Impressive Kingdom finish with a flourish

NFL DIVISION ONE:Kerry 2-15 Galway 1-11

KERRY COMPLETED their regular Division One campaign in some style at the Austin Stack Park, Tralee, yesterday, as they put a disappointing Galway side to the sword with a third quarter display of power that blew away Galway’s ambitions of making the final.

Injury-hit Kerry still managed to field a strong side, particularly up front where Colm Cooper was at his imperious best, while the jury is still out on the experiment of playing the twin towers of Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh on the edge of the square.

Paul Galvin made a return to form especially when he moved to the 40 in place of the injured Declan O’Sullivan who pulled a hamstring just before the break.

However, the real bonus for Kerry boss Jack O’Connor was the display of his latest midfield pairing of Anthony Maher and Mike Quirke who lorded the exchanges over Galway’s Joe Bergin and Niall Coleman and won 13 of 16 first-half kick-outs.

Galway only needed a point to make the final but there were no favours forthcoming from Kerry.

“There is a good strong panel there and there is serious competition for places so there was never any question of easing up. The lads who start cannot afford to slacken off because there are lads on the bench are after their spot . . . We just want to keep winning and it’s a good habit,” said O’Connor.

After three early wides by Kerry, Declan O’Sullivan opened the scoring with a fine effort from play but Galway moved 0-3 to 0-1 clear after 20 minutes with Michael Meehan converting a free and then scoring from play while Paul Conroy added another free.

Tommy Walsh and Meehan swapped points before Kerry took over approaching half-time with points from Declan O’Sullivan, Cooper and Donaghy, with the latter also missing an open goal.

Declan O’Sullivan then limped off with a hamstring problem and Darren O’Sullivan came on as Kerry retired 0-5 to 0-4 in front at the interval and Galway looked well in the game.

However, the opening 10 minutes of the second half saw Kerry score 2-4 without replay as Quirke lorded midfield. Darren O’Sullivan set up Paul Galvin for the opening point; then Killian Young set up Tommy Walsh, following a fine move, for a 38th minute goal.

Tommy Griffin was involved with Paul Galvin in putting Donaghy through for a second goal in the 40th minute and when two further points from Cooper and one from Darren O’Sullivan left Kerry leading 2-9 to 0-5, the game was over as a contest.

Meehan from frees and play kept the scoreline respectable and Padraig Joyce grabbed Galway’s consolation goal before the finish.

KERRY:G Reidy; R O'Flaharta, T O'Sullivan, K Young; T Ó Sé, A OMahony, T Griffin; A Maher, M Quirke; P Galvin (0-3), D O'Sullivan (0-2), D Walsh; C Cooper (0-5, two frees), K Donaghy (1-1), T Walsh (1-1). Subs: Darren OSullivan (0-2) for Declan OSullivan (35 mins),D Moran for M Quirke ( 56 mins), D Ó Sé for A Maher ( 56 mins), S OSullivan (0-1) for D Walsh (56 mins), T Kennelly for T Walsh (62 mins), K Quirke for T Griffin (66). Tom OSullivan (68 mins, yellow - no sub left).

GALWAY:A Flaherty; N Coyne, F Hanley, D Burke; G Bradshaw (0-1), D Blake, D OReilly; J Bergin, N Coleman; S Armstrong, P Joyce (1-2, one free), F Breathnach; P Conroy (0-1), M Meehan (0-7, three frees, one 45), M Clancy. Subs: B Cullinane for J Bergin (31 mins), G Sike for D Blake (41 mins), D Mullahy for N Coleman (45 mins), C Bane for F Breathnach (63 mins).

Referee:Martin Duffy (Sligo).