Championship

Kerry defeat Limerick in a superb Munster Football Final

July 6th, 2010
by Weeshie Fogarty

It's an enduring memory and one that will remain with me for many a long day. The sight of that great footballing warrior from Limerick John Galvin rising high in the Kerry square fielding superbly over the heads of friend and foe as his side launched one last desperate attack in their efforts to snatch the equalizing goal in this thrilling Munster football final at Fitzgerald's Stadium last Sunday.  It all happened at the score board goal under the imposing shadow of St Finan's Hospital and we watched in awe as the mighty Galvin engulfed by six Kerry defenders attempted to burrow his way through to goal. It was not to be however and the Kerry backs highly disciplined, not giving away the penalty stood firm, toe to toe and prevented the Croom man from securing the much needed goal.  It was the last desperate throw of the dice for Mickey Ned's team and then when the referee awarded  a free seconds later we watched as eight Kerry men lined the goal. Stephen Lavin blasted for the net but really not even an angry wasp would have breached that Kerry goal line. Three points separated the sides as Kerry marched on to another Croke Park Championship appearance.

The myth and I must admit I have subscribed to this that the importance of winning provincial honors has been diluted since the back door system  was introduced proved the exact opposite last Sunday as both counties contributed to a wonderful battle to win the Munster crown. Now in my opinion the swirling very strong wind played a massive part in deciding this match. Limerick won the toss and played with that wind at their backs kicking points from near and far like there was no tomorrow. They jumped into a four points lead and stunned not only the Kerry supporters but I suspect their own loyal followers also.  It was dramatic stuff.  However and crucially for them the wheels came off their kicking ability and they missed some very easy chances coming up to the short whistle. These misses would prove crucial at the end.  Indeed let's not forget they had a goal disallowed for a square ball infringement before half time when a Kerry man and the goalie got their calls mixed up and the ball finished up in the back of the net.  I have often seen such decisions going the opposite way. And so three points ahead at the break would simply not be enough against Kerry and events directly from the re-start proved this.

The football played by Kerry for the first fifteen minutes of the second half was scintillating stuff.  With Mike McCarthy, and Thomas o Se driving fordward at all times and Michael Quirke now dominating midfield where Kerry had struggled  all through the first half we saw the champions kick an unbelievable 1-8 in eighteen minutes, this include the five minutes before the short whistle. Declan o Sullivan's three points from far out were for me reminiscent of the late Tadghie Lyne (0-4), and Paudie Sheehy (0-5) on the same ground against Cork away back  in 1955 when I attended my first Munster final . Donnacha Walsh who had a superb game chipped a lovely ground pass to Colm Cooper and when Gooch is one to one with the goalkeeper nine time out of ten he will raise the green flag. His finish on this occasion into the roof of the Limerick net was clinical. (He usually keeps the ball when goaling close to the ground). Kerry had turned a five point's deficit into a seven point lead. They had made full use of the wind and had kicked 1-10 with the wind slightly more than what Limerick had achieved in the first half. Playing with the elements demands special skills and it was here that Kerry showed their class, experience and composure under pressure.

We all thought that Limerick were dead and buried with ten minutes to go. Then more drama. Seamus Scanlon failed to collect a kick out and it was that man again John Galvin who capitalized and buried the ball past Brendan Kealy. The same player equalized and then the game was won and lost. Now history would repeat itself. In 2004 Liam Kerins saw his Limerick side fail to score from two late frees when Kerry were there for the taking. Failure to score from those two frees cost Limerick that Munster title. Now last Sunday we saw the visitors goalkeeper miss two chances from frees as he drove both wide. Was it the wind, was it nerves, was it massive pressure, or was it the heavy weight of history resting on his shoulders as he ran up to kick the ball. We will never know for sure. Remember he had kicked two great points from far out in the first half.  One hundred and fourteen years without a Munster title is a heavy burden to carry. Gooch, Thomas o Se and David Moran raise those precious whit flags in the closing minute to copper fasten victory for Jack o Connors side. They made it look so simple when in reality very few sides have the capabilities of responding under such circumstances as this panel of players who are attempting to contest six All ireland in a row.

Centre field continues to cause problems but as I pointed out here after the Cork win the side line generals are switching men around here when the occasion demands. This is their only option and it is working. Quite simply there is no dominating midfielder in the county at the moment however Michael Quirk appears to be the answer to that problem and the big man will be started with Seamus Scanlon I believe in the next outing. The goalkeepers job in my opinion and this was always drummed into me when I lined out between the posts is to marshal you defense. Call when it's your ball, call when it's the defenders ball and remember he who hesitates is lost. Brendan Kealy and his defenders will need to start getting their calls right or we will see some more scary moments around the Kerry goal mouth.  Once again the Kerry substitutions work superbly and each and every one of the five introduced contributed in their own way to victory and the selectors I believe have options in both defense and attack. . Too early yet to start speculating on the starting fifteen for the next outing, training will tell a lot. Paul Galvin will be a massive loss and I hope Thomas o Se will not pay dearly for his rash tackles which were completely out of character for this man, the greatest all round half back, including his scoring potential I have ever seen.   Little consolation to Mickey Ned and Limerick, but they were magnificent in defeat and John galvin was my man of the match. What a warrior. He must get at least an All Star award. Who can argue against this?

Fogra: A fitting minutes silence before the match to the late Denny o Shea from Camp who partnered John Dowling in the 1955 historic final win over the so called unbeatable Dublin machine. Denny also won two county championship medals with Kerins o Rahillys.



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