Shane Ryan says team’s ‘trajectory is upwards but we still have a good bit to go’ after win over Monaghan

KERRY goalkeeper Shane Ryan believes that the team performance against Monaghan at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday, especially in the first half, shows that the Munster champions are kicking into gear after the first round of the All-Ireland SFC group stage.

The Rathmore man, recalled to the starting line-up after Shane Murphy got the nod in the provincial final, stressed that the players were fully aware of losing to Mayo in their Killarney fortress exactly one year ago, and didn’t want something similar to happen again.

“I’ve probably mixed feelings really. There were patches of the game where we did very well. We were slick, our scoring efficiency was good, played a lot of good football. We played on our terms for a lot of the game,” he said.

“Then there were parts of the game that we would be disappointed with. There were a couple of handling errors there in the second half, and a couple of unforced turnovers, so there is plenty to work on.

“It was a good win, and any time that you win at home in a big championship game is good, because we saw last year here with Mayo. That was a different story for us, and we had to go and lick our wounds. Today we’re out of here with a ten-point win, and we’ll move on to the next game.

“We were certainly aware of it, you’re always comparing seasons, and where you’re at in a particular season. Last year we felt that we had a false sense of security coming into the Mayo game, and we got a rude awakening.

“We were very much aware that we wanted to correct the areas [of concern] that we had in the league, and from the Cork and Clare games, and rectify those areas. We did to a large extent, for long periods in the game. Our trajectory is upwards at the moment, and we still have a good bit to go.”

Naturally pleased to be back in the no.1 jersey, Ryan believes that competition for places throughout the squad can only be good for the overall collective and, despite conceding a goal in the second half, the Kingdom defence can be reasonably satisfied with their outing.

“Since I’ve been involved with Kerry, the other goalkeepers are always going to test you in training, and I think that’s healthy as well. It means you have to perform in training, you can’t take anything for granted,” he added.

“If you’re playing well in training, that normally transfers to the games. It’s great for Shane to be pushing me, and vice-versa. We’ve a good relationship as well, we work well together, it’s healthy for both of us.

“We make no bones about it, it’s a thing that we’re always trying to focus on and it’s an area that the best teams in the country, and the teams that win the All-Ireland, are probably the most adept defensively.

“Obviously they have it up the other side too, but if you don’t concede cheap scores, if you don’t let teams exploit you easily, and you’re hard to beat, that’s the foundation for any team, regardless of the sport. That’s something that we’re hopefully continuing to work on, and continually trying to improve on.

“As you say, two points [conceded] in 35 minutes of football, regardless of who you’re playing, let alone Monaghan, who have been a mainstay in the senior championship with years and years, that’s a good sign that we’re probably going in the right direction. Hopefully, we can keep that going.

“Of course you’re annoyed to concede a goal, every time you concede a goal, as a goalkeeper, it’s frustrating. Look, like anything, you’ll have to look back on it, and it’s an area we have to focus on as well, and just tidy up those small areas. The ball was dropping just under the crossbar.”

After the Odhran Lynch experience for Derry against Donegal in the Ulster championship, and coming up against such a fine exponent as Monaghan’s Rory Beggan in the so-called ‘sweeper keeper’ role, Ryan was asked about the growing trend in custodians being seen well out the field.

“It’s kind of a needs-must thing. It depends on what the other team present in front of you as well. If one of my teammates are under pressure, and nobody is in behind to receive the ball, and I’m the only one there, I’m not going to leave them hung out to dry.

“We obviously have plenty of players outfield in Kerry who are well adept at the skills of the game, and great athletes, so I would like to leave them at it as much as I can. If I can chip in, and if I have to chip in and help out, I am comfortable in doing so.

“Is it my first option? Maybe not, but sometimes you feel that you have to come out, if the team or if a player is under pressure, I have to help them out. So I have to do it if I’m needed.”

Ryan’s Rathmore club-mate, Paul Murphy, continued his ultra-consistent form in 2024, notching two points as well, along with his dependability at the back. With Paul Geaney finishing with 0-5 from play, the goalkeeper is proud of the longevity of the duo.

“It’s a testament to both of them the number of years that they’ve played senior football with Kerry, to the high standards they hold themselves, and to the standards they have achieved throughout the years. They would be similar enough characters, they are serious competitors, and very good leaders.

“More importantly, they are great team-mates. By no means would they be selfish about their position on the team, they would always be cognisant of helping fellas around them, especially the young fellas as well.

“Paul [Murphy] would have started playing with Kerry when I was a minor in 2014, he won his first senior All-Ireland that year when I won the minor All-Ireland.

“Paul is a fella I would have looked up to, in the club and in the county. In fairness to him, he’s been a very consistent performer for Kerry, and a very reliable fella. Likewise with Paul Geaney.”

ALL-IRELAND SFC GROUP 4, ROUND 1

Kerry 0-24 Monaghan 1-11

THE All-Ireland SFC Group Phase got up and running in Killarney on Saturday afternoon only for it to fall flat on its face within 15 or so minutes. Or, more to the point, Monaghan fell flat on their faces, never raising as much as a canter, not to mind a gallop, as Kerry sauntered to what may well be their easiest win of the entire year.

Fifteen minutes is what it took for the Kingdom to ease into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead, a gap that had more than doubled to 13 points, 0-15 to 0-2, at half time. Suffice to say, there isn’t much more telling on this poor attempt at an All-Ireland Championship match, though there is no fault attached to Kerry in that.

The home side were tuned in, sharp, cohesive, fit, strong, together, accurate – alive: Monaghan were none of those things.

It is six weeks since Monaghan last played competitively – an Ulster Preliminary Round loss to Cavan – and if a little rustiness might have been acceptable and excusable, there could be no accounting for how bad the visitors were here.

Paudie Clifford pointed Kerry into the lead 12 seconds in, but somewhat remarkably – given what was to come – Monaghan were back on terms a little over a minute later when Micheal McCarville played a long ball in for his midfield partner to Gary Mohan to claim a mark, which he converted.

Two minutes later Conor McCarthy popped a long ball over the Kerry defence for Karl O’Connell to gather and bear down on goal, but Shane Ryan was out and down smartly to smother the Monaghan’s wing back’s low shot.

It was an early warning shot across Kerry’s bow, and one which they took heed of. It would be another 15 minutes until Monaghan would score again – even really threaten to score – as Kerry went into point-kicking overdrive.

David Clifford converted a couple of frees, Paul Geaney and Tony Brosnan scored from the attack, Paul Murphy and Tom O’Sullivan (2) came up from the defence to score, and by the time Micheal Bannigan kicked Monaghan’s second point in the 19th minute they were 0-9 to 0-2 behind.

It was more of the same in the second quarter with the Clifford brothers, Brosnan, Murphy, Sean O’Shea and Dara Moynihan on target to leave Kerry with that unassailable 13-point lead at half time.

David Clifford’s point extended the Kerry lead early in the second half, and while Monaghan hit back with a couple of scores from sub Andrew Woods from a mark, and Conor McCarthy, it was all simply a case of seeing the clock out – all 30 minutes of it still to run.

Geaney tapped over four points – he rewarded his first Championship start of the year with five points from play – , Tom O’Sullivan came forward for his third score, and Kerry were 0-21 to 0-6 ahead when Mohan scored the game’s only goal. Conor McCarthy went for a point, the ball dropped short, Shane Ryan palmed it down from over the crossbar and Mohan lashed the ball back past the goalkeeper. Small consolation.

Monaghan mined another couple of scores, but Sean O’Shea embellished his performance with three late scores, and it all petered out to the inevitable win everyone expected Kerry would get. The paucity of the Monaghan challenge might have caught one or two by surprise, but other than that it was all fairly predictable stuff.

KERRY: Shane Ryan, Paul Murphy 0-2, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan 0-3, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White, Diarmuid O’Connor, Joe O’Connor, Tony Brosnan 0-2, Paudie Clifford 0-2, Dara Moynihan 0-1, David Clifford 0-5 (3f), Seán O’Shea 0-4 (3f), Paul Geaney 0-5. Subs: Cillian Burke for Moynihan (50), Barry Dan O’Sullivan for J O’Connor (50), Armin Heinrich for Ó Beaglaoich (55), Stephen O’Brien for Brosnan (55), Darragh Roche for Geaney (66)

MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan 0-1 (f), Ryan Wylie, Barry McBennett, Ryan O’Toole 0-1, Karl O’Connell, Killian Lavelle, Conor McCarthy 0-1, Gary Mohan 1-1 (01m), Micheal McCarville, Stephen O’Hanlon 0-1, Micheal Bannigan 0-2, Michael Hamill, Jason Irwin, Sean Jones, Conor McManus 0-1 (f). Subs: Dessie Ward 0-1 for McCareville (ht), Andrew Woods 0-1 (m) for Jones (ht), Ciaran McNulty for McBennett (46), Joel Wilson 0-1 (m) for O’Connell (50), Thomas McPhillips for Ward (53).