THIS IS IT, the biggest game of the Gaelic football season is upon us. We’re live from Croke Park following all the action as Kerry take on Donegal.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
Result: Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12
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We’re getting set for the big one in Croke Park. It’s Kerry against Donegal, throw-in at 3.30pm.
We caught up with Mayo midfielder Aidan O’Shea during the week to get an insight into facing these two teams.
1. Jim McGuinness v Éamonn Fitzmaurice
“I suppose both managers mentally before the teams get on the pitch, they have done an excellent job. For Jim, that’s coming after we beat them last year. There were doubts about them but he’s done amazing job. The first thing Ryan McHugh mentioned after the final was the belief that he’s insstilled into them. I think that’s a credit to Jim.
“Éamonn Fitzmaurice is after losing some serious players since last year. These lads are footballers who’ll be spoken about for generations like Tomás Ó Sé and Paul Galvin. He repaired the morale as well after Kerry losing the best player in the country in the Gooch best player in the country. I think you’d have to say Éamonn has worked wonders. They’ve both done incredible jobs and one of them will want to finish it off now today.”
2. The midfield battle
“The Kerry midfield are a very traditional midfield pairing. They’d probably be the most traditional left in the country alongside ourselves in Mayo. Dave (Moran) and Anthony (Maher) are very much catch and kick.
“With Donegal it’s a bit different. Jim throws in something different to the equation in each game. Neil Gallagher went in full-forward at the start of the first-half and then came out in the second-half where had an excellent game and had a major influence. I don’t think Donegal will kick ball out like they did against Dublin. It’s intriguing as to what way they’ll play it.
“Dave is a very good kicker of the ball. I remember playing a Sigerson game a few years back – DIT against UL – and he kicked the lights out. He’s come on another level this year. Odhrán MacNiallais has been a breath of fresh air for Donegal. He’d an excellent game against Armagh and a really good first-half v Dublin. He’s given them a lot of energy around the pitch and is breath of fresh air.”
Here’s the Donegal team named to start:
1. Paul Durcan (Na Ceithre Maistir)
2. Eamonn McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
3. Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
4. Paddy McGrath (Ard an Ratha)
5. Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
6. Karl Lacey (Na Ceithre Maistir)
7. Frank McGlynn (Gleann Fhinne)
8. Neil Gallagher (Gleann Suili)
9. Odhran Mac Niallais (Gaoth Dobhair)
10. Christy Toye (Naomh Mícheál)
11. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill)
12. Ryan McHugh (Cill Chartha)
13. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar)
14. Michael Murphy (Gleann Suili, capt)
15. Colm McFadden (Naomh Micheal)
And here’s the Kerry team named to start:
1. Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion)
2. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore)
4. Fionn Fitzgerald (Capt) (Dr Crokes)
5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
7. Killian Young (Renard)
8. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
9. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
11. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
13. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
14. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks)
15. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)
Referee today is Laois man Eddie Kinsella. Marty Duffy is the standby referee, Padraig Hughes linesman and Rory Hickey the sideline official.
Fans gathering outside the stadium:
So here’s our readers are calling today’s final:
Right the countdown is on. The players have just met the President and the match parade will soon commence.
The Kerry substitutes are:
16. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)
17. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
18. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
19. Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses)
20. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s)
21. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
22. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
23. Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes)
24. Jonathan Lyne (Legion)
25. Mark Griffin (St Michael’s-Foilmore)
26. Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
And the Donegal substitutes are:
16. Michael Boyle (Termon)
17. Darach O’Connor (Buncrana)
18. David Walsh (Naomh Bríd)
19. Declan Walsh (Malin)
20. Dermot Molloy (Naomh Conaill)
21. Hugh McFadden (Killybegs)
22. Leon Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
23. Luke Keaney (Four Masters)
24. Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s)
25. Martin O’Reilly (Sean Mac Cumhaill)
26. Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan’s)
Late Donegal changes, Rory Kavanagh and Darach O’Connor in for Christy Toye and Paddy McBrearty.
Really looking forward to this, the 2014 All-Ireland senior football final is about to start.
Kerry 1-0 Donegal 0-0
1 mins – What a start! Stephen O’Brien’s point attempt drops shot, Paul Geaney catches and turns his man before shooting low to the corner of the net.
Geaney did brilliantly well there to turn Paddy McGrath. All the attention on Donaghy and O’Donoghue before this game but it’s the third member of Kerry’s full-forward line who really makes his mark at the start.
Kerry 1-1 Donegal 0-0
3 mins – Kerry are flying. Donaghy points off his left after Geaney palmed the ball down to him following a Johnny Buckley shot that hit the upright.
Kerry 1-1 Donegal 0-1
5 mins – Donegal are up and running as Michael Murphy slots a free.
A look at that Geaney goal:
Geaney’s first senior football championship goal for Kerry. What a time for it to arrive.
Kerry 1-1 Donegal 0-2
11 mins – Donegal starting to settle? Murphy knocks over another free.
Kerry 1-2 Donegal 0-2
13 mins – Nice Kerry play. Two good accurate foot passes from David Moran and Buckley culminates in Donaghy fetching the ball and being fouled. Geaney does the rest from a close-range free.
Wow! Eamonn McGee is turned over as charges upfield by Paul Murphy and James O’Donoghue pumps the ball in where it evades Geaney and Paul Durcan before flashing just wide. That would have been some goal.
Kerry 1-2 Donegal 0-3
16 mins – Three from three for Murphy as he points a free following a foul on Leo McLoone.
Couple of huge turnovers, David Moran on Neil Gallagher and then Eamonn McGee on Donaghy. The crowd in full voice now.
Kerry 1-2 Donegal 0-4
23 mins – The gap is down to one as Colm McFadden taps over a free following a foul on Ryan McHugh.
Goal chance for Donegal as Darach O’Connor cuts in from the left but his low shot goes across the goalmouth and wide as Brian Kelly advanced.
Kerry 1-3 Donegal 0-4
27 mins – Paul Geaney so close to a second goal! James O’Donoghue comes deep, wriggles clear and sends in a cross that Geaney catches. The Dingle man fakes to shoot, turns on to his left and blasts a shot that just clears the crossbar. First score for Kerry since the 13th minute.
Kerry 1-3 Donegal 0-5
28 mins – Odhrán MacNiallais has the ball stripped from his grasp by Donnchadh Walsh but the ball spills loose and MacNiallais gets clear to first time it over the bar from 25 yards.
Good chance for James O’Donoghue to open his scoring account as he breaks onto a ball but his shot from a central position just tails wide.
Kerry 1-3 Donegal 0-6
31 mins – And Donegal draw level! It’s Karl Lacey who grabs the point.
Donegal must be pleased at how this half has developed. They’ve recovered from the body blow of that early Geaney goal and slowly got to grips with the game.
Donaghy close to a glorious point but the ball knocks off the upright and goes wide.
All square at the break. Yellow cards for Neil Gallagher and Anthony Maher just before the half-time whistle. Still all to play for.
Here’s the first half scorers:
Kerry: Paul Geaney 1-2 (0-1f), Kieran Donaghy 0-1.
Donegal: Michael Murphy 0-3 (0-3f), Colm McFadden (0-1f), Karl Lacey, Odhrán MacNiallais 0-1 each.
Donegal 0-7 Kerry 1-3
37 mins – For the first time in this game Donegal go ahead. It’s their captain who points the way as Michael Murphy converts a brilliant score from play.
Kerry 1-4 Donegal 0-7
39 mins – Great point for Kerry and from the most unlikely source. Wing-back Paul Murphy pops up with a long range effort from the Cusack Stand side.
Nearly another fine Kerry score but David Moran’s shot hits the post and Donegal clear their lines.
Shooting leaving plenty to be desired at the moment. McFadden engineered some space but then screwed his shot high and wide.
Donegal continuing to frustrate Kerry as a Kingdom phase of build-up play culminates in Walsh hoofing a shot wide.
Kerry 2-5 Donegal 0-7
52 mins – Incredible! Paul Durcan’s shot kick out goes straight to Kieran Donaghy who races through and billows the back of the net. Moments before the scoring impasse had been broken after Killian Young made a surging run, was fouled and Barry John Keane popped over the free.
Kerry 2-5 Donegal 0-8
53 mins – McBrearty punches over a point for Donegal and then kicks another. Two point advantage with Kerry though.
Kerry 2-5 Donegal 0-10
55 mins – What a response by Donegal to that goal! A third successive point and this time it’s Neil McGee who comes forward to score after a great initial break by McElhinney.
Kerry 2-6 Donegal 0-10
56 mins – Cracking point for Kerry by Johnny Buckley. The game has really come to life now.
Subs: Declan O’Sullivan on for Kerry for Donnchadh Walsh while Donegal bring in David Walsh for McLoone.
Kerry 2-7 Donegal 0-10
58 mins – Kerry showing their mettle. Beautiful through ball by James O’Donoghue to Keane, he’s fouled by Gallagher and then Keane taps over the free.
Kerry 2-8 Donegal 0-10
61 mins – Aidan O’Mahony pumps in a ball that Donaghy wins, he swivels under pressure and fists a point.
Sub: Last throw of the dice from Donegal? Dermot Molloy on for Rory Kavanagh. Six minutes left and they trail by four points.
Kerry patiently recycle the ball and win a vital free 45 yards out. And they’ve brought on Bryan Sheehan for David Moran. Big kick this one.
Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12
68 mins – Sheehan nails it! Kerry go three points in front.
Incredible! Donegal so close to a goal as the ball pinged around the Kerry goalmouth but Kerry clear.
Unfortunately for the rest us, the tactical battle has lead to a brutal game.
I got red thumbed after the Dublin- Donegal game for predicting this. Sorry but delighted that Doengal didn’t win. They will ruin GAA.
We’ll said
Kerry were the ones ruining the game today. Keane should be ashamed of himself after kicking the ball away before the kick out, I’d have decked him.
The northern teams have decimated the game of Gaelic football, and it has been up to the spiritual home of the game to adjust and adapt. Today the kingdom beat a northern team at their thrown game, and have copperfastened their place as the masters of the game. Sam is coming home!! Ciarraí abú!!
So the red thumbers like the way Donegal play!!!
As a neutral: brutal first half, not much football being played by either team. The emphasis is definitely on stopping the opposition playing, rather than trying to win it. Muck.
Very poor game which is being destroyed by the “blanket”, no football at all on display, both teams have mustered a paltry 10 scores between them in the first half which says it all really.
God this is hard to watch!
Come back MAYO all is forgiven, this is horrendous MUCK…
Poorest football final in a long time, in Croke park and even the atmosphere can not drag this game up
This must be the worst All-Ireland final ever
Disgusting unsporting behaviour by Keane to kick ball away. Deserves a long ban for that. He should be deeply ashamed. I’m a Kerryman, and lifelong Kerry supporter, but that saddens me.
True. It’s not the Kerry way. But Kerry were merely giving Donegal a taste of their own poison.
Dreadful dreadful game. McGuinness should be on trial for crimes against sport
But isn’t he supposed to be a genius
Going to be a master class in tactics. Both teams deserve to be there, may the best team win
Kerry are like Donegal in 2011, I wonder wat pat Spillane thinks of their puke football. A stronger referee is needed for the Kerry style of play
Kerry very cynical. Or “cute” as is often said!
First half lacking any quality, took Donegal 30mins to score from play, poorest final in years.
Even when they did score from play it came from what should have been a foul kickout
Won’t be long now till the journal puts up the obligatory ‘have you seen how the English are reacting on Twitter to our great game’ headline. (And points out that joey Barton is a huge fan) yep any moment now.
I hope none of them are watching today or they will never watch again #pukefootball
If you’re at the match you’ll see the anti-football Donegal are playing. First time seeing it in person
Nonsense. Both teams playing the same style.
Red is a joke, Donegal getting loads of frees for no apparent reason.
Ref*
But but but mcguinness is a genius?
That action by Kerry at the end typifies the type of team they have become. Disgusted.
Umm… What? Sure Donegal were denied the most obvious 45.
To be fair though, Kerry deserved it. Donegal will most likely put a bounty on the head of the keeper and the beat thing about it was the fight at the end.
Poor poor poor show.
Cop on. It was just as bad from donegals point. You lost get over it
You forgot tactical genius
Yes . Lowlifes.
Kerry playing Donegal at their own game…. not pretty, but when Dublin played their own brand of football against Donegal look where it got them.
What a terrible game of football.
Donegal are wreckers. I hope Kerry win. They are at least trying to play a bit of football.
Down with defensive style puke football and their ostrich like supporters!!!
As a Laois man I’m wondering what definition of the tackle is Eddie Kinsella using?
Kerry not exactly playing the cleanest game but the number of frees Donegal are getting is nuts. Kerry getting very little even the non calls going Donegals way, their first point from play came off the back of a short kick out that wasn’t called
Ciaran you are dead right the red has been really one sided so far Donegal getting a lot of soft ones.
No matter who wins today and I couldn’t care less,for the GAA to sell Sky Sports the rights to broadcast games under the auspices of promoting the game abroad how is this ba$tard version of football going to do it.
Donegal will win and Joe Brolly will donate a major organ for every goal they score.
Donnchadh Walsh is one filthy player
Gaelic football is just boring compared to hurling.
Kerry playing the most boring brand of football I’ve seen all year, Pat Spillane can’t claim Kerry play the purest form of the game anymore.
Donnchadh Walsh is a class footballer who can actually kick pass!
Barry John Tut tut
Don’t be watching soccer anymore buddy. The Gooch wouldn’t have done that
Disappointing 1st half – only 10 scores and just 3 points for Kerry. Some peculiar refereeing decisions not helping either.
Thanks be to f**k it wasn’t a draw. Would hate to have to sit through that s**t again
I just tuned in. Where’s Dublin ?
They’ll be in town tonight holding a candlelight vigil for the death of quality football
It would be very funny to see the Kerry fullback line just casually pass it back and forth for the last 5 minutes whilst the entire Donegal team stays in their own half despite being 3 points down.
If this is the future for Gaelic football, I’m outa here. Well done Kerry for winning the final, and hopefully Donegal and mcguinness will F O for a very long time.
Am with ya Daragh. Donegal have dragged the game down.Their final was against The Dubs.
Hard to believe that THESE are supposed to be the two best teams in the country! Bad match. Awful atmosphere and some of the poorest scoring attempts I’ve seen in a while. Anyway it is what it is. Well done to kerry and hard luck to Donegal.
What a waste of a day!
It’s a poor game ! But it’s still better than the premiership ! No one called donegals win over Dublin puke !
Kerry have came with a game plan to stop donegal witch it the same game plan as donegal so both teams are cancelling each other out !
I’m a hurling man and I’m watching this and enjoying this ,
Has Cormac Reilly being named in the Kerry subs as he’s not down for starting the match?
It will be a draw the GAA need the money because of the Gareth Brooks fiasco.
Who’s GARETH brooks?
Most boring game ever!!!!!
I’m not bothered who wins, but I would like to see Donaghy sink to his knees again, just like in 2011.
Gooch doing a john terry, hilarious! !
Gooch was part of the squad and is more than entitled to celebrate you bell end…. Just a pity he wasn’t playing today, he might have tried to play actual football
Kerry won’t win and it won’t be a draw.
Thrilled for Kerry and ‘ thrilled ‘ for Donegal. To paraphrase Dublin haters on here a few weeks back. ‘Its a long way back to Donegal for yis now’.
Jimmy’s losing matches, Jimmy’s losing games…
Unfortunate that it clashes with City v Chelsea.
Change that first word to “Irrelevant” and you’d have a point.
Jaysus gaa is boring. Some proper football on sky sports 1 at the moment.
It’s rubbish as well but at least there has been a goal in Croke Park
It is in fairness, the Leicester – United game was very entertaining though.
everyone knows that Dublin are still the best team in Ireland, they just had an off day
The Dubs were beaten by a team who came second! How does that make them the best???? They can’t even say they lost to the eventual winners
The Dubs on form would have made light work of that Kerry team. Kerry won’t get it so easy next year so should enjoy it now.
The referee was the best player on the pitch. Dreadful match.
Well Done to Kerry. Class and experience won out today. Not the usual style of Football Kerry play but its the football that the GAA have allowed develop. Kerry did not start it but by God they have learned how to deal with it. Whats that alternative.
Donegal goalkeeper must have been watching man united before the game
KERRY. FOOTBALL WIN OVER HANDBALL
Cheers thanks thetruth and Rory
Anyway of watching online without having to subscribe?
Try wiziwig.tv or first row
If you have an Android phone download the Mobdro app..Google it as its not in the Play store..heaps of channels on it ..sports, news , movies etc. Final on sky sports 3.
Jaysus, this is definitely thee internet faux pas comment.
Why is it a “faux pas” comment..not sure you know the meaning of the phrase…perhaps he hasn’t an Android phone, maybe he has an iPhone and in which case the said App would not work for him…Or is it because I mentioned the game was on Sky Sports 3..and not Rte ?..Rte is not available on the Mobdro app.
Wouldn’t worry about attracting red thumbs for your post, it seems par for the course for you as you get copious amounts of them. The app I mentioned is installed by default in nearly android TV box you buy for the last year or more…and this hasn’t led to it been curtailed yet. So don’t worry yourself that my little post ( helping another Journal reader) would result in the restriction of any service.. You really haven’t much to worry about ..Have you?
Colm John Terry Cooper
I’d say the donegal keeper is delighted with himself
Well that’s that so, what a waste of a beautiful Sunday afternoon, roll on next Saturday for the antidote to that drivel .
Chewing gum for the eyes!
Very close game, tight marking by both side had very attractive to watch either.