Clifford-inspired Kerry break Derry hearts

Adam Moynihan reports from Croke Park, Dublin

Reigning champions Kerry fought back from the brink to overcome a spirited Derry side in a breathless semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday.

Trailing by two points heading into the final five minutes, The Kingdom showed admirable character to rattle off five unanswered points in a row.

The drama didn’t finish there as Derry had an opportunity to snatch an 80th-minute equalising goal but star forward Shane McGuigan accidentally kicked a free over the bar as he attempted to drop it into the square.

Kerry can now look forward to another final in two weeks’ time. Their greatest rivals, Dublin, stand in the way of All-Ireland title number 39.

FAST-PACED

This match was teed up to be dour and slow-paced but two early goals set the tone for a ferociously competitive first half.

Gareth McKinless slotted home the first for Derry in the fifth minute when he tidied things up after Shane Ryan denied

Brendan Rogers from close range. Kerry’s response was immediate and devastating as Gavin White burst forward to palm home Seánie O’Shea’s assist just a minute later. Kerry now led by 1-1 to 1-0 but three scores on the bounce by Paddy McGrogan, Paul Cassidy and Shane McGuigan pushed Derry two points ahead.

David Clifford and Chrissy McKaigue were battling hard away from the ball and at this point Clifford was getting the better of the experienced Derry defender. He kicked 0-5 in total in the first period, including two wonderful efforts from play. Things were set up nicely with ten minutes to go in the half but then a black card for Diarmuid O’Connor following a foot trip on Conor Glass meant Kerry were temporarily reduced to 14.

Derry made hay while O’Connor was in the bin. Brendan Rogers (two), Ciarán McFaul and Shane McGuigan all scored during this period, with a solitary point by wandering keeper Shane Ryan all that Kerry could muster in response. Derry were unhappy with a collision between Ryan and McGuigan in the build-up to that point - Ryan appeared to shield himself and catch McGuigan with his backside in the process. The referee deemed it unintentional.

Clifford (mark) and McGuigan (free) exchanged points in stoppage time as Derry went in at the interval three points ahead (1-11 to 1-8).

Impact

Jack O’Connor called on the experienced Stephen O’Brien at half-time and the Kenmare man made a significant impact without the ball in the third quarter.

At the other end, his clubmate Seánie O’Shea began to find his rhythm and he and Clifford kicked two points apiece to make it a tied game with 48 minutes on the clock. Meanwhile, Conor Doherty broke forward to kick Derry’s only score of this spell.

Ryan was called into action in the 52nd minute to deny McKinless with a wonderful save, but Derry kept their nerve and points by Ciarán McFaul and McGuinness (free) edged them out into a two-point lead with ten minutes left.

Another six minutes passed before either team scored again and Kerry were now in real danger of slipping out of the championship, but a flurry of scores between the 66th and 71st minutes turned the game on its head.

O’Shea (free) and Clifford (free) made it level at 1-14 each, before an inspirational left-footed effort by O’Brien a minute from time gave Kerry their first lead in 37 minutes.

Derry probed but Kerry looked menacing on the counter and points by O’Shea and Man of the Match Clifford created a three-point cushion.

The men in green and gold had at their chances to put the tie to bed but they failed to execute, which left McGuigan with a last-ditch opportunity to create a scramble in front of the Hill in the tenth minute of added time.

His floated kick had too much on it, though. Never before did Kerry supporters cheer an opposition point with so much fervour.

KERRY: S Ryan (0-1); G O’Sullivan, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; P Murphy, T Morley, G White (1-0); D O’Connor (0-1), J Barry; D Moynihan, S O’Shea (0-4, 1f), A Spillane; P Clifford (0-1), D Clifford (0-9, 4f, 1m), P Geaney.

Subs: S O’Brien for Spillane; T Brosnan for Geaney; B Ó Beaglaoich for Murphy; M Burns for Moynihan, R Murphy for P Clifford.

DERRY: O Lynch (0-1); C McKaigue, E McEvoy, C McCluskey; C Doherty (0-1), G McKinless (1-0), P McGrogan (0-1); C Glass, B Rogers (0-2); N Toner, Paul Cassidy (0-2), E Doherty; C McFaul (0-2), S McGuigan (0-6, 3f), N Loughlin.

Subs: Pádraig Cassidy for McGrogan, B Heron for Pádraig Cassidy, L Murray for Toner, S Downey for McEvoy, B McCarron for McKinless.

MATCH RATINGS Average rating out of 10 as voted on by our readers

Words by Adam Moynihan

Paul MURPHY 6.4 some timely interventions.

Played closer to his own goal than usual and offered a steady hand.

Gavin WHITE 7.8

Scored his first championship goal. One of the better players on the pitch.

Diarmuid O’CONNOR 7.0

Kicked a point and generally handled Glass well.

Jack BARRY 6.6

His man, Rogers, impressed in the first half, but Barry held his own after HT.

Dara MOYNIHAN 6.2

Typically industrious. Is capable of more with ball in hand.

Seánie O’SHEA 7.3

Came to the fore when needed. Kicked 0-4 in the second half (0-3 from play).

Adrian SPILLANE 5.9

Claimed a mark but missed it. Replaced at half-time.

Paudie CLIFFORD 6.7

Well tracked by McCloskey but kept going and won some important breaks.

David CLIFFORD 9.3

Another exhibition of point-kicking. Showed great leadership.

Paul GEANEY 6.6

Worked very hard but will be disappointed with himself for not scoring.

MANAGER

Jack O’CONNOR 8.0

Substitutes

Stephen O’Brien (HT) 8.6

Brian Ó Beaglaoich (55) 6.8

Tony Brosnan (55) 6.1

Micheál Burns (59) 6.4

Ruairí Murphy (73) 6.0