Sunday, July 6th 2025 - Men's Senior Football Championship - Kerry Boston vs Galway Boston

Kerry Boston vs Galway Boston

Sunday, July 6th 2025, 2pm

Kerry Boston 2-17 | Galway Boston 4-11

Kerry and Galway played out a thrilling, hard-fought contest under the sweltering Canton sun on Sunday afternoon, with little separating the sides in a game that finished all square.

Galway struck the first blow when Cian Hernon won a kickout and tore through the heart of the Kerry defence to bury the ball in the back of the net. Kerry responded quickly. Luke Breathnach opened their account with a point, and after a Galway attack broke down, Kerry overturned possession and Rob Stack slotted a point.

Kerry were awarded a penalty soon after, and Stack made no mistake in firing it home. He followed it up with another point, and Breathnach added one more to leave Kerry ahead by four, 1-4 to 1-0.

Both sides saw chances turned over as the defences battled hard. Galway’s Ciarán Potter turned over a Kerry attack, and the ball was worked up to Nathan Grainger, who landed back-to-back points to keep Galway in touch.

Ethan Duane won the next kickout for Kerry, and the play ended with Breathnach sending home Kerry’s second goal. Stack added a point off the outside of his right boot to stretch the lead further, 2-5 to 1-2.

Galway responded well. Tom O’Flaherty found Jack Lawlor inside for a point, and O’Flaherty got one of his own. Galway pushed on, and Grainger broke through for Galway’s second goal, cutting the deficit to one. Breathnach pointed just before the break to give Kerry a two-point lead at halftime.

Half-time: Kerry Boston 2-6 | Galway Boston 2-4

The second half picked up where the first left off. Galway and Kerry traded scores early. Ryan Donohue and Joe Cooper for Kerry, Grainger with both for Galway.

Galway’s Potter intercepted a Kerry free, and the play ended with Paudi Behan slotting over to make it a one-point game. Niall O’Connor added one for Kerry. O’Connor won the next kickout and gave a fast kick pass into Breathnach for another score to push the lead back to three.

Lawlor added a point and 2 goals for Galway in quick succession. The first goal assisted by Lewis Ryan, the second set up by Hernon, swinging the game Galway’s way as they surged into a four-point lead. Stack responded with a pointed free, 2-11 to 4-8.

Galway were then reduced to 12 men for 10 minutes after Ciarán Potter was shown a black card. Kerry took full advantage. Stack added a free, but Galway still held their lead through an Eoin Morrissey point.

Kerry rallied strongly in the closing stages. Breathnach pointed from play, Kevin Goulding fisted one over, and Stack levelled it from a free — 2-15 to 4-9 with minutes left.

Jack O’Neill nudged Galway back in front with a two-point effort, but Paul Moran replied in kind with a free for Kerry, and fittingly, it ended level after an exciting game of football.

Full-time: Kerry Boston 2-17 | Galway Boston 4-11

Teams & Scorers

Kerry Boston:
Nevin O’Donnell, John Cooper, Darragh Fleming, Jackie Murphy, Niall O’Connor (0-1), Walter Hally, Ethan Duane, Ryan Donohue (0-1), Rob Stack (1-6), Joe Cooper (0-1), Noah Kearney, Luke Breathnach (1-5), Jim Lynch
Subs: Kevin Goulding (0-1), Paul Moran (0-2, x1 2-pointer)

Galway Boston:
Kyle Long, Conor Hussey, Aaron Kavanagh, Michael Moylan, Seán Forde, Ciarán Potter, Cian Hernon (1-0), Eoin Morrissey (0-1), Paudi Behan (0-1), Tom O’Flaherty (0-1), Lewis Ryan, Jack Lawlor (2-2), Nathan Grainger (1-4)
Subs: Jack O’Neill (0-2)

Referee: Neil McEnaney