Kerry get past Derry in Division One final

Allianz NFL Division one Final: Kerry 1-15 Derry 0-15

Kerry claimed their third Allianz National League title – a record 19th in total - under Jack O’Connor with a three-point win over Derry in a muted Division One final at Croke Park on Sunday.

In doing so, they gained a measure of revenge over Derry, who beat them in last year’s final. Kerry, of course, were under different management back then, but now look best placed to challenge All-Ireland champions Tyrone after an unbeaten league campaign that threw up a number of new faces and potential stars.

For Damian Cassidy, the Derry manager, the defeat will not be met with complete disappointment as league titles have always failed to be a harbinger of success later in the year in the Oak Leaf County. His side competed well throughout; indeed they looked the more potent side in the opening quarter until their talisman, Paddy Bradley, was forced off with blurred vision after 23 minutes.

The Derry full-forward did re-appear later in the game, but his influence was not what it might have been, with the scoring burden transferring over to his brother, Eoin, who top-scored for his side with  five points.

Kerry will take comfort from the fact that they won pulling up in the end, but they were far from their best in a disjointed and disappointing game. They scored the only goal of the game and it proved the difference between the sides in the end. Donncha Walsh, who started for the Kingdom at wing-forward in place of Paul Galvin (groin strain), latched onto a superb pass from Michael Quirke and fired home after just nine minutes.


Kerry: D Murphy; P Reidy, T O’Sullivan, K Young; T O Se (0-2), A O’Mahony (0-1), T Griffin; A Maher, M Quirke; D Walsh (1-0), Declan O’Sullivan (0-1), Darran O’Sullivan; C Cooper (0-6, 0-3f), K Donaghy, T Walsh (0-2).

Subs: D O Se for M Quirke (’42), T Kennelly for D Walsh (’46), B Sheahan (0-3, 0-3f) for D O’Sullivan (’49), D Moran for A Maher (’49), D O’Sullivan for K Donaghy (’58), D Bohane for T Griffin (’62), S O’Sullivan for D O’Sullivan (’65), A O’Shea for P Reidy (’72).  

Derry: B Gillis; K McGuckin, K McLoy, G O’Kane; P Cartin, B McGoldrick, S L McGoldrick; F Doherty, J Diver; E Lynn (0-1), P Murphy (0-1), C McKaigue (0-1); E Bradley (0-5, 0-2f), P Bradley (0-1,), M Lynch (0-4, 0-3f).

Subs:

J Kielt (0-1, 0-1f) for P Bradley (’23), P Bradley for B Mullan (’39), D McBride for G O’Kane (’47), S Bradley (0-1) for P Murphy (’49), R Dillon for D McBride (Yellow Card ’68). 


Impressive Cork take D2 Title

Allianz NFL Division Two Final: Cork 1-14 Monaghan 0-12

Cork underlined their status as the biggest potential threat to Kerry and Tyrone’s All-Ireland dominance by claiming the Allianz NFL Division Two title with a comfortable five-point win over Monaghan at Croke Park on Sunday.

A powerful first-half display, which gave the Rebels a six-point lead at the interval, meant Monaghan were left playing catch-up for most of the game. Seamus McEnaney’s men threatened a late revival thanks to Tommy Freeman’s four second half points but a James Masters goal with five minutes left on the clock ensured that the trophy was destined for Leeside.

Cork: A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, A Lynch, N O’Leary, G Canty (0-1), G Spillane (0-1); A O’Connor (0-1), N Murphy; P O’Flynn, P Kelly (0-1), P Kerrigan (0-1); J Masters (1-0), D O’Connor (0-3, 0-1 ’45, 0-1f), D Goulding (0-5, 0-1f).

Subs: P O’Neill (0-1) for P O’Flynn (’49), J Hayes for D O’Connor (’51), F Goold for A O’Connor (’66), C McCarthy for D Goulding (’70), J Miskella for P Kelly (’70).

Monaghan: S Duffy, D Mone, V Corey, D McArdle (0-1), D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Hughes; D Clerkin, O Lennon; C McManus (0-2, 0-1 ‘45), P Finlay (0-4, 0-2f), S Gollogly; M Downey (0-1), R Woods, T Freeman (0-4, 0-1f).

Subs: JP Mone for D Mone (’28), R Ronaghan for S Gollogly (HT), C Hanratty for for O Lennon (’49), G McEnaney for D Freeman (Yellow Card) (’50), K Hughes for M Downey (’55), S McAleer for R Woods (’67).