v

Details

Date Time Competition Season
3 April 2022 4:00 pm NFL Division 1 2022

Match Report

Three in-a-row for Kerry in Division 1 Final

Kerry are the 2022 Division One Allianz Football League winners, after a 3-19 to 0-13 win over Mayo in Croke Park this afternoon, completing a three-in-a-row for Jack O’Connor's men.

David Clifford stole the show again, his 1-6 tally crucial to the Kerry attack, but a goal from Gavin White in the first half the catalyst to their 15-point victory.

Mayo falling at the final hurdle to their old foe, a positive for them sees Cillian O’Connor return and get minutes in his legs before the Championship kicks off.

Kerry controlled the opening half in headquarters, taking a 1-10 to 0-7 lead in the break, David Clifford again impressing with four points in the half but Gavin Whites goal after 25 minutes was crucial for the Kingdom.

It was a tight affair early on Michael Plunkett kicking Mayo ahead inside the opening minute, before Clifford levelled for Kerry. Stephen O’Brien and Matthew Raune added scores before Adrian Spillane kicked Kerry a point ahead after nine minutes.

The Clifford brothers made it 0-5 to 0-2 after 16 minutes, with James Carr getting Mayo’s first score after 13 minutes to reduce the gap. Kerry added two points to Mayo’s one but then White struck the net after Paul Geaney had his shot saved by Rory Byrne. Kerry leading 1-7 to 0-4.

David Clifford pushed Kerry ahead by seven points, but three quick Mayo points had the lead down to four with 32 minutes elapsed. Another Clifford score combined with a wonderful sideline free by Shane Ryan pushed the lead to six at the interval.

The Kingdom looked in control for the majority of the contest, continuing their performance into the second half as Clifford was again instrumental, kicking three more points before hitting the net after 66 minutes, Jason Foley also hit the net late on, a great curtain raiser for their Munster championship campaign.

Plunkett again had the opening score of the contest after the restart, but two quick Kerry points had the opening score cancelled out but O’Donoghue pulled one back for Mayo shortly after. Geaney and Dara Moynihan both added further points to lead 1-14 to 0-10 after 49 minutes.

Diarmuid O’Connor saw a black card after 52 minutes, a man advantage for Mayo but they failed to capitalise on the chance, O’Dongohue however kicked the resulting free to reduce the lead. 

Despite having 14 men on the field, the Kingdom hit a purple patch midway through the half, hitting four unanswered points before the hour mark to stretch the lead to 1-18 to 0-11. Clifford hit the net after 66 minutes with a beautiful side foot effort high into the net, the goal a killer late blow for Mayo.

Geaney added his fifth point just before we went into added time, but Mayo managed two late consolation scores, O’Connor back to send over a trademark free before O’Donoghue added his fifth score of the afternoon.

The Kerry attack was again a vital component in their performance, but their defence was also composed to clear the danger, and also add scores with full back Jason Foley finding the net after 74 minutes, joining fellow back White amongst the goals.

Kerry

1Shane Ryan Goalkeeper 38'
2Graham O’Sullivan Defender
3Jason Foley Defender 74'
4Tom O’Sullivan Defender
5Gavin White 23 Defender 25'
6Tadhg Morley Defender
7Brian Ó Beaglaíoch Defender 75'
8Diarmuid O’Connor Midfielder 52'
9Jack Barry 20 Midfielder 20'
45'
10Dara Moynihan 19 Forward 49'
11Paudie Clifford Forward 16', 42'
12Adrian Spillane 21 Midfielder 9', 57'
13Stephen O’Brien 17 Forward 4'
14David Clifford Forward 66'
2', 14', 29', 37', 52', 59'
15Paul Geaney Forward 18', 38', 47', 55', 69'
16Shane Murphy Goalkeeper
17Tony Brosnan 13 Forward
18Dylan Casey Defender
19Jack Savage 10 Forward
20Joe O’Connor 9 Midfielder
21Micheál Burns 12 Forward
22Killian Spillane Forward
23Gavin Crowley 5 Defender
24Pa Warren Defender
25Seán O’Shea Forward
26David Moran Midfielder

Mayo

1Rory Byrne Goalkeeper
2Lee Keegan Defender
3Stephen Coen Defender
4Padraig O’Hora Defender
5Michael Plunkett Defender 1', 37'
18Rory Brickeneden Defender
7Enda Hession Defender
8Jordan Flynn 21 Midfielder
9Matthew Ruane Midfielder 5', 19'
10Conor Loftus Forward 32'
11Aidan O’Shea Forward
12Jack Carney 20 Forward
13James Carr 26 Forward 18', 31'
14Jason Doherty 25 Forward
15Ryan O’Donoghue Forward 30', 43', 53', 70', 48'
16Colm Reape Goalkeeper
17Donnacha McHugh Defender
6Paul Towey Forward
19Conor McStay Forward
20Kevin McLoughlin 12 Forward
21Conor O’Shea 8 Midfielder
22Darren Coen Forward
23Darren McHale Forward
24Fergal Boland Forward
25Aiden Orme 14 Forward
26Cillian O’Connor 13 Forward 70'
  • 75'

    Full Time here as Kerry complete their three in a row and are 2022 league champions, a 15 point winning margin seeing them victorious in the end

  • 75'

    Brian Ó Beaglaíoch in the notebook

  • 74'

    THE KINGDOM HIT AGAIN, Jason Foley an unlikely scorer taps into an empty net for their third goal

  • 70'

    O Donoghue adds another free

  • 70'

    O Connor marks his return with a point from free

  • 69'

    Geaney hits another point

  • 66'

    Double sub for Kerry as Jack Savage and Joe o Connor comes in for Jack Barry and Dara Moynihan

  • 66'

    KERRY HIT THE NET AGAIN, David Clifford with a beautiful side foot strike to the roof of the goal

  • 65'

    Michael Burns gets a card after two minutes on the field

  • 63'

    Michael Burns comes in for Adrian Spillane for Kerry

  • 59'

    All the way of Kerry David Clifford again four on the bounce for Kerry

  • 57'

    Geaney with another quick score

  • 56'

    HE IS BACK, Cillian o Connor in for James Carr

  • 55'

    Spillane with his second for Kerry

  • 53'

    David Clifford with another sensational point

  • 52'

    Crowley back in for White

  • 52'

    O Donoghue adds the resulting free

  • 52'

    Black card for Diarmuid O Connor

  • 49'

    Tony Brosnan in for Stephen O'Brien

  • 49'

    Dara Moynihan adds to the scoresheet for Kerry

  • 47'

    Geaney points for Kerry but O:Donoghue replies to cancel out the score

  • 46'

    Second Mayo sub as Conor O:Shea replaces Jordan Flynn

  • 46'

    An exchange of words has David Clifford and Padraig O'Hora in the notebook

  • 45'

    Jack Barry into the notebook

  • 43'

    Not the easiest day at the office for Ryan O'Donoghue but he adds his second from a close range free

  • 42'

    Paudie Clifford points a 45 to extend the Kingdoms lead

  • 38'

    Paul Geaney taps a short range free for the opening Kerry score of the half

  • 37'

    As he did in the first half Michael Plunkett kicks the opening score in the second

  • 36'

    half Time sub for Mayo Kevin McLoughlin replaces Jack Carney

  • 36'

    The second half throws in

  • 38'

    Shane Ryan kicks a late free to put Kerry 1-10 to 0-07 ahead as we go into the half time break

  • 37'

    David Clifford has Kerry back on the board just before the interval

  • 32'

    Loftus fists the ball over the bar to make the Kerry lead four points

  • 31'

    Gavin White returns for Kerry

  • 31'

    Paudie Clifford has another goal chance but again straight at the keeper

  • 31'

    James Carr kicks the second Mayo point in a row

  • 30'

    Ryan O'Donoghue adds a point to reduce the deficit

  • 29'

    David Clifford kicks the third Kerry score in a matter of minutes, an eight point lead

  • 28'

    Gavin Crowley enters for Kerry after Gavin White takes a blow to the head after his goal

  • 25'

    GOALLLL FOR KERRY, Gavin White has the ball in the net

  • 20'

    Jack Barry aims for goal but Byrne saves but it goes over for a point

  • 19'

    Ruane gets his second point of the afternoon

  • 18'

    Paul Geaney cancels out Carr's point with a lovely strike

  • 18'

    After a string of wides James Carr gets Mayo back on the scoreboard

  • 16'

    Paudie Clifford the next Kerry player to raise the white flag, his point goes over from the finger tips of Rory Byrne in the Mayo goal

  • 14'

    David Clifford taps over a close range free to make it a two point game

  • 9'

    Adrian Spillane puts Kerry back into a one point lead, a very open game here

  • 5'

    Matthew Ruane draws Mayo level with a great point

  • 4'

    Stephen O'Brien kicks Kerry into the lead

  • 2'

    Who else but David Clifford to level

  • 1'

    Michael Plunkett kicks the opening score for Mayo after a minute

  • 1'

    Throw in here in Croke Park

  • Kerry line out as per team sheet, while Mayo make changes as Rory Brickenden replaces Oisin Mullen at 6, Paul Towey comes in at 18, while Conor McStay comes in for 19 Eoghan Mclaughlin

  • The rumours out west are true, Cillian O'Connor is back for Mayo and named on the bench but a late change could be interesting, on the hunt for their first league title since 2019, Mayo will have to vanquish the team they overcame in that final but have failed to beat them since that faithful day

  • Kerry are looking for three in a row this afternoon, having shared the title last year with Dublin, Dara Moynihan returns to their starting XV, Sean O'Shea is named on the bench having been out for a few weeks, while David Moran is also back having spent time on the treatment table

  • Just an hour to throw in here at Croke Park, conditions are perfect here and no indication to say the teams will make changes before throw in

  • You are very welcome to our coverage of the Allianz League Division 1 Football Final, with old foes Kerry and Mayo going head to head yet again, my name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will bring you all of the action

Past Meetings

(Round 5)
1-12 0-14
NFL Division 1
Fitzgerald Stadium

Ground

Croke Park
Croke Park, Jones's Road, Dublin, D01 WY49, Ireland

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.