Kerry 2-16 Donegal 1-08, Fitzgerald Stadium
DONEGAL suffered a heavy defeat in this National League Division One encounter in Kerry – going down by 11 points as the hosts turned on the style.
In an often bad-tempered game, with several poor refereeing decisions which cost Donegal, the Kingdom came storming back after a good start by the visitors.
In fact Donegal had raced into a three point lead with Rory Kavanagh among the scorers.
But any hopes that Donegal were going to surge further ahead was soon dashed as Kerry woke up, found their stride – and lots of midfield ball through Paul Galvin – and raced quickly into the lead.
And they also found the net as Patrick Curtin fired home.
Kerry continued to dominate in the second half, although Michael Murphy fired home a goal and a point reduce the deficit but it wasn’t to be Donegal’s day unfortunately.
The 11 point margin at the end was probably unfair – but if Jim McGuinness’s men can learn from today’s game, the trip to Killarney might have been worthwhile.
Meanwhile Jim’s No2 Rory Gallagher is facing four weeks in the stands after picking up a suspension following last week’s clash with Cork in Ballybofey.
The Belleek native was originally banned for eight weeks but it was reduced to a month on appeal.
The ban follows an alleged verbal incident with the linesman during the first half of the match in Ballybofey, which Donegal won by 1-7 0-6.
KERRY : B Kealy; M Ó Sé, D Bohan, K Young; P Crowley (0-1), E Brosnan, B McGuire (0-1); A Maher (0-2), B Sheehan 1-7 (seven frees, 1-0 pen); P Galvin (0-1), Darran O’Sullivan, Declan O’Sullivan; BJ Keane (0-1), K Donaghy (0-2), P Curtin 1-1 (0-1 free). Subs : S Enright for D Bohan (inj h/t), A O’Mahony for M Ó Sé (61), S Scanlon for B Sheehan (65), D O’Callaghan for Declan O’Sullivan (65), K O’Leary for P Curtin (66).
DONEGAL : P Durcan; F McGlynn, N McGee, P McGrath; A Thompson (0-1), K Lacey, L McLoone; R Kavanagh (0-1), N Gallagher; M McHugh, R Bradley, E McGee; C McFadden, M Murphy (1-5, 0-3 frees, 1-0 pen), P McBrearty (0-1). Subs : D Walsh for L McLoone (h/t), M Boyle for R Bradley (h/t), C Toye for M McHugh (58)
Referee: S Doyle (Wexford)
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