Dublin 1-15 Kerry 1-13
The Dubs may have taken flack over the last two years but today, Dessie Farrell (above) and his management team showed their belief in the Dublin squad was justified.
Level pegging in extra time, both sides fighting for every ball. A classic block from Kerry’s Michael Burns we thought had ended Basquel’s chance to take the lead.
Goalkeeper Shane Ryan in green and gold saves a shot above the crossbar but the Dublin side come back yet again, and Paul Mannion got the point to take the lead. David Clifford went down and shot from from the left wing for Kerry but it’s another wide. Not his day, and let’s face even on an off day, he is pretty brilliant.
Magic, the work rate from both sides was awesome. with under a minute to go in extra time, Ryan Basquel wins a free and Dean Rock converts. The Dubs are two ahead, is it too much to hope?
“They’re a special crew,” said manager Dessie Farrell. “The senior lads, we will never see the likes of them again…and the young lads who come into the side..the dedication, the work rate….. Experience on a day like this counted… the young guns coming in….probably couldn’t have gone much better on the day….”
I’m no sports analyst, but I love a good game of GAA football and today gave us that, from both sides. Only extra time divided the teams. Defense work from both sides was incredible.
Lovely to see a tribute to the late Sinead O’Connor too…..
DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Eoin Murchan, Mick Fitzsimons, David Byrne; James McCarthy, John Small, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, Brian Howard; Paddy Small, Paul Mannion, Niall Scully; Cormac Costello, Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel. Subs: Evan Comerford, Seán Bugler, Ciarán Kilkenny, Tom Lahiff, Seán McMahon, Jack McCaffrey, Ross McGarry, Cian Murphy, Daire Newcombe, Lorcan O’Dell, Dean Rock.
KERRY: Shane Ryan; Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Barry; Dara Moynihan, Seán O’Shea, Stephen O’Brien; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Paul Geaney. Subs: Shane Murphy, Adrian Spillane, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Ruairí Murphy, Micheál Burns, Killian Spillane, Dylan Casey, Donal O’Sullivan, Ronan Buckley.
Feature photo: Captain James McCarthy (33) raises the Sam Maguire. McCarthy is the first player for Ballymun Kickhams GFC to accept the All Ireland silverware.
