Numbers Game

The most remarkable thing about Sunday’s final? That Kerry won by twenty four points, that they scored 6-17, 6-16 of that from play and that they still could have won by more than they did.

Kerry’s rate of return on chances created was just 56%. To be fair to Kerry that probably doesn’t do the accuracy and brilliance of their forwards justice. Kerry kicked eleven wides, seven of those in a second half where it was all but academic. In fill-yourboots time, as it was, it’s hardly surprising that guys took on shots that they might not otherwise have done.

On top of that Kerry dropped a couple of shots shor t and had a couple of chances for goals saved by Derry shot-stopper Oran Hartin. Nothing major, it all adds up though and it all goes to show that Derry were under all sor ts of bother all the way through this game. From David Clifford’s goal on twelve seconds to his wide from a free after sixty four minutes, there was only one team in this game.

Kerry were vastly superior in all facets of play. Derry’s conversion rate was just 47% – dropping from a respectable 62% in the first half to a poor 36% in the second. They created just nineteen scoring chances in the game, less than half of what Kerry did and a lot of the credit for that must go to a brilliant set of Kerry backs.

In the first half in par ticular they were like men possessed. Their tackling was excellent, aggressive and effective. Technically as good as you’ll see. The Kingdom didn’t commit a foul until the sixteenth minute and conceded just thir teen frees in all. Nine of those came in the second half when the game was effectively won.

Kerry were brilliant too in the primary possession stakes. They claimed 80% of their own possession – 86% in the first half – which is down to the diligence of the players out the field and also, of course, to Devidas Uosis between the sticks.

Both Kerry’s midfielders did well and shaded the battle with Derry there, even if Oisín McWilliams was probably the most impressive Derry performer. Derry for their par t will be desperately disappointed with their rate of return on their own kick-out in the first half. They claimed just six of fifteen, that’s 40%. Derry did improve for the second half and took 78% of their kick-outs, but the damage was done during the first half.

The Oak Leaf side just couldn’t get enough go-forward momentum to hurt Kerry and stop the ball going down the other end towards David Clifford and his set of lethal Kerry forwards.