Donegal were humbled by a quality Kerry side who used the breeze in the first half at the Fitzgerald Stadium well to their advantage to win comfortably.
Kerry 1-13 Donegal 0-7
Declan Bonner’s side hadn’t a single shot in the first half against the strong wind as their 2 points came from fists over the bar to trail 0-9 to 0-2 at half time.
Seán O’Shea was the main man with 7 points while David Clifford came off the bench to score 1-1 as Shaun Patton slipped and let the Kerry mans weak shot go into the net.
Seán O’Shea got the scoring underway at Fitzgerald Stadium and Killian Spillane quickly added to the hosts scoreline.
Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Shane O’Donnell got Donegal level with point from play but another two from O’Shea, the first being a free, gave Kerry their two point lead again before a brilliant point from Dan O’Donoghue gave Kerry a 3 point lead after 20 minutes.
Paul Geaney from play and another O’Shea free continued Kerry’s dominance.
A quick counter by Paudie Clifford gave Kerry a 6 point advantage at the half hour mark.
Kerry went into the half-time comfortable at 0-9 to 0-2 up as Spillane pointed again with Donegal not taking a single shot for a point in the first half.
Kerry nearly had a goal straight away in the second half but O’Shea hit the post.
A Shaun Patton kick went the whole way to Shane Ryan in the opposition goal, proving how strong the wind was.
Shane O’Donnell got the first score 11 minutes into the second half and Donegal’s first score in 35 minutes as Donegal looked to make a comeback.
However, a blunder by Shaun Patton as he slipped when trying to save gave substitute David Clifford a goal from a very tame shot.
O’Shea got another point with a slight goal chance and Conor O’Donnell scored another point from play and Patrick McBrearty got another for Donegal.
Conor O’Donnell again pointed as Donegal tried to make some sort of a comeback while Kerry hit the bar through Clifford.
Donegal should’ve had a goal as Ryan McHugh went through on goal.
The Kilcar man could’ve shot himself but was unselfish as he passed to clubman McBrearty but the pass was too heavy.
McBrearty got Donegal’s final score of the game
O’Shea got 2 more points and Clifford got his second score of the game as The kingdom saw the game out well to win 1-13 to 0-07
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Caolan Ward, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher (0-01), Ryan McHugh, Paul Brennan, Odhran McFadden Ferry; Jason McGee, Ciaran Thompson, Peadar Mogan, Shane O’Donnell (0-02), Rory O’Donnell, Patrick McBrearty (0-2,1f), Hugh McFadden, Conor O’Donnell (0-02).
Subs: Stephen McMenamin for Paul Brennan (40 mins), Niall O’Donnell for Rory O’Donnell (43 mins), Oisin Gallen for Hugh McFadden (50 mins), Daire O’Baoill for Shane O’Donnell (67 mins) Ethan O’Donnell for Odhran McFadden Ferry.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Dan O’Donoghue (0-01), Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan, Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Brian Ó’Beaglaíoch, Diarmuid O’connor, Jack Barry; Adrian Spillane, Seán O’Shea (0-7,2f), Dara Moynihan, Paudie Clifford (0-01), Paul Geaney (0-01), Killian Spillane (0-02).
Subs: David Clifford (1-01) for Killian Spillane (44 mins), Stephen O’Brien for Adrian Spillane (54 mins), Tony Brosnan for Paul Geaney (58 mins), Greg Horan for Jack Barry (67 mins)
