Tony Leen - Kerry ratings Shane Ryan (Rathmore) The life and strife of a keeper. Won’t be remembered for a super 30th minute save from Andrew Murnin, but for the fatal spill that gave Armagh their goal and route back into the semi-final. A bit stuttering on restarts too.
5 Paul Murphy (Rathmore) You’d have got long odds on the Rathmore man being Kerry’s sole goalscorer. Put in an energetic shift, missed a late chance at a point that he snatched at – he wasn’t alone in that respect. Held Conaty and/or Grugan well.
6.5 Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue) Cramped up and missed one of the key chances for Kerry in extra time – the episodes are probably linked. Eventually had to retire with same.
For the most part, handled Andrew Murnin well in the round. 6 Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle) Like his keeper, may be remembered more for the goal chances he blew wide (or was it blocked?) at the beginning of the second half than his defensive play – though Conor Turbitt did kick a couple of scores from play. Armagh had him well clocked too offensively.
6 Briain O Beaglaoich (Gaeltacht) Got turned over more than once, a noteworthy trait of the winners that is inextricably linked to the involvement of Kieran Donaghy. Like his colleagues, moved seamlessly through the gears in the first period, but his influence waned considerably after the break. 6 Tadhg Morley (Templeoe) Played all 90 minutes, which was remarkable, but Armagh’s ability to score from distance left him occasionally between the devil and the deep blue sea - adrift between pressing on and maintaining that defensive shield.
Another victim of Armagh’s quick-hands in the turnover ledger. 5 Gavin White (Dr Crokes) Putting him on Rian O’Neill looked to be paying handsome dividends for the first 40 minutes, but as the Crossmaglen man’s influence grew, White struggled to wrest back any momentum. That was a major plus in McGeeney’s column.
6 Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil) Arguably Kerry’s best player on the day. He may have only kicked a point, but he rescued the goal from the endline, and was a mobile influence throughout the piece. 7.
5 Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks) Seized upon at least two turnovers when Kerry’s defence was on top and wrapping up the Armagh offence in the first 35. Probably should have goaled himself after the break but handed the chance onto Tom O’Sullivan. 6 Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes) One could cut and paste for most of the Kerry attack: lively early doors but once Armagh had reeled in the Kerry goal on 47 minutes, the ciotog struggled to break lines and find space to impact.
Kicked 0-1. 6 Paudie Clifford (Fossa) Arguably the skipper’s most influential afternoon since the Championship got serious, though even he was guilty of poor turnovers at a critical stage of proceedings. Finished with three points, including what appeared a crucial late one.
7 Dara Moynihan (Spa) Had the boost of a nice early score, and was diligent and effective in his duties out of possession but didn’t have the desired impact on the semi-final. It’s been that sort of campaign for the Spa man. 6 David Clifford (Fossa) The season ends frustratingly once more for the twice footballer of the year – snatching at hurried chances when under pressure and feeling that he had to be the one to produce a rabbit from the hat.
One point from play and one mark is not the sort of return that will get Kerry to the last weekend in July. For all the spread of scores this campaign, Kerry have not got their main man firing. 6 Sean O’Shea (Kenmare) As above.
Kicked the first score of the game, but it has been a tepid championship at best for one of the game’s top operators. Where heretofore he’s always found that half a metre, that hasn’t been the case this summer. Could need a break.
6 Paul Geaney (Dingle) The sense was that it was a refreshed Dingle marksman this summer when he returned from a lay-off, but this semi-final was a struggle for Geaney, sprinkled too liberally with errors around the ball. Called ashore 12 minutes after the break. 5 Subs Again Cillian Burke (7) and Dylan Geaney (6.
5) made impacts on the scoreboard, the former carrying the fight late to the Armagh men. Killian Spillane missed his one sight on goal, while the likes of Graham O’Sullivan (6) , Barry Dan O’Sullivan (6) and the O’Briens hardly had enough time to bend the game to their will. Eoghan Cormican - Armagh ratings Blaine Hughes Restarts were composed and assured.
Even the long ones he was forced into more often than not found an orange geansaí, particularly in extra-time when Kerry applied an aggressive press. 8 Paddy Burns Won his duel with Paul Geaney, the latter whipped on 49 minutes. Found his replacement, Killian Spillane, more difficult to tie down.
7 Aaron McKay His brief was to sweep in front of Barry McCambridge and David Clifford, offering support and protection to the former. Made a fine catch in the early minutes. Clifford’s mark on 25 minutes spoke of McKay failing in his duty.
It proved a once-off. 7 Peter McGrane Loosely tracked Kerry linkman Paudie Clifford. The older Clifford brother was not at all influential in the opening half, although McGrane can’t claim much of the credit for that.
Provided the Orchard County’s opening score. Rough and rash tackle on Geaney in first half stoppages resulted in a converted Seán O’Shea free and a yellow card for McGrane. How much did that yellow influence his half-time withdrawal? 6 Barry McCambridge Handed the David Clifford brief.
Acquitted himself as well as anyone who has held this brief previously. Sure, Clifford converted a 25th minute mark, but McCambridge had four minutes earlier turned over the footballer of the year in a passage of play that ended with a Rian O'Neill white flag. Palmed the goal that brought Armagh roaring back into this contest.
Outscored Clifford from open play. A first for those tasked with standing beside the Fossa talent? 8 Tiernan Kelly Will be disappointed with how some of Kerry’s first half points came through his central channel. Executed a lifting turnover around the hour mark only for Aiden Nugent to squander possession back to the opposition.
Didn’t reappear for extra-time. 6 Aidan Forker Centrally involved, but not always productive. Was harshly done for steps in the eighth minute, a turnover that led to Dara Moynihan putting Kerry 0-4 to 0-2 in front.
Five minutes later, he fouled Tony Brosnan for a Clifford converted free. His 25th minute half point attempt/half delivery came to nought. In fact, it came to end up as a Kerry point.
Somewhat redeemed himself with a third quarter brace. Attempt for a third white flag went wide. Subbed off on 60.
6 Niall Grimley Armagh’s most effective opening half performer. Threw over a pair and was fouled off the ball by Joe O’Connor, a free that Turbitt converted. Won a Shane Ryan kick-out break in extra-time, a passage that concluded with Conor Turbitt doubling their advantage.
8 Ben Crealey Was turned over for a fifth minute Paudie Clifford point. Also kicked a wide. Broke the kick-out for Forker’s 43rd minute point.
Challenged Shane Ryan for the mistake that led to McCambridge’s goal. Benched shortly after. 7 Oisín Conaty We counted three first half shots from Conaty.
One blocked, one skewed out towards the Cusack Stand, and one wide. His race concluded on 49 minutes. 5 Rian O'Neill Up and down opening half.
Was fouled for a 19th minute free that resulted in a Niall Grimley point. Then landed a white flag of his own two minutes later. Against that, he twice had frees given against him, the first for travelling, the second for charging.
The first of those ended with a Seán O’Shea point. His second period went up and up. Two beautiful points, the second from distance on 66 minutes put Armagh in front for the first time.
Bested Gavin White, that never easy. 9 Joe McElroy Not a great deal of involvement. Intercepted a Kerry pass inside his own 20-metre line on 57 minutes.
Andrew Murnin’s failure to hold onto possession further up the field meant it was not capitalised on. 6 Rory Grugan Popped up everywhere. Threaded everything.
Epitomised by his block on a Paudie Clifford point attempt towards the end of the 70 minutes. So, so busy in the middle third throughout. Won a first-half turnover and kick-out.
That neither produced a score, he was blameless for. Kicked a 44th minute free and provided the assist for Stefan Campbell’s levelling score on 65 minutes. Exhausted and empty when removed in the second period of extra-time.
9 Andrew Murnin Peripheral and anonymous. On two separate occasions in the second period, he turned over the ball. Fortunate to survive as late as the 62nd minute.
5 Conor Turbitt Armagh’s second most influential forward after O’Neill. Kicked a pair of first-half frees, one of which he won himself. Added a third in the second period.
The 10 minutes rest he got from the 70th to the 80th minute recharged the batteries to supreme effect. Doubled their advantage at the end of the first period of extra-time, then landed the insurance score at the end of the second period of extra-time. In between, he came out to midfield to fetch a Blaine Hughes restart.
8 Subs Stepfan Campbell (8) kicked two points and was fouled for a Turbitt free. Two more subs Ross McQuillan (7) and Jarly Óg Burns (7) also wrote their names onto the scoresheet. Burns was a commanding presence around midfield in extra-time, fetching kick-outs and settling their play when in possession.
He nudged them back in front at the start of extra-time. McQuillan too won a Hughes restart. Oisín O’Neill (6) , Aidan Nugent (6) , and Shane McPartlan (6) all registered wides, two in the case of O’Neill.
Another replacement Jason Duffy (6) turned over Cillian Burke, the dispossession was not rewarded as Oisín O’Neill was off target..
