Kerry needed this one.
The Kingdom have been licking their wounds ever since the Galway seniors gave them a nightmare start to life in the Super 8s in Croker last weekend.
There was a lot of soul-searching in the Kingdom ranks this week, with county legend Darragh Ó Sé questioning the team’s character.
The seniors will be gunning to bounce back in their now do-or-die clash with Monaghan in Clones on Sunday but in the meantime, the county’s junior team stepped up to bring the feel-good factor back to Kerry football in the nick of time.
It will be even sweeter for Kingdom football folk that the victory came over their conquerors of last week Galway, with the bragging rights now down south.
Because the Munster men take this Junior football championship very seriously. Saturday’s Cusack Park triumph was their fourth All-Ireland triumph in a row in this grade.
That’s no fluke. Where other counties neglect the junior grade in comparison, Kerry use it as a stepping stone for players to keep themselves in the shop window for the inter-county scene. Their team is generally made up of eager players just out of the under-21 grade, rather than tired old heads who’ve been there before.
They emerged two point victors in the Cusack Park, Ennis showpiece. In an intensely hard fought and evenly matched encounter, Galway were left to rue some profligate shooting as Jimmy Keane’s side won by 2-13 to 2-11.
Fiachra Clifford was the star turn for the champions, he scored one goal and set up the other. Niall Ó Sé and Thomas Hickey were also prominent for them.
Some great post match shots! pic.twitter.com/EDYfzfXkWV
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) July 21, 2018
The Kerry lads enjoyed that one.
The Post Match Celebrations!!! pic.twitter.com/weHdPVcnlM
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) July 21, 2018
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