1. Kerry hammer Donegal with two key goals
WHEN DONEGAL ELECTED to push Michael Murphy straight in at full-forward from the outset today, there must have been fans from the hills dreaming that he would replicate his stunning start to the 2012 final when he rattled the Mayo net. There was a goal inside the opening minute today but critically it went the other way.
Paul Geaney chose a most opportune time to bag his first senior championship goal for Kerry. It was the launchpad for Kerry’s success and then when Donegal had recovered to be back in contention in the second-half, Kerry pounced once more. This time it was the opportunism of Kieran Donaghy that proved influential after an errant Paul Durcan kickout. For the third straight year, the All-Ireland senior football final winners hit two goals and Kerry’s were significant strikes in shaping the outcome of this game.
2. The rebirth of Kieran Donaghy
When Kerry saw off Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final, Kieran Donaghy spent the entire game stationed on the bench. It would have been a brave call then to predict the seismic role he would have on this year’s All-Ireland championship. The rebirth of the Austin Stacks man has been extraordinary.
He came off the bench to save Kerry with the assist for the goal in the draw against Mayo. He banged home a goal and helped them see off Mayo in the replay. Then today Donaghy struck 1-2 and bagged that priceless second-half goal that spurred Kerry on to glory. It’s been an amazing conclusion to his 2014 campaign.
3. Kerry’s powerful kick for the finish line
Donaghy’s goal stands out as a vital moment in this game but Kerry’s powerful kick for the finish line was also key. Donegal stitched together three points after Donaghy raised a green flag and their hopes were rising. Kerry calmed down to hit points in the 56th, 58th and 61st minutes from Johnny Buckley, Barry John Keane and Donaghy.
Suddenly they were four points clear in the home straight. Even when Donegal cut the gap to two with two minutes left, Kerry stepped up to extinguish the Donegal hopes. They recycled the ball cleverly in the closing stages and one such move saw them win a free which substitute Bryan Sheehan nailed. Game, set and match.
4. A Kingdom defensive shutout
Donegal’s dismantling of Dublin in the semi-final was founded on their ability to create large chunks of space in their opponents defence. They capitalised on that pattern to fire home three goals that left Dublin on the floor. Kerry studied that game and never allowed such scenarios to materialise.
Donegal’s only clearcut first-half goal chance was when Darach O’Connor got through in and booted a shot across the goal with the ball trickling wide. The mad scramble at the finish tested Kerry’s nerves when Colm McFadden slapped the ball against the post. But they kept a clean sheet and protected their goal to go a long way towards securing the spoils.
5. A marvellous management job by Fitzmaurice
Amidst a backdrop of retirements, injuries, poor league form and low expectations, Éamonn Fitzmaurice pointed his Kerry team towards the championship at the start of this summer. What he has achieved since then has been remarkable and is a marvellous feat of management.
He saw his Kerry team defeat two of the last four All-Ireland champions as well as prevailing in a two-game saga against a team that lost the last two deciders. His gameplan was excellent today in toppling Donegal and he shaped a team which had nine players starting their first All-Ireland senior final into becoming champions. It’s been a brilliant year for Fitzmaurice after guiding Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne to the Hogan Cup title last April as well.
