PLAYER RATINGS

Damian Stack

Brian Kelly

Has once again managed to wrestle the number one jersey away from Brendan Kealy and if he keeps performing like this the Kilcummin man will find it hard to get it back off him again. Was solid in the game, even pulling off a late save from Eoin Cleary.

Fionn Fitzgerald

This wasn’t as successful a performance as the one he gave against Dublin in Croke Park. Found Keelan Sexton a handful at first and was later moved off him. The stand-in captain recovered his composure after that and had a decent game.

Mark Griffin

A bit like Fitzgerald, Griffin found the going tough in the early exchanges when David Tubridy was in his pomp. Griffin, however, got to grips with the Quilty man who scored two of his three points from play inside the opening five minutes.

Shane Enright

Comfortably the most assured performer on the full-back line in Cusack Park. Enright was moved onto Keelan Sexton – who, though he didn’t score, was causing Kerry bother – early enough in the first half and helped steady the ship.

Peter Crowley

A typically forceful and combative performance from the Laune Rangers man. He’s fast becoming Kerry’s answer to Mayo’s Colm Boyle – the guy you look to to inspire and to spark something, setting up a score when the need for it is greatest.

Tadhg Morley

Yet another assured and measured performance from the Templenoe man. Seemed to pick up Sean Collins for much of the match, but more than that Morley has become the anchor for this Kerry defence. His presence gives everybody else confidence.

Paul Murphy

Possibly this was Murphy’s most conventional half-back performance in championship since the 2015 campaign. Brings to a touch of class to everything he does and kept tabs effectively on Shane Brennan in the first half.

Jack Barry

Barry will be very happy with his championship debut for the Kingdom. Certainly he’s got more about him than what he showed on Sunday, but by the same token this was very solid. Showed flashes of what he’s about and fetched a nice mark.

Anthony Maher

The Duagh man will be delighted to have started the championship in such a positive manner. Played a conductor’s role in the first half, spraying the ball around nicely. Spent time on both Brennan and O’Connor and held up his end of the bargain well.

Mikey Geaney

Geaney is in a real rich vein of form at the moment. After two really strong performances to round out the league campaign, Geaney continued that on Sunday in Ennis, winning three kick-outs, working his socks off and kicking a lovely point.

Kevin McCarthy

There’s a hell of a lot of history attached to the number 11 Kerry jersey, but to his credit McCarthy wasn’t over-awed by it. Didn’t make many or any errors and contributed in an understated manner. Will that be enough for him to hold his spot? Time will tell.

Donnchadh Walsh

Gave away the foul for the penalty and did deserve a yellow card for the foul on Sexton, but that’s not a stick to beat him with. It’s just one of those things. Was shaping up to have a good game before picking up a second yellow on 33 minutes.

Barry John Keane

Was it harsh on Barry John Keane to find himself hauled off at half-time to be replaced by Stephen O’Brien? Probably, but by the same token if the Strand Road man is to shake off his super sub reputation he’ll need to do more when he does start.

Paul Geaney

With Clare playing a sweeper system the Dingle man was well-marshalled and wasn’t as prominent as he can be, but given that his return from play was impressive and he was completely unerring from the placed ball. He’s got more to offer no question.

James O’Donoghue

Has he played better games for Kerry? Certainly, but this was like the O’Donoghue of a couple of seasons back. This was possibly even his best performance since the 2014 campaign. By the end he was menacing the Banner defence relentlessly.

Subs

Stephen O’Brien made a near instant impact and his goal was a thing of beauty. Jack Savage set up one really nice point for Maher and moved well. Jonathan Lyne won an important free. Bryan Sheehan and Kieran Donaghy both did well, while Johnny Buckley made a relatively late appearance.