Kerry finish in style

All-Ireland MFC Semi-final/Kerry 2-13 Donegal 1-10: A power-packed second half by a classy Kerry side propelled John Kennedy's team into yet another All-Ireland final, where they will hope to end a famine stretching back to 1994, the last time Kerry won the Tommy Markham Cup.

This was victory fashioned out of a will to win and a team spirit that just about matched Donegal's in the opening half, but overwhelmed the Ulster champions in a second-half display of clinical finishing, led by Waterville skipper Paddy Curran.

The first half was even enough but it was Donegal who tore into the fray and had Kerry on the back foot early on and in the second quarter.

Kerry did enjoy a purple patch for 10 minutes - in which their half-back line of Adrian Greaney, Shane Enright and Bryan Costello were outstanding - but wasted gilt-edged chances, kicking some awful wides and frequently giving the ball away.

Two points from midfielder Michael Murphy and one each from Martin McElhinney and Dara Gallagher had Donegal 0-6 to 0-3 ahead by the 25th minute and looking as if they might upset the Kingdom.

But Kerry staged a crucial fight-back before the interval and led 0-7 to 0-6 starting the second half.

Curran, from a free, extended Kerry's lead in the 35th minute before Kerry added another after a brilliant move in which David Moran played the ball long to Enright, who found Daniel O'Shea. He quickly transferred the ball to Eoin Kennedy, who finished with a splendid point.

Moran, after a great run, gave Kerry a four-point lead but Paul McGinley narrowed the gap with a point from a rare Donegal attack.

Then came the turning point of the game in the 43rd minute: Kennedy set up Jamie Doolan on his right and he drilled the ball low to the Donegal net.

Donegal replied with points from Murphy and Gallagher, but Curran and Moran finished them off in the final 10 minutes.

Curran was at the end of John Buckley's long-range delivery in the 53rd minute to seal the win with a superb goal. For good measure, he added two more points to end the game with 1-6.

Donegal got a dubious late goal when Browne was tripped and the ball reached McElhinney, who scored at the third attempt after a couple of great stops by goalkeeper Tomás Mac an tSaoir but it was small consolation.

Kerry will be back in the third Sunday in September to face either Meath or Roscommon.

KERRY: T Mac an tSaoir; B Russell, M Moloney, D Ó Sé; S Enright, A Greaney, B Costello; T Walsh (0-1), G O'Driscoll (0-1); P Curtin, D O'Shea, D Moran (0-2); G Sayers, P Curran (1-7, four frees), E Kennedy (0-2). Subs: S Browne for Russell, J Buckley for Curtin, J Doolan (1-0) for Sayers, L O'Sullivan for O'Shea.

DONEGAL: L McFadden; D Walsh, S Boyle, M McGowan; P McGinley (0-1), P Thornton, L McNoone; R Wherity (0-1), M Murphy (0-3, 0-2 frees); E Waide, D Molloy, M McElhinney (1-2); D Gallagher (0-3), G Ward, B Flaherty. Subs: J Carroll for Flaherty, D Gavigan for Wherity, D McGarvey for Molloy, C Geaney for McLoone.

Referee: D Fahy (Longford).