The Daily Star Ireland
Kerry booked their spot in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final with a powerful and convincing second-half performance, brushing aside Tyrone after a tightly contested opening. Despite an early surge from Tyrone, the Ulster side ultimately faded, unable to keep pace with a resurgent Kerry team led by a standout performance from Joe O’Connor.
Tyrone’s Early Edge Fizzles
The match began promisingly for Tyrone, who exploited Kerry’s kickout strategy in the first quarter to establish a 0-04 to 0-01 lead. Their aggressive pressing and sharp movement gave them control early on, disrupting Kerry’s rhythm and dominating midfield exchanges. However, Kerry gradually adjusted and began asserting themselves around the middle, which signaled a momentum shift.
Kerry’s attacking unit soon began to generate a flurry of goal-scoring opportunities. While many of these chances went unfinished, the pressure continued to mount. The breakthrough came shortly before the half-hour mark when David Clifford, latching onto a high pass from Mike Breen, wrong-footed goalkeeper Niall Morgan with a deft dummy before coolly slotting the ball into the net. This was the only goal of the game but proved pivotal in swinging the tide.
Despite the goal, Tyrone remained in the contest, trailing by just three points at halftime and preparing to play the second half with the wind advantage.
Joe O’Connor Inspires Kerry’s Second-Half Domination
Tyrone cut the deficit to two early in the second half thanks to Darragh Canavan’s well-taken point. But from there, their challenge unraveled. A prolonged 20-minute scoring drought spelled disaster, during which Kerry seized complete control of the game.
Joe O’Connor emerged as the heartbeat of Kerry’s dominance. His tireless work rate, defensive strength, and incisive attacking runs galvanized the team. He delivered two crucial points himself and consistently broke Tyrone’s lines, dictating the game from the middle third.
While Kerry continued to miss goal chances, their ability to generate those opportunities and dominate possession suffocated any hopes Tyrone had of a comeback. The Munster champions scored nine unanswered points during this stretch, effectively sealing the outcome.
David Clifford continued to show his class, finishing with 1-09, including three of those second-half points. Killian Spillane came off the bench to contribute two more, further cementing Kerry’s control. O’Connor’s impact extended beyond the scoreboard, setting the tone for a relentless second-half display.
Tyrone managed only one additional scorer in the final half-hour—Seanie O’Donnell, who finally added a point to ensure Darragh Canavan wasn’t their sole contributor after the break. But by then, the damage was done.
