TRIBE GUTTED AS KINGDOM SNATCH AWAY THE POINTS

Kerry 1-15 Galway 2-11

WHEN Galway last visited Austin Stack Park in 2018, Kevin Walsh’s side ended a 41-year losing streak.

Two years on, and this Kerry/Galway clash saw two new managers – Peter Keane and Padraig Joyce – lock horns in a game that was different in style and played under new rules.

The big question for fans was if Joyce could improve Galway’s record on Kerry soil which read 12 loses, three wins and one draw from 16 encounters.

In a pulsating and dramatic finish, Kerry snatched victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to a 74th minute point from substitute Killian Spillane.

The Kingdom introduced Tommy Walsh at half-time with James O’Donoghue being replaced and he did make an impact when he set up Michael Burns for Kerry’s opening score of the second half.

However, Galway through Eamonn Brannigan and Shane Walsh reduced the gap to two points before Kerry – thanks to points from Tommy Walsh and David Clifford (inset) – moved three points clear.

But when Michael Burns was denied a goal at the expense of a 45, Galway came thundering into the game.

Three unanswered points from

Killian McDaid,

Walsh and Brannigan saw the sides level at 0-13 to 1-10, only for David Clifford to restore Kerry’s lead in the 56th minute.

Tommy Walsh then saw his goal bound effort saved before Shane

Walsh goaled at the other end to give Galway a two point lead.

Then significantly the turning point came when Galway wingback Killian McDaid was sin-binned in the 63rd minute, and the visitors failed to add a score in the remaining 15 minutes, which included five minutes of injury-time.

Kerry refused to throw in the towel with Paul Murphy, Jack Barry and Killian Spillane driving at the Galway defence and in the 71st minute Paul Geaney struck for the equalising goal.

Kerry were now on top and sensing victory.

David Clifford hit the post and when the ball came back to Spillane he made no mistake as he drilled over the winning point.

And Galway, who deserved a share of the spoils, were cruelly denied.

DON’T KERRY ON Paul Geaney is stopped in his tracks