Kerry 1-14 Dublin 2-11
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| Dessie Farrell can't believe it after missing an open goal (© Inpho) |
By Noel O’Reilly
Two late goals hauled Dublin back from the dead to earn a hard-fought draw with All-Ireland champions Kerry in Thurles this afternoon.
Despite trailing for the majority of a pulsating encounter, Dublin finished with fire in their bellies and it took a majestic injury-time equaliser from substitute Maurice Fitzgerald to keep Kerry in the championship. The replay has been scheduled for Semple Stadium next Saturday.
It was a truly remarkable comeback from Dublin, triggered by the late introduction of Vinnie Murphy, who clawed their way back an eight point deficit ten minutes from the end to lead by a point in injury time.
Goals from Murphy and midfielder Damien Horan had taken Dublin to the brink of an unlikely win but Fitzgerald was to have the final say, pointing from a sideline ball 45 metres out, to leave the teams deadlocked at the final whistle.
Dublin, the wind at their backs, started the brighter of the two teams and kept Kerry pinned into their own half in the opening stages. But, while they enjoyed all the early possession, the Dubs were unable to convert the pressure into points and all they had to show for their early toil was a sorry collection of wides.
Kerry, on the other hand, were much more efficient in attack, making the most of their opportunities and striking with real accuracy. When Crowley got the first point of the game, albeit against the run of play, they were up, running and taking the game to the challengers.
With the Kingdom in the ascendancy, lording it over Dublin in all areas of the park, the pattern of the first half was set. Kerry’s eager forward line were looking dangerous every time the ball was played into them while Dublin looked bereft of ideas and confidence in front of goal.
Dara O’Cinneide, Mike Frank Russell and Johnny Crowley were all causing panic in the Dublin defence and it came as no real surprise when MacGearailt got the first goal of the game, tapping home after O’Cinneide had exploited a gaping hole behind the Dublin full-backs.
Kerry extended their lead and were cruising until an astonishing period of play around the half hour mark. First Dublin’s Colin Moran squandered an open goal, screwing the ball badly wide when an unguarded net beckoned.
A matter of minutes later, Dessie Farrell missed perhaps the easiest chance of a long and successful career. Seizing on a loose ball, yards from an open goal, Farrell was certain to score. But as the Dublin fans began to celebrate, the ace marksman inexplicably contrived to strike the crossbar and leave his side going into half-time five points adrift.
Kerry emerged from the break intent on killing off the tie and began turning the screw. O Cinneide’s free-taking punished any Dublin errors and their forwards continued to display an assured touch when kicking for points.
Dublin pushed forward sporadically but with Whelan largely anonymous in the middle of the park and Farrell rendered ineffective by the Kerry defence, led ably by Seamus Moynihan, a comeback seemed beyond them.
Then, with 15 minutes left Tommy Carr introduced veteran forward Vinnie Murphy to lift his tiring side and provide a much needed added option up front. And with only seven minutes on the clock, Murphy obliged with a well taken goal to peg back Kerry’s lead.
Sensing an unlikely comeback, Dublin poured forward, marching through the Kingdom, and further scores reduced the deficit to just two points. And with time running out Damien Homan punched a floated free-kick into the net to send his team into the lead.
All that was left was for Fitzgerald, a late substitute for Kerry, to tie the scores with virtually the last kick of the game and leave both teams with it all to do again next weekend.