Gaelic Games

Mid Kerry keep a handle on Clifford brothers but East Kerry narrowly retain senior title

A lacklustre opening 25 minutes had the teams deadlocked at 0-4 apiece before Darragh Roche set up Paudie Clifford for a cool finish past Sean Coffey

Paudie Clifford and his teammates celebrate with the cup. Photograph: Inpho/Ben Brady
Paudie Clifford and his teammates celebrate with the cup. Photograph: Inpho/Ben Brady
Sun Nov 05 2023 - 18:55
Kerry SFC final: East Kerry 2-10 Mid Kerry 0-15

As it was 12 months ago, East Kerry beat Mid Kerry in the Kerry SFC final on Sunday, only this time the latter made a real contest of it, falling short by one point that will in no way compensate for the nine-point loss in 2022.

In fact, this was Mid Kerry’s third county final loss to their divisional neighbours in four years and this one will be the most satisfying of East Kerry’s four titles since 2019 simply because it was the hardest won.

Restraining the Clifford brothers was half the battle for Mid Kerry and they might have hoped for a successful outcome after restricting David to two points from play and Paudie to just a goal, but poor shooting on their side and a couple of squandered goal chances bedevilled Mid Kerry.

It was Paudie’s first half goal and Luke Crowley’s green flag at the three-quarter mark that gave the champions the platform to hang on for victory, albeit was a close-run thing at the end as Mid Kerry hunted a late equaliser.

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An even if lacklustre opening 25 minutes had the teams deadlocked at 0-4 apiece before Darragh Roche set up Paudie Clifford for a cool finish past Sean Coffey to give the champions the lead for the first time.

This was Mid Kerry’s third county final loss to their divisional neighbours in four years, and this one will be the most satisfying of East Kerry’s four titles since 2019. Photograph: Inpho/Ben Brady
This was Mid Kerry’s third county final loss to their divisional neighbours in four years, and this one will be the most satisfying of East Kerry’s four titles since 2019. Photograph: Inpho/Ben Brady

Under heavy skies and occasional heavy rain, East Kerry finished the half with points from David Clifford and Roche to lead 1-6 to 0-5 at half time, a lead that felt it was worth twice that as Mid Kerry had placed with a strong breeze in the opening period.

An early exchange of points at the start of the second half was followed by Mid Kerry’s best period up to then, with two Eanna O’Connor pointed frees and a third from midfielder Gavin Horan closing the gap to just a point, 1-7 to 0-9.

It was still only a two-point game when substitute Luke Crowley drilled home the champions second goal with his very first touch after coming on, but Mid Kerry still weren’t ready to concede defeat without a fight.

Despite Mid Kerry losing full back Nathan Breen to injury after 18 minutes, they still defended heroically, restricting David Clifford to just two points from play, and Paudie to that goal, with the Fossa brothers held as much as Mid Kerry would have hoped.

Roche and Donal O’Sullivan pointed for the champions, but Mid Kerry produced a storming finish with points from O’Connor (two frees), O’Grady, Mike Breen, Sean O’Brien and Liam Carey to bring the game to a nail-biting conclusion, but try and they did, Mid Kerry couldn’t eke out an equalising point or a winning goal.

EAST KERRY: Brian Kelly (Legion), Cian Lynch (Glenflesk), Chris O’Leary (Kilcummin), Dara Callaghan (Kilcummin), Cian Gammell (Legion), Jack Sherwood (Firies), Dan O’Brien (Glenflesk), Kieran Murphy (Kilcummin), Ronan Buckley (Listry), Darragh Lyne (Legion), Paudie Clifford 1-0 (Fossa), Patrick D’Arcy (Glenflesk), David Clifford 0-3 (2f) (Fossa), Darragh Roche 0-5 (3f) (Glenflesk), Dónal O’Sullivan 0-2. Subs: Niall Donohue (Firies) for D Callaghan (24), Luke Crowley 1-0 (Glenflesk) for P Darcy (45), Emmett O’Shea (Fossa) for D Lyne (53), Matt Rennie (Fossa) for K Murphy (53), Finbarr Murphy (Legion) for D O’Sullivan (58)

MID KERRY: Seán Coffey (Beaufort), Pa Wrenn (Milltown/Castlemaine), Nathan Breen (Beaufort), David Mangan (Laune Rangers), David Roche (Milltown/Castlemaine), Mike Breen 0-1 (Beaufort), Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Seán O’Brien 0-1 (Beaufort), Gavin Horan 0-1 (Milltown/Castlemaine), Darren Houlihan (Cromane) Fiachra Clifford 0-2 (1f) (Laune Rangers), Keith Evans (Keel), Gavan O’Grady 0-2 (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Cillian Burke 0-1 (Milltown/Castlemaine), Éanna O’Connor 0-6 (6f) (Milltown/Castlemaine). Subs: Ethan Coffey (Beaufort) for N Breen (inj, 18), Daire Cleary (Laune Rangers) for D Houlihan (39), Gearóid Hassett (Laune Rangers) for F Clifford (45), Jack Brosnan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for G Horan (47), Liam Carey 0-1 (Beaufort) for J Brosnan (inj, 53).

REFEREE: Paul Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys).