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Kerry book Dublin date with eight-point victory over Mayo

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3 years ago

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David Clifford scored the only goal of the game. Photo: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile.

Adam Moynihan reports from Croke Park

All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final

Kerry 1-18 Mayo 0-13

HT: Kerry 1-7 Mayo 0-9

He wasn’t going to play at all according to the pre-match rumours but a beautiful first-half goal by David Clifford helped Kerry to a surprisingly comfortable victory over Mayo this evening.

Although he limped through much of the game, Kerry’s No. 14 burst into life in the 28th minute to fire his side into a two-point lead.

It wasn’t all plain-sailing thereafter - The Kingdom struggled to push on, even when Aidan O’Shea was black-carded moments later - but they did ultimately pull away in the second half thanks in no small part to another assured defensive performance.

Next up: a date with Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final in two weeks’ time.

STRANGE

The so-called curtain-raiser was a hard act to follow and the first half of this game was accompanied by a strange atmosphere; it was as though the crowd were as drained by the opening match as the Armagh and Galway players must have been following their penalty shootout drama.

The second match was delayed by a full hour, which surely didn’t help Kerry and Mayo in their preparations.

Kerry star Clifford was rumoured to be struggling with an injury right up until throw-in but he did take to the field, although he required treatment almost immediately when he went over on his ankle in front of the Canal End. Nevertheless, he registered Kerry’s first score of the day, a free to cancel out Cillian O’Connor’s opener.

Gavin White gave Kerry the lead with a neat finish in the third minute but then two well-taken scores by Conor Loftus and Aidan O’Shea edged Mayo in front.

Paul Geaney missed a great goal chance in the 11th minute before Kerry re-established their lead via Tom O’Sullivan and another Clifford free.

Seán O’Shea and Geaney took Kerry’s total to 0-6 but points at the other end by O’Connor, Rob Hennelly, Jack Carney and Stephen Coen had Mayo ahead with seven minutes left in the period.

Then Clifford struck for goal after being set up by Stephen O’Brien, and when O’Shea was sent to the bin the signs were ominous for Mayo.

James Horan’s men managed the binning well, however, and scores by O’Connor and Kevin McLoughin – either side of a fine effort by David Moran – made it a one-point game at the break.

RUN

The opening stages of the second were nip and tuck with neither team really grabbing the match by the scruff of the neck but a run of seven straight points between the 51st and 67th minutes sealed the result. Moran (who rather unexpectedly – and very encouragingly - played the full 70 minutes), Tom O’Sullivan, Geaney (three), Killian Spillane and Seán O’Shea all found the target during this period.

Kerry now have two weeks to prepare for the challenge of Dublin. Speaking post-game, Jack O'Connor said he reckons David Clifford will be sore tomorrow. One suspects that his best player will be wrapped up in cotton wool for the next few days at least.

KERRY: S Ryan; G O’Sullivan (0-1), J Foley, T O'Sullivan (0-3); B Ó Beaglaoich, G White (0-1), T Morley; D O’Connor, D Moran (0-2); D Moynihan, Seán O’Shea (0-3, 1f), S O’Brien; P Clifford, D Clifford (1-3, 1m), P Geaney (0-4, 1m).

Subs: K Spillane for Moynihan (48), P Murphy for Ó Beaglaoich (58), M Burns for O’Brien (59), J O’Connor for D O’Connor (65), T Brosnan for Clifford (67), G Crowley for Foley (73 temp).

MAYO: R Hennelly (0-1f); L Keegan, O Mullin, E Hession; P Durcan, S Coen (0-1), E McLaughlin; A O’Shea (0-1), M Ruane (0-1); J Flynn (0-2), D O’Connor, C Loftus (0-1); K McLoughlin (0-1), J Carney (0-1), C O’Connor (0-3, 1f).

Subs: J Carr (0-1) for Carney (HT), F Boland for Loftus (52), A Orme for McLaughlin (58), P O’Hora for O’Shea (64), P Towey for Orme (73).

Attendance: 71,353

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Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

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1 month ago

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7 November 2025

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Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

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1 month ago

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7 November 2025

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After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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