minutes effectively decided the final of this year’s Kerry SFC in favor of defending champions East Kerry.
The Clifford brothers, David and Paudie, were in the limelight and played a key role in East Kerry’s two crucial goals. David scored the first before Paudie set Dara Roche up for a game-safe second.
Mid Kerry paid the price for not taking his chances when he kicked eight in the first half, although both sides had scoring chances in the first period. Mid Kerry’s Ronan Murphy was denied point-blank in the 10th minute by Shane Ryan when a point might have been the best option. At the other end, East Kerry’s Dan O’Donoghue lost his composure at the crucial moment as he delivered a direct shot at Mid Kerry’s Stephen Cahillane four minutes later.
However, a second of David Clifford’s first-half three points gave his team a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at the first half water break.
Mid Kerry was playing well across the field, but couldn’t convert possession into touchdowns as easily as his opponents and Darran O’Sullivan hit the post for a point late in the first half. East Kerry’s counterattack was much more clinical and they led 0-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Although Mid Kerry had their first scoring opportunities in the second period, East Kerry re-emerged with two quick goals. The first came out of nowhere when Ronan Buckley and Dara Moynihan passed the ball to David Clifford for a powerful strike in the 34th minute that left Cahillane flat-footed as he went to the top corner. Two minutes later came the second goal as Paudie Clifford picked up a long ball and fed Dara Roche for a low shot to put his team 2-9 to 0-7 ahead.
Another three points for the victors put them 2-12 to 0-7 up front in the second half water break and Mid Kerry had to wait until the 56th minute for their first score in the second half through Liam Carey. Gavan O’Grady was his only other scorer in the second period.
East Kerry’s starting line of attack finished 2-10 overall, while midfielder Ronan Buckley scored the first and final score of the game in a complete 12-point victory for the defending champions. Their ninth success in the competition, which also means they retain the right to nominate Kerry’s senior captain again in 2021.
KERRY EAST: S Ryan; C O’Donoghue, J Sherwood, Ni Donohoe; Shane Cronin, Dan O’Donoghue, P. Murphy; M Ryan, R Buckley (0-2); D Moynihan (0-2), P Clifford, B O’Keeffe; D Clifford (1-4), D Roche (1-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 mark) E Cronin (0-3, 0-1 mark) Subs: M Foley for B O’Keeffe, DO ‘Brien for M Ryan (both 48 minutes), B O’Donoghue (0-1) for S Cronin, J O’Donoghue for E Cronin (both 55 minutes), P Doyle for D Moynihan (57 minutes).
MID KERRY: S Cahillane, P Kilkenny, P Wrenn, D Mangan; P. Crowley, M. Breen, J. Brosnan; C. McGuillicuddy, R. Murphy; D Roche (0-1), F Clifford, C Kennedy (0-1, 0-1 free); G O’Grady (0-1), L Carey (0-6, 0-4 free), D O’Sullivan Subs: C Teahan for F Clifford (39 minutes), J O’Connor for C Kennedy (44 minutes) , C Moriarty for D O’Sullivan, G Horan for J Brosnan (both 48 minutes) and S O’Brien for D Roche (51 minutes).
Referee: P Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys)
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