OLD FOES PROVE LEAGUES APART
Kingdom’s joy of six as they eye bigger prizes but short summer in store for Tyrone
THE more things change, the more they stay the same?
Not really. The sight of Tyrone under new leadership in this condensed season has inevitably become an invitation to look through the rear view mirror at how things used to be.
The last time they met Kerry in a national semi-final was in the 2003 All-Ireland series when Mickey Harte decided to haunt them early as well as often. It left some in the Kingdom with heaving stomachs they labelled it ‘puke’ football.
The danger last night in Killarney, given that Kerry were playing for a place in a virtual final and a halfshare in a League title as a consequence of their upcoming date with Clare in a fortnight, is that this was in danger of becoming ‘pillow’ football.
Thankfully, Kerry were engaged enough by the sight of the Tyrone colours to put their best foot forward. Perhaps they were mindful of any possible psychological damage that might accrue given that they could meet down the road in a semifinal that actually matters.
The contest was a strange one with errors plentiful on both side, But even if Kerry had less to play for, they also showed the greater sense of purpose at both ends of the field.
It is likely that Peter Keane will have taken pleasure from an assured defensive performance especially when the visitors would have been informed by the Kingdom’s discomfort against Dublin. Keane may not read quite so much into his attack that feasted on a hapless Tyrone defence.
In particular the performances offered up by full-back Jason Foley and impressive newcomer Mike Breen may go some way to easing constant concerns about Kerry’s back division but this was not a contest that facilitated grand pronouncements.
This was Tyrone like we have never really seen them before. Indeed, in the closing minutes of the first half when referee Conor Lane inadvertently ran into Breen’s path, to deny the Kerry wing-back possession, it was probably the most effective tackle the hosts took on baord in the first half. Kerry created nine goal chances in the opening 35 minutes and settled for taking just five.
It ensured that a game struggling for relevance from the outset, turned into the training spin it always threatened to be.
How much of that was down to Kerry’s ability rather than Tyrone’s self-sabotage it can be deduced from this clash that these teams are operating at very different levels.
Tyrone are seeking to become credible provincial contenders, Kerry potential All-Ireland contenders and the difference in those two things amounts to a chasm because of where Dublin have set the bar.
If they were in the mood to make the case, Tyrone could claim some ill-fortune in how this contest got away from them.
Niall Morgan had actually beaten away David Clifford’s point-blank effort in the fifth minute but Lane ruled that he had been pushed by Ronan McNamee in the act of kicking. Invited to try from the penalty spot, Clifford naturally could not decline the opportunity.
The second goal bordered on the bizarre – Morgan’s head was so scrambled by having seen his kickout intercepted by Gavin Crowley in the 15th minute, that he forgot to return to his line which allowed Gavin White to simply lob the ball to an empty net.
Within 60 seconds, Clifford and Seán O’Shea combined to facilitate Dara Moynihan scoring from almost on the goal-line and the key was administered the last rites as Kerry led 3-1 to 0-3.
After that, the home side simply indulged themselves with Paul Geaney, playing in a more withdrawn role this season, reacquainting himself with the scoring zone by hitting a couple of goals.
He raised a second green flag with a strike of such force that Morgan got a good hand on it but he could only alter which corner of the net in which the ball settled.
Kerry led 5-6 to 0-7 at half-time and there was nothing that could shake the contest out of its induced coma thereafter.
Tiernan McCann’s arrival onto the pitch added some aggression to Tyrone and was marked with a welltaken goal in the third quarter, but it made not a jot of difference.
Kerry continued at their ease while still managing to satisfy their desire for a sixth goal with substitute Jack Barry kicking once more into an empty net after Morgan misjudged an aerial bomb into his path in the 65th minute.
As if the evening had not been
traumatic enough for Tyrone, they also saw their emerging star Darragh Canavan stretchered off the pitch inside 10 minutes with a leg injury that required a hospital visit and saw him leave the stadium in a moon boot. It will almost certainly rule him out of their opening round of the Championship against Cavan for starters.
Given that the latter fell into the League’s bottom tier yesterday, that may not be an obstacle that will unduly bother them but getting hit for six at this time of the season felt like a declaration that the Championship is out for summer.
As for Kerry, League titles, as Peter Keane knows form painful personal experience, simply do not hold currency in the Kingdom.
And a half share in a League title offers even less.
‘We took our opportunities in that game today when they came and that was it,’ reflected Keane afterwards In other words, move on, nothing to see here.
KERRY: K Fitzgibbon; B Ó Beaglaoich, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; M Breen (G O’Sullivan 70), G Crowley, G White (J Sherwood 60); D O’Connor, A Spillane (P O’Shea 63); S O’Brien (K Spillane 50), S O’Shea (J Barry 54), P Geaney (M Burns 54); D Clifford, D Moynihan, P Clifford (T Walsh 54)
Scorers: D Clifford 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-4 frees); P Geaney 2-0, G White, D Moynihan, J Barry 1-0 each; S O’Shea 0-3 (1f), M Burns, K Spillane 0-2 each, J Foley, M Breen 0-1 each.
Wides: (5) 8 Yellow card: M Burns 70.
TYRONE: N Morgan; R McNamee (C Kilpatrick 67), P Hampsey M McKernan (R Brennan 46); C Monroe (T McCann 26), C Meyler, L Rafferty (N Sludden 46); M Donnelly, F Burns (R Donnelly, h-t); K McGeary, D Canavan (M Bradley 11), P Harte; D McCurry, C McKenna, P Donaghy (R O’Neill h-t)
Scorers: T McCann 1-0, D McCurry (1f), K McGeary 0-3 each, P Harte, M Donnelly, R Donnelly, M Bradley, R Brennan, R O’Neill and N Sludden, P Donaghy (f) 0-1 each. Wides: (6) 7
Yellow cards: R Brennan 50, M Bradley 53, M Donnelly 70. Referee: C Lane (Cork)