They thronged the narrow streets of Tuam for this spring version of what will hopefully become the enduring gaelic football rivalry of these times. Midway through the second half this tie seemed to take on a life-force of its own, running someway deeper than a cursory league fixture.
As it was, Galway finished the stronger in a glorious closing burst epitomised by the effortless distance shooting of Padraig Joyce and the fiery energy of Derek Savage, whose dual with Seamus Moynihan was a match within itself. They now prepare for the curiously western Allianz league semi-finals while Kerry drop down to the second division.
"We moved the ball a lot better in the second half, mainly because we had the wind. It was a good win and it is pleasing to be in the semi-final," said John O'Mahony. "That said, I have to sympathise with Tyrone, which was a wonderfully positive force throughout the league. Playing an all Connacht semi-final series is not ideal preparation for the championship but we will be treating the remainder of the league very seriously."
Up 0-10 to 2-8 with 47 minutes gone in the match, Kerry seemed to resign themselves to a winter in less fashionable regions after Savage burrowed through for the victor's only goal. Diving to collect a low pass threaded by Joyce, the Cortoon man somehow twisted free from Moynihan's shackles and hammered a shot beyond the reaches of Declan O'Keeffe.
From that point, Galway took control, with the industrious John Donnellan booting two mighty free kicks before Joyce tapped over another to leave matters at 116 to 2-8.
Kerry, deeply committed prior to this, failed to engineer a sufficient response, despite two near connections on goal from Noel Kennelly in the ebbing seconds of the game.
Moynihan had a wonderfully positive first half but did show some strains in the second half. Tomas O Se set the standard for the backlines with a busy and passionate performance while Mike Frank Russell and Denis O'Dwyer both had bright spells in the Kerry attack. Maurice Fitzgerald had a forgettable afternoon with the attack at times seeming to bypass the maestro.
But despite that, they were in contention until late on. The visitors benefited from two timely and similarly executed goals that seemed to find the Galway defence napping. After just 10 minutes, Aodhon MacGearailt rose through a crowd and got a fist to a looping Dara O Cinneide 50.
Kerry sustained that goal advantage through the rest of what was a pedestrian half. Then, in the 43rd minute, Noel Kennelly chased down a fading Maurice Fitzgerald point attempt and fisted a shot past Padraig Lally, leaving them in the ascendancy, 2-8 to 0-10.
Galway, though, hardly blinked at the setback, having returned for the second half with a clearly expansive mindset. They responded through Savage's determined breakthrough on goal.
Michael Donnellan had a telling performance and remains the key influence on this Galway team. Joyce kicked wonderfully, John Donnellan looks an indispensable force at corner forward and Divilly and Meehan made imaginative contributions from the front line of the Galway defence. Even the novel full back trio played with an authority that belied their inexperience. Joe Bergin's majestic closing point left all six starting forwards on the scoresheet.
Galway's 1-13 second half tally might have been more impressive but for two fine Declan O'Keeffe interventions. Galway goalkeeper Padraig Lally had his moments, too, with a stunning reflex save 21 minutes in off a stinging Fitzgerald shot.
GALWAY: P Lally; M Comer, K Fitzgerald, M Colleran (0-1); D Meehan, J Divilly, S De Paor; M Donnellan (0-1), S O'Domhnaill; J Bergin (0-1), K Comer (0-1), L Colleran (0-1); D Savage (1-0), P Joyce (0-9, 6 frees), J Donnellan (0-4, 3 frees). Substitutes: M Clancy for S O'Domhnaill (half-time, injured).
KERRY: D O'Keeffe; T O'Sullivan, S Moynihan, E Galvin; T O Se, E Fitzmaurice, K Scanlon; D O Se, W Kirby; D O'Dwyer (0-2), M Fitzgerald, N Kennelly (1-1); M F Russell (0-3), D O Cinneide (0-2, 50), A MacGearailt (1-1). Subs: E Brosnan for D O Cinneide (52 mins), T Griffin for K Scanlon (61 mins), M Lyons for E Fitzmaurice (61 mins).
Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).
