Kerry’s final dream dies with 18-point mauling by Offaly
JOE MCDONAGH CUP ROUND 4 Offaly 3-24
Kerry 0-15
WHILE not entirely unexpected, it was nevertheless a disappointing denouement to Kingdom’s Joe McDonagh Cup campaign.
An eighteen-point wipe-out at the hands of Offaly in Tullamore probably was at the lower end of pre-game expectations, but given the level of turnover in the Kerry squad in the last twelve months since these sides last faced off it was, perhaps, not altogether that surprising.
Given the players at their disposal the Kingdom have done well enough in this campaign, to finish mid-table, relegation off the table with a round to go. Qualification for the Joe McDonagh Cup final, however, was always likely to be a bridge too far.
And, once Offaly got up and running from the end of the opening quarter onwards, one was given a fairly stunning demonstration of the gap between those ambitions and where Kerry are right now.
Offaly were bigger, stronger, more skilful, clearer in their intent. Being honest the Kingdom were always a bit short of firepower this campaign, only having access to top-man Shane Conway once in competitive action in 2024.
Add that to the loss of players like Pádraig Boyle and Daniel Collins over the winter months, and it’s clear Kerry were desperately short of options in the final third of the pitch and, as well as Kerry performed elsewhere, and they did defend well under the circumstances, they were always likely to be on the back foot.
To their credit the green and gold gave it as good a rattle as they could, opening out a three-point advantage in the first half, before a penalty for Offaly star man Eoghan Cahill all but ended any hopes they may have had.
Then into the second half Offaly simply blitzed them shooting 1-8 without reply between the 42nd and 61st minutes to open out a fourteen-point margin between the sides.
As noted, the Kingdom had started really well, really positively, proactively, aggressively, and in starting Fionán Mackessy at full-forward the Kerry management team were making a big statement: they were going for it, no holds barred.
The big Ardfert man – who stood for the throw-in – assisting Maurice O’Connor the opening score inside the opening sixteen or so seconds. The underdogs showing well from the off.
True, Offaly took an early lead with a rapid-fire pair of points from Brian Duignan and Charlie Mitchell – who simply tormented the Kerry full-back line – but Kerry were undeterred, pulling level twice through Maurice O’Connor frees before going back in front on six minutes through Ronan Walsh.
With further points from O’Connor (a free) and Killian Hayes (assist Mackessy) the Kingdom had it out to a three-point game on eight minutes, 0-3 to 0-6.
Despite Offaly taking it up a notch – Eoghan Cahill shot his first of the afternoon on 10 minutes – Kerry were still holding on to that three-point advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
The key moment of the half – and arguably the game – arrived on eighteen minutes when referee Niall Malone awarded the Faithful a penalty for a foul on Mitchell by Evan Murphy.
Eoghan Cahill stepped up and rammed it home to the keeper’s right, Kerry’s hard-earned advantage eradicated in an instant, 1-4 to 0-7 now. Kerry did go back in front one more time, O’Connor with another free, but Offaly’s dander was up now.
Mitchell and Cahill in dominant form, guys like Killian Sampson and Cathal King contributing also as they fashioned a four-point lead at the break, 1-11 to 0-10.
A solid platform from which to attack the game in the second half, while Kerry were having to deal with the departure from the fray of Maurice O’Connor to a hamstring injury.
Kerry did start the second half with a point from Mackessy to bring it back to a single-score proposition and again when Colin Walsh responded to a Killian Sampson point on 41 minutes, but that was as good as it got as the Faithful powered on.
Points from Cillian Kiely and Cahill presaging their second goal from Sampson, following a sweet assist by Dan Bourke. That left it 2-14 to 0-12. Game all but over.
By the end of that run of scores it was 2-20 to 0-12 and, while Kerry had a couple of late scores from the likes of Niall Mulcahy, David Woulfe and Colin Walsh, Offaly didn’t ever let up. Places very much up for grabs in the Joe Mac final now and players reacting accordingly.
Second-half substitute Oisín Kelly with the Faithful’s third goal on 63 minutes to all but complete the rout. Really impressive stuff from Johnny Kelly’s men, at least on a par with what Laois showed in Austin Stack Park a fortnight previous.
It promises to be a cracking final yet again this year.
Not that this will be of any consolation whatsoever to the Kingdom. It’s been a chastening enough couple of rounds for Stephen Molumphy’s men after the promise of the opening two fixtures.
As difficult as it might be to imagine right now, there are some positives to take from the campaign. Now, though, it’s just about licking wounds and preparing for next weekend’s dead rubber with Meath in Tralee.
OFFALY: Mark Troy, Ben Conneely, Ciarán Burke, Cathal King (0-1), Luke Watkins, Cillian Kiely (02), Ross Ravenhill, David King, Jason Sampson (0-2), Killian Sampson (1-2), Brian Duignan (0-3), Eoghan Cahill 1-8 (1-0 pen, 4f, 1 ‘65’), Dan Bourke, Charlie Mitchell (0-4), Eimhín Kelly (0-1). Subs: Sam Bourke for L Watkins, 46, Oisín Kelly (1-0) for D Bourke, 54, Dara Maher (0-1) for C King, 54, Jack Clancy for E Kelly, 62, Paul Cleary for K Sampson, 67 Temp: Adam Screeney for E Cahill, 36-41
KERRY: Louis Dee, Flor McCarthy, Evan Murphy, Eric Leen, Ronan Walsh (0-1), Darragh Shanahan, Kyle O’Connor, Dáithí Griffin, Colin Walsh (0-2, 1f), Killian Hayes (0-1), Michael Leane, Brandon Barrett, Gavin Dooley, Fionán Mackessy (0-1), Maurice O’Connor 0-8 (6f, 1 ‘65’). Subs: Dan Goggin for M O’Connor (inj), 33, David Woulfe (0-1) for B Barrett, 51, Tomás O’Connor D Shanahan, 54, Naill Mulcahy (0-1) for G Dooley, 54, Tom Doyle for K Hayes, 62 Temp: Bill Keane for E Murphy, 64-full-time
REFEREE: Niall Malone (Clare)