Kerry 0-20 Galway 0-16: Kingdom win 38th All-Ireland Football title in thriller
- Published
David Clifford's four first-half scores helped keep Kerry in the contest after they had misfired in the opening 35 minutes
Kerry won their 38th All-Ireland Football title - and their first triumph since 2014 - by beating Galway 0-20 to 0-16 in a pulsating contest.
Shane Walsh hit nine points for Galway in an extraordinary display but still ended up on the losing side as David Clifford notched 0-8 for the Kingdom.
Galway led 0-8 to 0-7 at the break after taking the game to Kerry.
But Kerry's half-time changes, as Killian Spillane and Adrian Spillane came on, turned the game their way.
The Spillane brothers replaced experienced duo Paul Geaney and David Moran but Jack O'Connor's decision was totally vindicated as Killian kicked two vital points in his energetic contribution and Adrian made a big impact around midfield.
'We needed everything to get over the line' - Kerry boss O'Connor
Walsh's remarkable first-half efforts, as he notched Galway's opening six points, seemed a direct challenge to gaelic football's current pre-eminent star Clifford, who kept his side in the Croke Park contest with four scores of his own before the interval.
But most things had gone right for Galway in the first half - they only hit one wide in the opening 35 minutes as against Kerry's seven - and there was that suspicion the Kingdom would come good in the second half.
Galway fought manfully to rip up that script as they came back from going behind for the first time on 41 minutes to lead by 0-14 to 0-12 within six minutes amid breathless action.
But Kerry, with both Spillane brothers making major impacts, hit the next four scores to lead by two after 56 minutes.
Incredibly, Padraic Joyce's side still refused to accept the seemingly inevitable as another Walsh free and Cillian McDaid point - his fourth - saw them on terms again by the 65th minute before Kerry finally pulled away with the four closing points.
Galway were furious with Tyrone referee Sean Hurson's awarding of the free for Kerry's 17th point with John Daly looking decidedly unfortunate to be blown up for over-carrying as he was robustly challenged by Killian Spillane.
Clifford slotted the resultant difficult free from a tight angle and as Galway finally ran out of legs after their herculean efforts, Killian Spillane, outstanding wing-back Gavin White and the relatively subdued semi-final hero Seanie O'Shea added the closing three points.
Shane Walsh tormented his marker Tom O'Sullivan in the first half
After the largely turgid semi-final contest between Galway and Derry, there were fears that the All-Ireland decider could be another safety-first chess match.
But instead we witnessed a marvellous spectacle, with mercifully few bouts of lateral keep-ball play.
Damien Comer's 2-2 had been the difference in Galway's semi-final win but he was contained by Kerry full-back Jason Foley two weeks on as Walsh took up the attacking cudgels on behalf of the Tribesmen.
As he tormented Kerry corner-back Tom O'Sullivan from early on, Walsh kicked Galway into the lead with a superb effort from distance in the fifth minute before his 45 doubled their advantage three minutes later.
Clifford, picked up as expected by Galway skipper Sean Kelly, notched the first of his two opening-period 'mark' points seconds later to open Kerry's account but Walsh was proving lethal from both placed balls and open play as his fifth point, when he cut inside O'Sullivan on the left wing before curling over a sensational shot, put them 0-5 to 0-2 ahead after 17 minutes.
To their credit, Kerry responded to Galway's onslaught by levelling within three minutes as Geaney, Clifford in stunning fashion, and the energetic Stephen O'Brien all split the posts.
There was never more than a point in it during the remainder of the first half as corner-back Jack Glynn finally ended Walsh's scoring run for the Tribesmen by linking up with Kieran Molloy to swing over a score, before the excellent McDaid pointed in injury time to nudge Galway one ahead again by the break.
Action becomes something of a blur
No one could have accused Jack O'Connor of being cautious as he introduced the Spillanes at half time and the changes didn't have an immediate effort with Walsh doubling Galway's lead after another O'Sullivan foul.
But the switches soon began to bear fruit as Clifford - with his weaker right foot - and Diarmuid O'Connor got the Kingdom on terms with quickfire scores.
As the pace soon became something of a blur, another incredible Walsh score restored Galway's advantage in the 40th minute only for Clifford to kick the Kingdom into the lead for the first time with two more points - the second of which was another wonder score with his right peg.
By that stage, the contest resembled two heavyweight boxers slugging it out in the ring and seemingly landing with every blow.
Adrian Spillane's half-time introduction helped turn the contest in Kerry's favour
Galway were back in front by the 44th minute as McDaid's second point was followed by yet another astonishing Walsh score.
And while Killian Spillane levelled a minute later, Galway were two up by the 47th minute as Molloy strode forward once more to point himself before a further McDaid score.
But the Kingdom's resolve remained firm as Galway keeper Conor Gleeson's clumsy foul on a charging Killian Spillane yielded a free for O'Shea before Graham O'Sullivan, Clifford and the other Clifford brother Paudie, by now making a big impact, also pointed to put Jack O'Connor's side 0-16 to 0-14 ahead.
To their immense credit, Galway battled back to level as a Walsh point was followed by a McDaid score after Comer had produced a superb clean catch in midfield to set up the attack.
Then came the controversial refereeing call against Daly as Clifford restored Kerry's lead from the difficult free and with Galway finally showing fatigue, further points from Killian Spillane, White and O'Shea heralded delirious Kingdom celebrations.
Kerry: S Ryan; G O'Sullivan (0-1), J Foley, T O'Sullivan; B Ó Beaglaíoch, T Morley, G White (0-1); D Moran, J Barry; D O'Connor (0-1), S O'Shea (0-3), S O'Brien (0-1); P Clifford (0-2), D Clifford (0-8), P Geaney (0-1).
Subs: P Murphy for O Beaglaíoch 63, K Spillane (0-2) for Geaney HT, A Spillane for Moran HT, M Burns for O'Brien 56, J O'Connor for P Clifford 72
Not used: S Murphy, T Brosnan, G Crowley, J Savage, J O'Shea, S Okunbor.
Galway: C Gleeson; L Silke, S Kelly, J Glynn (0-1); D McHugh, J Daly, K Molloy (0-1); P Conroy, C McDaid (0-4); P Kelly, M Tierney, J Heaney (0-1); R Finnerty, D Comer, S Walsh (0-9).
Subs: C Sweeney for Conroy 58, N Daly for Tierney 74, P Kelly, O Gallagher, F Ó Laoi for Finnerty 47, E Finnerty for Heaney 62.
Not used: J Keane, J Foley, B Mannion, P Kelly, O Gallagher, D Conneely, D Canny.
Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).