Mayo 2-14 Kerry 1-10
It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t pleasant and it wasn’t in any way encouraging but, as some supporters were quick to point out afterwards, medals are seldom won in February.
That said, if he’s treating the league with the seriousness that it deserves, there was much for Jack O’Connor to be concerned about following the wrench of this seven-point loss to Mayo who, at this stage of the season, look far more advanced than Kerry in terms of fitness and sharpness and everything else.
The fact of the matter is that Kevin McStay’s side looked vastly superior than the winning margin might suggest and the visitors to McHale Park didn’t look in any way cohesive as they appeared to lack pace and purpose and, at times, looked as if they had never met before.
In dramatic contrast to their performance against Monaghan, the All-Ireland champions and league holders were completely out of sorts in the first half in particular. Woefully inaccurate in attack – managing three points in the first half and just four points in 40 minutes – struggling around the middle and uncharacteristically loose and off the pace in defence, a few extra visits to Currans will be on the cards to rectify what has gone wrong.
It can’t be forgotten that they started without nine of the team that marched behind the Artane Band in Croke Park last July but, even at that, there has been made of the strength in depth in the panel although that didn’t look to be the case in Castlebar on Saturday night.
To be honest, in this game at least, three of four of the starting 15 didn’t do themselves any favours with the selectors and some of the decisions made – with and without possession – were quite bewildering.
The fact that O’Shea and Clifford are now back in action will give Kerry reason for optimism, particularly with the likes of Stephen O’Brien, Paul Geaney, Diarmuid O’Connor, Shane Ryan, Gavin White, Adrian Spillane, Brian Ó Beaglaoich waiting in the wings.
Mayo’s two goals – from James Carr and Ryan O’Donoghue – were of the soft variety and the latter was the result of a shocking mix-up in the Kerry defence that can be attributed solely to the almost casual nature of the approach adopted.
Such was Mayo’s dominance, Kerry could count themselves fortunate to be just 11 points adrift at half-time and although they stepped up a gear on the resumption – thanks to the introduction of David Clifford and Seanie O’Shea – they were still at sixes and sevens.
By the time Seán Hurson’s whistle had sounded for the final time on the night, Mayo were still seven points to the good – their first victory over Kerry in Castlebar for nine years – and Kerry were sent home with much to ponder.
The simple fact that Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape managed to score more than five of the six Kerry forwards that started really says it all – O’Connor’s charges notched just three from 12 chances in the opening half – and when was the last time the normally locktight Kerry defence leaked two goals and 14 points?
The one positive for Kerry was a well-executed goal from Barry O’Sullivan who got on the end of a Paul Murphy centre, swivelled and tucked the ball beyond the reach of Reape. It was but mere consolation for the visitors, however, and it just masked the serious issues that need to be addressed if Jack O’Connor’s men are to avoid a relegation dogfight.
The Kerry contingent in the crowd of 15,726 had a great deal to reflect on afterwards and, unfortunately, very little of it would have been positive.
With Armagh due in Tralee next weekend, Jack O’Connor and Paddy Tally need to get back to the drawing board in the days ahead because losing, just like winning, can become a habit.
Medals might not be won in February but at least some positive signs are required to approach the rest of the season with some degree of confidence. Alas, such signs were few and far between in Castlebar as Mayo laid down a marker ahead of the summer.
Whatever about the time of the year, and the fact that the championship is still some distance off, this impressive victory will be a major confidence booster for McStay’s men and those that will dismiss the result by observing that, sure, it’s only the league, will do well to remember just how Kerry enthusiastically celebrated their 15-point victory over the same opposition in the league final last April.
Kerry scorers: Barry O’Sullivan 1-0, David Clifford 0-3, Darragh Roche 0-2 (0-1 free), Sean O’Shea 0-2 (0-1 free), Tony Brosnan 0-1, Paul Murphy 0-1, Dara Moynihan 0-1.
Mayo scorers: Ryan O’Donoghue 1-3 (0-2 frees, 0-1 mark), Jordan Flynn 0-4, James Carr 1-2 (0-1 mark), Colm Reape 0-2 (0-2 45s), Diarmuid O’Connor 0-1, Donnacha McHugh 0-1, Jack Carney 0-1.
Kerry: S Murphy, G O’Sullivan, J Foley, T O’Sullivan, P Warren, T Morley, P Murphy, J Barry, B O’Sullivan, D Moynihan, P Clifford, M Burns, T Brosnan, D Roche, D O’Sullivan.
Subs: D Casey for Warren; S O’Shea for Burns; D Clifford for O’Sullivan; S Okunbor for Roche; K Spillane for P Clifford.
Mayo: C Reape, D McBrien, R Brickenden, E Hession, S Coen, C Loftus, D McHugh, M Ruane, D O’Connor, F McDonagh, J Carney, J Flynn, A O’Shea, J Carr, R O’Donoghue.
Subs: B Tuohy for O’Connor; C O’Connor for McDonagh;, J Coyne for Brickenden; C McStay for Carr; P Durcan for Coen.
Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).
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