The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry run aground in muddy Edendork
THE David Clifford red card incident during Kerry’s defeat in Edendork on Sunday has dominated almost all the entire post-match discussion, but before we even discuss the downright ridiculousness of the decision, why the hell are people surprised at the outcome?
In the history of Gaelic football, what is the normal, robotic, pre-programmed reaction from the match officials when two players are involved in a ‘tussle’ or a ‘schemozzle’ or ‘a bit of grappling’ or ‘a bout of wrestling’? Do you ever see them single out the instigator and deal with him differently than the other player on the receiving end of the intimidation? Go on, be honest with yourself here.
When Tyrone substitute Ben McDonnell, on the pitch for only about five minutes, grabbed Clifford in a headlock, knocked him to the deck, and kept him in a headlock, in the 66th minute, the referee, Fergal Kelly of Longford, was dealing with a separate incident, where he ended up issuing black cards to Kerry’s Jack Barry and Tyrone’s Ronan McNamee for engaging in their own little bout of silly argy-bargy that is so endemic to this sport that we love.
Kelly did not see the ‘clash’ of Clifford and McDonnell. We cannot blame him for what happened next. This one is all on the umpires. When he went to speak to them, they presumably came out with the usual and pathetic explanation that ‘ah sure, both of them were at it there, Fergal, give yellows to the pair of them and sure that will do the job’ or words to that effect.
It’s the ultimate cop-out, which is so commonplace that it might as well be part of the bloody rules of the game at this stage.
That is exactly what the referee did. Clifford picked up his second yellow card of the day (his first had come for a slightly late tackle on Darren McCurry in the first half), and was understandably apoplectic with rage. Of course, neither the referee nor the umpires wanted to hear the Kerry captain’s version of events either as he made his way dejectedly to the touchline.
Whetheror not you think Mickey Harte instructed McDonnell to do what he did when he was sending him into the action, you have to say that the end result was a job well done by Tyrone. Kerry’s best player and only real attacking threat on the day was now off the field, the numerical advantage that the Kingdom had enjoyed since Peter Harte’s equally harsh dismissal seven minutes earlier had now been negated, and Tyrone still held a two-point cushion, 0-12 to 0-10.
Of course, the red card had an impact on Kerry’s eventual one-point defeat. Clifford had already kicked six of his team’s ten points before he left the pitch (including three from play and a mark against the wind) and was, yet again, the attacking fulcrum on which most of the game plan went through.
In the end, there were a full 12 minutes played after the red card was issued. Do we seriously think that wouldn’t have been enough time for the Kerry skipper to weave more magic, especially against a team reduced to 14 men themselves at the time?
By the way, if the referee decided that Barry and McNamee deserved black cards for engaging in some wrestling on the ground, why was it yellows for Clifford and McDonnell for virtually doing the exact same thing? If the Kerry captain was leaving the contest, should the Tyrone sub have followed him (with a black), reducing the Red Hand to 13 players?
Anyway, when all is said and done, amid the realisation that Clifford’s exit was a factor in a fruitless trip home for the Kingdom, it’s more important that Peter Keane and the management focus on the two other main reasons why two points weren’t plundered from a wintry Edendork.
Quite simply, Kerry did not make strong enough use of the wind in the first half. With the elements completely in their favour, a four-point lead at half-time, 0-8 to 0-4, was a poor enough cushion to hold. Even at that juncture in proceedings, one never felt that it would be sufficient.
After Micheal Burns launched over a stunning long-range point in the 14th minute to register Kerry’s fifth point, it was a very disappointing return to add only three more in the remaining 24 minutes of the half, notwithstanding the treacherousness of the conditions.
Kerry butchered a potential 1-4, with Clifford dropping a weak effort short to the goalkeeper, Paul Geaney rushing a long-range shot wide, Sean O’Shea missing an easy opportunity from close range with another weak attempt, and the Kenmare man firing wide with a 40-metre free from his hands. And, of course, there was the only goal chance of the game, when Geaney, clean through, was foiled by the diving feet of the outstanding Niall Morgan in the Tyrone goal.
Even, in the second half, Clifford and O’Shea would not be happy with two frees that they wasted, which also could have seen the encounter play out to an entirely different conclusion.
Kerry’s other problem was in their lazy tackling and concession of frees. With Morgan and the electric Darren McCurry operating on their home pitch, and both in immaculate dead-ball form, this was an absolute recipe for disaster.
Some of the referee’s calls might have been harsh, but many were due to unnecessary tackles from behind, blatant body-checks, needless high tackles or the simple use of a ‘lazy hand.’ Killian Spillane, Jack Barry, Sean O’Shea, Liam Kearney, Jason Foley and Graham O’Sullivan all found themselves penalised, and ultimately punished by Morgan and McCurry.
The Kerry defenders, in particular, must also realise that, with the new advanced mark rule, it is no longer good enough to stay behind your man, let him obtain possession, and then prepare to curtail his progress. The forward does not need to even attempt to take you on anymore. As Conor Meyler and McCurry proved in the second half, just take the easy catch and kick it over the bar.
Apart from the excellent Clifford, Graham O’Sullivan and substitute Dara Moynihan were probably the pick of the other Kerry players, but you have to wonder why Tommy Walsh was not introduced until the 67th minute.
Not only the umpires will have regrets leaving Edendork on Sunday afternoon.