Donegal 2-15 Kerry 2-10
There were championship points at stake as well as the Pat O'Brien
Cup in the final game of the day. Thanks
to nine Eoin Bradley points, and a goal each from Daniel McLoughlin and Stephen
Griffin, Donegal overcame a gallant second half Kerry comeback to kill both
birds with the one stone.
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| Pat O'Brien Cup Champions - Donegal |
Donegal had strengthened the side with the addition of Bradley
at corner forward, and the return of Cahir Healy to defence brought back
memories of Donegal's last championship victory in 2010; Healy played corner
back on the side. Donegal dominated from
the get go. Stephen Griffin accounted
for three first quarter points, Bradley three, and Daniel McLoughlin one as the
northerners made it look easy.
Kerry's body language seemed to convey that defeat had been
conceded. The first Kerry score came in
the form of a goal after Croft found Graham Glenn with a brilliant pass. There were 27 minutes gone in the half by
that stage. Bradley answered with a
point for Donegal, but points from Glenn and Croft before the break did much to
lift Kerry spirits. A seven point
deficit had been reduced to 3.
It was all square with 20 minutes to go. The teams matched each other for points, and
a scrambled goal that was finished by Niall Sheehy meant that all was
level. Kerry's approach was now filled
with renewed vigor. A converted Croft 45
put Kerry into a brief lead, only for two Bradley scores to turn the tables
entering the last quarter.
Kerry were now winning the midfield battles, a fine Niall
Sheehy score put them into a one point lead.
But that man Bradley was involved in Donegal's go ahead goal. A searching ball found the Derryman who put
the ball across to McLaughlin, who finished easily into the net. Shortly afterwards Griffin sealed the deal with a second Donegal
goal and less than 5 minutes left. Kerry
kept plugging away, but there was too little time to pull off a second
comeback. Donegal win the silverware,
and their first points of the season.
Donegal: S. Houghton,
M. Canney, C. McCarron, S. Doherty, C. Healy, M. Dunphy, M. Smyth, G.
Gallagher, C. Bell, G. Clancy, D. McLoughlin, E. Bradley, S. Griffin. Kerry: L. Steacy, M. Godley, A. Fitzgerald, P.
Devane, D. Foley, J. O'Shea, I. Whelan, D.
Nolan, N. Sheehy, G. Glynn, J. Fitzpatrick, R. Croft, D. O'Mahoney.
Rory O'Donnell
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