Kerry were 100 seconds from having their championship ended in the middle of July.
Monaghan were 100 seconds from their first All-Ireland semi-final in 30 years.
A 19-year-old changed all that.
Kerry get a goal at the death to equalise in Clones! What a game! Make sure to watch all the highlights tonight on the Sunday Game. #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/UYF6lANFhQ
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 22, 2018
One cunning, fast, lethal strike from the right boot of David Clifford was enough to commit daylight robbery as all of Monaghan’s control and aggression and heart amounted to one point at the end of the day.
Kerry were handed a lifeline and Monaghan tasked with a trip to Salthill in two weeks time to pick up from where they left off. Both counties remain in with a chance of joining Galway in the last four.
Saturday 4 August
Galway v Monaghan
Kerry v Kildare
Both games are at 6pm and both will be broadcast by Sky Sports.
Table from RTÉ.
So, for either team to go through, here’s what has to happen.
Kerry will qualify if:
- Kerry beat Kildare, Monaghan lose to Galway and there’s a six-point swing
- Kerry beat Kildare, Monaghan lose to Galway and there’s a five-point swing (and Kerry score more than two more than Monaghan)
To beat the swing, they will have to, for example, win by three and hope Monaghan lose by three (or win by five and hope Monaghan lose).
Monaghan will qualify if:
- Monaghan beat Galway
- Monaghan draw with Galway
- Kerry draw or lose with/to Kildare
- Monaghan lose and Kerry win but there is not more than a five-point swing in scoring difference
At present, Monaghan have two more points in ‘scores for’ than Kerry so it is very possible that the Kingdom can claw that back and thus deem a five-point swing enough to qualify.
If Monaghan beat Galway, they will top the group and condemn the Connacht champions to playing Dublin in the last four.
