4 August 2021 – With a place in a Northeast semi-final on the line, Kerry Boston GFC and the Connemara Gaels faced off for the second time this season. Coming off of two heartbreaking losses to end the regular season, Kerry entered the matchday looking to right the ship and end a string of stinging quarter final exits dating back to 2018.
From the opening throw-in, it was clear that the match would be tightly contested, with both sides looking to leave everything on the pitch to keep the season alive. The Gaels would strike first, after a Kerry turnover led to a fast break and an early point over the bar. Kerry quickly responded with a few penetrating attacks, with one resulting in a point from open play and several ending in frees due to the intense level of physicality. Midfielder Declan O’Sullivan and captain Tommy Farrell demonstrated their cool demeanor and accuracy to capitalize on the frees and secure an early Kerry lead.
The Gaels would not allow Kerry to build on that lead, however, and as rain began to fall, play became scrappy. When the Kerry defense failed to clear the line, the Gaels pounced and poked the ball past keeper Kevin Flynn and into the back of the net to bring the score level.
Play would slow a bit as both sides adjusted to the damp conditions, with neither side able to find a higher gear. Half forward Aaron Moore would break the stalemate with a determined run through the Gaels defense, capping it off with a delightful finish to put Kerry ahead once again. The cushion would not last, though, as a penalty awarded at the other end would be slotted into the net to keep the scoreline extremely tight.
Kerry would retake a slight edge heading into break, after some tidy link up play between brothers Tommy and James Farrell resulted in the latter powering a shot past the keeper and bringing the score to 2-7 (13 points) to 2-2 (8 points). During the play a Gaels defender was charged with a dangerous tackle and shown a black card, meaning Kerry would have a man advantage for 10 minutes to open the second half.
With the memory of early exits and recent losses looming large, Kerry came out of the break determined to make the most of the extra man. Stepping up the level of play on both ends of the pitch, Kerry turned defensive stops into quick counters resulting in two early goals. The first came on a penalty and was smashed home by forward Padraig Doyle, and the second came as the result of some clever passing and Moore following a rebound to notch his second of the game.
After the sin bin time expired, the Gaels launched a series of attacks to cut into the Kerry lead. Despite stifling defense from the likes of John Doherty and Mike Godley, the Gaels were successful in throwing some points over the bar and only some near misses and a couple of wide shots on goal prevented them from getting back on even footing with Kerry. A final late goal by Doyle on the other end would serve to secure Kerry a berth in a semi final, with an ending tally of 5-14 (29 points) to 2-6 (12 points).
Again, it should be noted that the final scoreline does not reflect the competitive atmosphere infused into the match from start to finish. Kerry were fortunate to capitalize on their chances, and the Gaels put far more pressure on them than the margin indicates. Had some of the breaks been more in the Gaels favor today there may have been a repeat of the last time these sides met in a quarter final, when Kerry were the ones sent home after an extra time thriller.
Manager Evan McDonagh, while pleased with the victory, tempered any celebrations with a stern reminder that the semi final against Donegal takes place in just a few days.
“The lads played well enough today and deserved the win,” said McDonagh. “However, Donegal is a tough side from the top down and we’ll need to put our best foot forward to be through to the Final.”
Kerry and Donegal will play their semi final on Saturday, August 7 at 5pm in Canton.
Man of the Match: Aaron Moore
Kerry Scoring
- Aaron Moore (2-3, 9 points)
- Padraig Doyle (2-1, 7 points)
- James Farrell (1-1, 4 points)
- Tommy Farrell (0-4, 4 points)
- Declan O’Sullivan (0-4, 4 points)
- Connor Stark (0-1, 1 point)
Kerry Boston GFC 