Kerry 0-18 Tyrone 1-11
Diarmuid O’Connor and Dara Moynihan were the star performers as Kerry got back to winning ways in the Allianz National Football League.
Kerry bounced back from last week’s heavy defeat to Dublin with a convincing win over Tyrone, with O’Connor in particular outstanding throughout.
A late goal from half forward Ciaran Daly had given Tyrone a lifeline late on but Kerry didn’t panic, seeing the game out with late scores from the Clifford brothers.
The Fossa pair impressed throughout the game with David racking up 0-8, scoring six out of six frees as well as two points from play while Paudie kicked three from play. But Moynihan and O’Connor were Kerry’s main men as they kept themselves in the reckoning for a place in this year’s Division One final.
Spá club-man Moynihan showed typical work-rate throughout with his endeavour exemplified by a brilliant second half interception. He also delivered some inviting kick-passes into Sean O’Shea and Clifford, won a number of breaking balls before ending his day with a wonderful score off the left.
Kerry’s midfield was one area which had shipped some flak after last week’s loss to Dublin but they impressed today, with Joe O’Connor carrying the ball impressively while Diarmuid O’Connor was outstanding.
His pace and composure in possession allowed Kerry to transition from defence to attack on numerous occasions, with former Kerry player Aodán Mac Gearailt hailing his positivity on TG4.
“He was very positive, made some great bursts forward and put pressure on the Tyrone midfield throughout,” said Mac Gearailt.
Jack O’Connor also praised the man-of-the-match, describing his display as ‘excellent.’
“They (the midfielders) got a lot of criticism (last week) without a doubt,” O’Connor told TG4.
“The two of them were much better today.
“But Diarmuid was excellent, I heard he got man-of-the-match, and Joe was very good as well,” added the Kerry manager.
Tyrone were best served by Darragh Canavan, who kicked three points and Ciaran Daly who scored 1-1.
They will be disappointed by the result but they will be even more concerned by two injuries suffered by key men, with Peter Harte departing the scene early on while Conn Kilpatrick had to be subbed in the second half with an ankle injury.
It wouldn’t be Kerry-Tyrone without a bit of tension, with things getting heated, without boiling over in a harmless first half-melee.
Meanwhile, the return of Cathal McShane (Tyrone) and Stefan Okunbor (Kerry) as late subs after long injuries will be a boost for both sides.
“We had a lot of soul-searching during the week. We had a lot of things to iron out and we ironed a few of them out today,” said Kerry captain Paudie Clifford after the game.
He presented the man-of-the-match award to O’Connor, who admitted that it takes ‘time to build a (midfield) partnership.
“We were found wanting in certain areas, midfield was probably one of them. It takes time to build a partnership.”
