Kerry break Derry hearts again in cagey quarter-final

Kerry will face Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-finals after coming out on top in a last-eight game that lacked the fireworks of Galway's win over Dublin

Kerry broke Derry hearts for the second year in a row by winning a cagey All-Ireland quarter-final 0-15 to 0-10 that never truly caught fire at Croke Park.

Having beaten Derry in last year's semi-final, the Munster champions did just about enough in the second half to win a tactical slugfest and set up a last-four encounter with Armagh.

With Shane McGuigan impressing for Derry, the sides were level at 0-6 apiece at the end of a cautious first half.

But Kerry scored four out of the five scores between the 55th and 64th minutes to move 0-12 to 0-9, a point from which Mickey Harte's side were unable to recover.

While 2022 champions Kerry can look forward to a fourth successive semi-final, Derry are left to reflect on a mixed season in which they won the Division One title in impressive fashion but ultimately failed to deliver in the championship.

With Harte - who delivered three All-Ireland titles for his native Tyrone - in situ, Derry had been talked about as serious Sam Maguire contenders this year.

But having been stunned by Donegal in Ulster, their All-Ireland series was a mixed with wins over Westmeath and Mayo coming after falling to Galway and Armagh.

Derry's wait for a second Sam Maguire goes on, but despite being nowhere near their free-flowing best, Kerry have kept themselves firmly in the hunt for a 39th title.

Those who had hoped Sunday would follow the same pattern as Saturday - with the second game hogging all the drama and excitement - had another thing coming as Derry and Kerry quickly settled into some tactical shadow boxing, with scores a premium and risk-averse football a dominant feature.

Of course, Derry could have scored a goal inside the opening minute but Gareth McKinless fired wide in a rare piece of goalmouth action.

If there was a star in the first half, Shane McGuigan was as good as anyone on the field. Despite being shadowed by the always diligent Jason Foley, the Derry talisman clipped over four scores before the break, one of which was a left-footed peach despite being sandwiched between two Kingdom men.

Not content with being a luxury forward, McGuigan made crucial interventions at the other end, too, diving to block Gavin White's goal-bound effort after Paul Murphy's fisted effort came back off the post.

While McGuigan's endeavours shone through, David Clifford was kept largely quiet by Chrissy McKaigue, who was ably supported by his Slaughtneil club-mate Brendan Rogers.

Clifford scored two in the first half - one from play - with Kerry's five other forwards contributing a combined two points (Paul Geaney and Tony Brosnan) in a frustrating first period for the Kingdom's danger men up against a remarkably tight and disciplined Derry defensive unit.

Kingdom finish strongly

Chrissy McKaigue and David Clifford's off-the-ball grappling resulted in a yellow card for both players

With McGuigan having troubled Foley, Tom O'Sullivan took over man-marking duties, but it was another tussle that threatened to inject some much-needed spice as McKaigue and David Clifford's battle grew increasingly tetchy, resulting in yellow cards for both players after a coming together 15 minutes into the second half.

As McKaigue and Clifford tussled off the ball, Derry forced a crucial turnover with Seanie O'Shea bearing down on goal and worked the ball up to Paul Cassidy, who scored off the post.

Cassidy's point tied the game at 0-8 apiece but that was where things went awry for the Oak Leafers. First, a trademark foray forward by Odhran Lynch culminated in the Magherafelt goalkeeper gifting possession to the Kingdom.

While Lynch was spared a haunting sequel to his back-tracking display against Donegal earlier in the year, O'Shea scored a point which was quickly followed up by a superb effort from Killian Spillane seconds after he was introduced.

An excellent Rogers reply put Derry back to within two, but a quick Kerry double by Tony Brosnan and O'Shea restored daylight in the Kingdom's favour.

From there, Harte's men unable to fashion a goal opportunity as Kerry negotiated the closing stages, their muted celebrations in stark contrast to Galway's delirium.

Kerry's skirmishes with Ulster sides are not done, of course. They will face Armagh in a fortnight's time after the Orchard men beat Roscommon on Saturday to reach the last four for the first time in 19 years.

As for Derry, they are facing a sombre post-season review, a campaign that promised so much having petered out.

Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian O Beaglaoich (0-1), Tadhg Morley, Gavin White (0-1); Diarmuid O'Connor (0-1), Joe O'Connor (0-1); Tony Brosnan (0-2), Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan; David Clifford (0-3, 1m, 1f), Sean O'Shea (0-3, 2f), Paul Geaney (0-1).

Subs: Cillian Burke for Moynihan ('53), Killian Spillane (0-1) for Geaney ('57), D Geaney (0-1) for Brosnan ('62), Adrian Spillane for J O'Connor ('68), Mike Breen for O Beaglaoich ('70+2).

Derry: Odhran Lynch (0-1); Conor McCluskey, Christopher McKaigue, Diarmuid Baker; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Eoin McEvoy; Conor Glass (0-1), Brendan Rogers (0-2); Ethan Doherty, Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy (0-1); Eunan Mulholland, Shane McGuigan (0-5, 3f), Lachlan Murray.

Subs: Niall Toner for Mulholland (half-time), Niall Loughlin for Murray ('59), Emmett Bradley for McFaul ('65), Cormac Murphy for Cassidy ('65).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).