A year ago, this Stamford side was rounding into championship form, a hungry team with its sights firmly set on their first New York championship. Now with two key members of that side gone, Ronan Mooney through immigration and Fergal O’Neill through retirement, Stamford stand at 0-3 and would require a near miracle to even make it back to the playoffs.
Against Kerry, Stamford’s remaining stars, New York county men Jason Killeen, Kevin Newell, and Eric Bradley, were anonymous. Kerry’s deep and well-balanced side were too good for last year’s champions, and if it is too soon to be anointing future champions, keep an eye out for the Kingdom come October.
Kerry ran out on top less than one minute into this match when Paudie Mulvihill ruined Stamford’s third midfielder strategy. The Kerry cornerback was drawn into the Stamford goal mouth as he marked his man Justin O’Halloran. Mulvihill got possession and fired a great goal.
Stamford fought back with a well-worked point from John Molloy, but Kerry replied as Mulvhill fed Denis Carroll for a point. John Golden and Don Murphy were getting the better of their exchanges for Kerry at midfield and their front six were benefiting from the possession.
In the endm all six Kerry forwards entered the score sheet, and two goals came courtesy of the fullback line. Kerry were comfortably ahead 1-7 too 0-2 at the break.
Stamford knew what was at stake and they came out flying at the restart. Emmit Killeen drove over a free and then O’Halloran burst through for a fourth-minute goal. Stamford were fighting for their championship and pulled to within 4 points, 1-9 to 1-5, on another Emmit Killeen free.
Would they make it all the way back? Four points on the trot from Kerry suggested not, but then Stamford got a potential lifeline. O’Halloran was fouled for a penalty and had to retire injured. Eric Bradley hit it just about perfectly — solid, low, just inside the post. Or it would have been. Somehow Finbarr Flood got his hand to the ball and turned it and Stamford hopes aside.
Kerry fullback Derek Riney dropped a 50-yard shot into the Stamford goal and the keeper fumbled it into the goal. Now Kerry were enjoying themselves and they were putting on a show. Four late points flew over the lathe and when it was over Kerry corner back Sammy Finn was the only member of the Kerry fullback line without a score.
The Kerry defense got great performances from that fullback line and also from the half line. Collie Fearon and Pa Murphy were both excellent as was newcomer Eanna Kavanagh. With good goalkeeping and fine midfield play as well as a forward line that score 2-17 with Bingo O’Driscoll still not back to his best, this was an impressive Kerry performance.
Stamford will continue to work hard, as they always have, and try to turn their season around, but they’ve dug themselves a huge hole.
Man of the Match: Eanna Kavanagh
Kerry: Finbarr Flood, Paudie Mulvihill (1-1), Derek Riney (1-0), Sam Finn, Collie Fearon, Pa Murphy (0-1), Eanna Kavanagh, John Golden, Don Murphy, Dave McCarthy (0-2), Dennis Carroll (0-3), Ray Keane (0-2), Steve Flynn (0-1), Bingo O’Driscoll (0-4, three frees), D.J. Fleming (0-3). Subs: Miley O’Connell, Dave McSweeney.
Stamford: Kieran Potter, Fergal Doyle, Jason Killeen, Aiden Kiely, Ciaran McGrath, Richie Purcell, Michael Murphy, Kevin Newell, Pat Coyne, John Molloy (0-1), Eric Bradley (0-2), Ollie Crowe, Niall Bergin, Emmit Killeen (0-3, all frees), Justin O’Halloran (1-0). Subs: Bobby Murphy, Sean Collins.