Kerry 1-13 Donegal 0-7
Of a windy day in Killarney, Donegal were just as bad with the wind as they were without it.
They went out with a plan of containment in the first half and while you couldn’t blame Declan Bonner’s side for that, given the way the wind was blowing, the trouble for them was that, by the time the second half came around, with the elements behind them, they were in so deep that they were unable to snap out of it.
Which made it all too handy for Kerry. Eventual man-of-the-match Sean O’Shea settled them into the game with a few long-range bombs in the first half and though Eoghan Bán Gallagher and Shane O’Donnell responded for Donegal, that was as good it got for them.
From there, and you could only put some of it down to the conditions, it was lateral and it was listless from them and it played into Kerry’s hands. Donegal would pass around aimlessly for two or three minutes and then, when they figured it out, Kerry would make an interception and they’d break with purpose. The lively Paudie Clifford and the accurate Killian Spillane made the visitors pay.
So while Jack O’Connor’s side went into the dressing rooms leading by seven, on a scoreline of 0-9 to 0-2, you’d have fancied Donegal to claw their way back into it in the second half. But they didn’t come anywhere close.
David Clifford came on and he put the whole thing to bed with twenty to go when, after rounding Brendan McCole, his scuffed shot made its way past Shaun Patton in a way the goalkeeper will never want to see again.
49 nóim #KERvDON
@Kerry_Official 1–09@officialdonegal 0-03Cúl faighte ag David Clifford!! 👀
Kerry have taken a huge lead after a rare mistake from Shaun Patton!
@GAA_BEO @officialgaa
#GAABeo | #AllianzIreland | #AllianzLeaguesBEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/CV4ItLb2hH
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 20, 2022
Clifford could only smile and he was smiling again after the game, a win in the bag, when he had a bit of craic with TG4’s MacDara MacDonncha. The Fossa club-man had just presented his team-mate Sean O’Shea with his award, the Kenmare Shamrocks man having kicked five points from play on what was a satisfying day for Kerry.
“We’re back on the road again next week, so we’ll look forward to that,” said Seanie.
“It’s just about game-management,” added Clifford. “They were two shots at point more like,” he laughed.
“Massive to get the two points at home!" 👌👊
Is é Seán O"Shea @Kerry_Official Laoch na hImeartha inniu! 🥳🥳 Comhghairdeas leat 👏👏👏
Tuairimí ó David Clifford chomh maith!
@GAA_BEO @officialgaa
#GAABeo | #AllianzIreland | #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/L4vFIcYcF6— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 20, 2022
