Sport
Honours even in Newbridge as Kildare snatch deserved draw
Adam Moynihan reports from St Conleth's Park
National League: Division 1
Kildare 0-13 Kerry 1-10
HT: Kildare 0-6 Kerry 1-7
A rousing second-half fightback saw Kildare snatch a point against Kerry in Newbridge this afternoon, and not even the most devout Kerry fan could deny that the hosts were worthy of their draw.
Two late points by the excellent Jimmy Hyland drew The Lilywhites level and although Kerry had a chance to win it at the death, Tom O’Sullivan was unable to drive his soccer-style snapshot through the posts.
It was an eventful return to Kildare for Kerry boss Jack O’Connor. There were some positives – particularly in the opening period – but ultimately he will be left frustrated by the fact that his new team only managed three points in the entirety of the second half.
VOCIFEROUS
Cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, Kildare burst into life right from the throw-in and early points by Paul Cribbin and Kevin Flynn gave them a 2-0 lead.
Kerry needed a settler and they got the perfect remedy in the sixth minute when Killian Spillane manufactured a shot from a tight space in front of goal. His effort rather trickled over the line but they’re all worth three, and Kerry were off the mark for the 2022 campaign.
Seán O’Shea, operating i lár na páirce in the absence of a number of midfield candidates, pointed a great effort from distance to make 1-1 to 0-2 in Kerry’s favour. The lively Hyland pulled one back for Kildare before O’Shea tagged on another point, this time from a free.
Paudie Clifford stretched Kerry’s lead out to three with a fabulous score and then Hyland and O’Shea exchanged another couple of frees. It was around this time that one would be expecting a water break but those days are gone, and it must be said that the fare was all the better for it.
Jack O’Connor’s men were beginning to shift through the gears now and Tom O’Sullivan and David Clifford both outfoxed their markers within a matter of seconds to score and make it a five-point game.
Hyland was the real bright spark for the hosts and he added two more to this tally to keep his side in contention.
Kerry were dealt a major blow in the 28th minute when Gavin White had to be helped from the field after being dragged down fairly unceremoniously, but the half ended on a positive note when Clifford floated over a typically sensational point.
In fact, it could have been far worse for Kildare; on the stroke of half-time, Clifford dragged an attempt on goal wide after being teed up by Dara Moynihan.
SCRAPPY
The second half was largely scrappy but Kildare deserve huge credit for fighting their way back into the contest. Apart from fine efforts by Paul Geaney, Paudie Clifford and substitute Tony Brosnan, Glen Ryan’s defence kept their illustrious counterparts quiet for most of the second 35.
At the other end, scores by Paddy Woodgate (three), Kevin Flynn and Paul Cribbin chipped away at Kerry’s lead.
Fittingly, it was left to Hyland to finish the job, and finish it he did. His 74th-minute free after a robust challenge by Adrian Spillane levelled matters for the first time, and Kerry’s last-ditch efforts to create an opening came to nought.
A point away from home is far from fatal from Kerry’s point of view, but an improved offensive display will be required if they are to give Dublin a rattle in Round 2.
KILDARE: M Donnellan; M O’Grady, S Ryan, R Houlihan; J Sargent, J Murray, T Archibald; K O’Callaghan, K Flynn (0-2); P Tuohy, P Cribbin (0-2), B McCormack; P Woodgate (0-3, 1f), D Flynn, J Hyland (0-7, 3f).
Subs: Feely for O’Callaghan, N Flynn for McCormack, McDermott for Tuohy.
KERRY: S Murphy; D O'Donoghue, J Foley, T O'Sullivan (0-1); P Murphy, T Morley, G White; S O'Shea (0-3, 2f), A Spillane; M Burns, P Clifford (0-2), D Moynihan; K Spillane (1-0), D Clifford (0-2), P Geaney (0-1).
Subs: Ó Beaglaoich for White, Savage for Burns, Brosnan (0-1) for K Spillane, Horan for Moynihan.
Sport
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)
As we reach the midway point of the 2025 season, Adam Moynihan takes a close look at Kerry’s strength in depth
As the Kerry players, management team and backroom staff huddled together for a photo with the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup in front of the Hogan Stand, one of the photographers raised his fist in the air, trying to illicit something resembling a celebratory scene. No joy.
Victory over Mayo had been secured in convincing enough fashion but winning the league has never been grounds for buoyant celebrations as far as Kerry are concerned. Retaining Division 1 status and unearthing some new talent is generally enough to tick the springtime box ahead of the serious business of the championship. Once that has been achieved, anything else is gravy.
Going by the disappointing loss to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, the need for new blood was especially great heading into the 2025 season. The team faded badly down the stretch and into extra time against the Orchard County with overdependence on core players glaringly obvious. It wasn’t the only reason they lost but Kerry simply didn’t get enough from their supporting cast on the day.
With that in mind, Jack O’Connor knew he had to work on the depth of his squad during this league campaign, and you’d have to say he made a pretty good fist of it.
Starting in goal, the situation here is clear with Shane Murphy providing back-up to Shane Ryan.
Moving out the field, in recent years Kerry have generally gone with Jason Foley at full back, Tom O’Sullivan at left corner back, and one of Paul Murphy or Graham O’Sullivan at right corner back.
After making his debut in the league in 2024, Damien Bourke has emerged as a genuine right corner back alternative with some strong performances that have vastly enhanced his reputation. Not many Kerry players came out of the Dublin defeat with extra credit to their name but Bourke was brave and tenacious, bursting out of defence and using the ball wisely. He was replaced as a starter by the experienced Murphy in later rounds but the Tralee man capped his league with a goal off the bench against Galway in Salthill.
Dylan Casey also got extended game time in the absence of Tom O’Sullivan and he acquitted himself professionally. He has a solid head on his shoulders and you get the impression that Jack O’Connor would now be comfortable throwing him into any given situation without hesitation.
The versatile Graham O’Sullivan is also an option at corner back and it looks like he’ll need to slot in somewhere other than his natural position of half back as Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White are nailed on starters at 5 and 7. O’Sullivan lined out at half forward against Galway and Mayo, underlining his flexibility and importance to the team.
There could be a changing of the guard taking place at centre back with Mike Breen seemingly shaking off the injury woes that have held back his progress with Kerry to date. With regular number 6 Tadhg Morley unavailable for selection for most of the league, Breen slotted seamlessly into that crucial central role, and he looked really confident against Mayo on Sunday. As things stand, Morley will be doing well to displace Breen but either way Kerry should have two good centre back options heading into the summer months.
Midfield has been a head scratcher for Kerry for a number of years but in Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor they appear to have found a winning combination. Diarmuid was playing the best football of his career up to his injury against Armagh in Round 6 so getting his shoulder right for championship is of paramount importance to Kerry’s chances.
Joe is a guaranteed starter too but his assured display at wing forward against Armagh was interesting in that it opens the door for a third midfielder to start. Seán O’Brien and Barry Dan O’Sullivan both applied themselves admirably when called upon in the league and the manager should feel like he can trust them more now than he did 12 months ago.
Joe O’Connor’s arrival as a half forward candidate has improved Kerry’s options to the extent that it’s difficult to predict how they will line out from 10 to 12 in the Munster Championship. Micheál Burns has done quite well upon his reintroduction to the team after being dropped from the panel in 2024, and Paudie Clifford is looking sharp at centre forward. Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney are options along this line too, although Dylan has been operating as a withdrawn inside forward to date – a role Tony is also capable of playing.
Of course, Seánie O’Shea will have to fit in somewhere in this department when he fully recuperates from his knee ligament injury, so it will be interesting to see how Jack O’Connor works this conundrum out. File under ‘good problems’.
Dara Moynihan is still recovering from a hip injury and has not yet featured in 2025. He would naturally be an option at 10 if he can get back up to speed. Meanwhile, Darragh Lyne, Ruairí Murphy and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich all featured at half forward in the league.
David Clifford and Paul Geaney will play at 13 and 14 with Dylan Geaney in pole position to start at 15 on the back of a really good run of form, perhaps excepting the league final in which he was relatively quiet. Tony Brosnan is a prime candidate to challenge Dylan for that spot; the Dr Crokes player has kicked some fantastic scores in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
As for out-and-out inside forwards, Conor Geaney and Killian Spillane are likely to be used as impact subs.
All told Kerry do appear to have better depth than they had last year, particularly with the emergence of second season players like Bourke, O’Brien and Dylan Geaney as legitimate options, and with Breen beginning to fulfil his potential. Burns’ comeback and Joe O’Connor’s newfound ability to play the 12 position also help.
As always, though, the proof will be in the eating. We will have to wait for the suffocating heat of do-or-die championship matches to find out if this squad is as deep and dependable as it looks on paper.
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