Ross Wherity in action for Donegal against Kerry today
DONEGAL 1-12, KERRY 0-06 DONEGAL weren’t at their best here in Ballybofey today – but they were too good for a poor Kerry side in this Division One clash.
And the visitors task after trailing by five points at half-time was made much harder after Kerry’s Tomás Ó Sé was sent off by referee Derek Fahy in the 42nd minute for kicking out at Ryan McHugh.
Donegal dominated proceedings in the first half, storming into an early lead.
Michael Murphy fired home a penalty after just six minutes, making up for the one he missed against Tyrone in Omagh a week ago.
Murphy also fired over a point, with scores from McBrearty and McFadden.
Donegal should have had a second penalty, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Kerry did managed three points, against the run of play in the first half with Brosnan one of the few players showing any sort of form.
Leo McLoone and Neil Gallagher joined Murphy in adding some excellent scores early in the second half to push Donegal 1-08 to 0-03 ahead before Rory Kavanagh pointed instead of going for goal to extend the lead to nine points.
It was the 18th minute of the second half before Kerry could score again, Darren O’Sullivan with the point.
Michael Murphy added his third point of the day from a free after being hauled to the ground to extend the lead again to 1-10 to 0-04 before adding his fourth a couple of minutes later to put Donegal ten points ahead.
Matthew Smyth joined the fray for Donegal, replacing Rory Kavanagh as Jim McGuinness took advantage of Donegal’s superiority.
Kieran O’Leary was then denied a goal after a superb save by Paul Durcan before Johnny Buckley finally scored Kerry’s fifth point to reduce the deficit.
And Durcan was the hero against five minutes from the end when he pulled off a fantastic save from a penalty.
Ciaran Donaghey was pulled down in the box but Durcan denied O’Leary again; this time from the spot.
Buckley hit a point soon after – only for Murphy to score again to take his tally to 1-05.
It was a decent display from Donegal against an under-strength Kerry team.
Donegal: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eamonn McGee; Anthony Thompson, Frank McGlynn, Ryan McHugh; Rory Kavanagh (0-01) Neil Gallagher (0-01); Ross Wherity, Leo McLoone (0-02), Ryan Bradley (0-01); Patrick McBrearty (0-01), Michael Murphy (1-05, 1-00 pen, 0-02f), Colm McFadden (0-01, 0-01f).
Subs used: Martin McElhinney for Wherity (53 mins), Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy for McBrearty (55), Matthew Smyth for Kavanagh (60); Gary McFadden for Gallagher (65).
Kerry: Brendan Kealy; Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony, Shane McEnright; Tomás Ó Sé (0-01), Killian Young, Peter Crowley; Kieran Donaghy, Eoin Brosnan (0-01); Jonathan Lyne, Donnchadh Walsh, Johnny Buckley (0-03, 0-02f); James O’Donoghue, Darran O’Sullivan (0-01), Michael Geary.
Subs used: Brian McGuire for M Ó Sé (28 mins, inj), Fionn Fitzgerald for J O’Donoghue (47), Jack Sherwood for Crowley (53), Kieran O’Leary for O’Sullivan (60), Andrew Garnett for Donaghy (69, inj).
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