Allianz National Football League: Kerry 1-16 Donegal 0-23 (Fitzpatrick Stadium, Killarney)
Donegal made it two from two in their rescheduled Allianz National Football League opener in Killarney against Kerry.
The game started off in fighting fashion, with both sides coming out of the blocks shooting but it wasn’t until the sixth minute that the game got it’s first score.
Ryan McHugh’s two-point effort got the game up and running and the visitors shot into an early four-point lead.
The Geaney cousins, Conor and Dylan, along with Seán O’Shea ended up drawing the sides level again at five points apiece after 22 minutes.
By the half-time hooter, Donegal held a four-point lead, thanks in part to early-sub Patrick McBrearty’s two-point effort along with Ryan McHugh, Conor O’Donnell, Eoghan Bán Gallagher and Oisin Gallen.
In the second half, Kerry hit a purple patch and were able to pull it back to a one-point game early on before Oisin Gallen (Two-pointer) and Ciaran Moore added scores for Donegal in a reaction.
The Ulster side then expanded the lead to six points before long just for Kerry to keep themselves at arm’s length with three points separating the sides before
Peadar Mogan raised a white flag for Donegal with nine minutes left.
The game got interesting then with Diarmuid O’Connor scoring a goal for Kerry to make it a one-point game with minutes left.
A flurry of late scores from both sides made it a two-point win in the end at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Jim McGuinness' team started off with a tight win in Ballybofey against Dublin with Daire Ó Baoill starting for Tir Chonnaill.
Last year’s Ulster champions were without returning talisman Michael Murphy for their home win and were again without him for this trip as well, with the Glenswilly man needing more time to get up to speed with his teammates.
The squad was largely unchanged from last time out against Dublin with Caolan McGonigle starting out on the bench again before a late change put McGonigle in the starting 15.
What to know:
- Donegal’s days of deference to Kerry are long dead
- Donegal All-Ireland winner: GAA should be paying county players
- Kerry v Donegal: Match details, throw-in time and how to watch as Jim McGuinness eyes Kingdom upset
Kerry were looking to kick on from last week’s late scoring flourish to win against Derry in Celtic Park, with Jim McGuinness in attendance at that game, scouting ahead of this game.
The Kingdom scored two late goals through substitutes Donal O’Sullivan and Paul Geaney to seal a three-point win over the Oak Leafers.
Follow the live updates of scores as they went over and in.
