1. Connor Gleeson
Needed to be calmer when pressure came on. No disasters from his kick-outs but Kerry still got more than their share of possession out of them. Made a couple of rash fouls as the game got away from Galway. Rating: 6
2. Liam Silke
Scooted forward for the first Galway shot of the game, only to be blocked by Seán O’Shea. Couldn’t have cared less about that though — as long as O’Shea was doing that, he wasn’t causing damage at the other end. Brilliant shutdown job. Rating: 7
3. Seán Kelly
What’s par against David Clifford? Kept him to four points from play — and none in the closing half hour. Got caught under two first-half marks though, badly misjudging the second one. Did as well as anyone could have expected. Rating: 7
4. Jack Glynn
Made a mockery of being the youngest player on the pitch with a dogged performance. Kept Paudie Clifford quiet in the first half, including a scythe through the Kerry defence for a score of his own. Faded as Clifford came into matters. Rating: 7
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5. Dylan McHugh
Tucked in away from the wing, leaving a lot of space for Stephen O’Brien and Gavin White to raid. Always a willing out ball but Galway needed him to bring a bit more punch going forward. Ran down a few blind alleys. Rating: 6
6. John Daly
Sublime passer of the ball who showed early what a threat he is coming from deep. Found himself free a good bit as Galway mirrored Tadhg Morley at sweeper. Kerry’s defensive structure told as the day went on. Rating: 7
7. Kieran Molloy
Terrific performance in the first half saw off Paul Geaney but Killian Spillane made a big difference when he came on. Stroked over a classy point of his own when the game was going feral. Fine display overall. Rating: 7
8. Paul Conroy
Not his day at all. Couldn’t affect the game around the middle in the first half and looked leaden-legged when the game was really in the melting pot. Dropped two short and was taken off with 15 to go. Rating: 5
9. Cillian McDaid
Gave one of the all-time midfield final displays, in the second half especially. Kicked for brilliant points and never stopped running and showing. Took a heavy hit and spilled a couple of wides out of pure tiredness late on. Rating: 8
10, Patrick Kelly
The game passed him by for long spells. Was constantly available for an out ball down the right wing but not enough Galway players in the middle third got their head up to spot him. Gavin White was a big danger putting him on the back foot. Rating: 6
11. Matthew Tierney
Another who flitted around the edges of the game without ever managing to really get too heavily involved. Did a lot of diligent tracking and covering off but was never a significant factor going forward. Rating: 6
12.Johnny Heaney
Came so close to stealing in behind for a trademark goal in the first half, only to be denied by a phenomenal diving block by Stephen O’Brien. Did plenty of fetching and carrying in the second half before being replaced. Rating: 7
13. Rob Finnerty
Probably unlucky to be called ashore early in the second half. Didn’t have a big effect on the game but since the ball wasn’t really going in his direction, there wasn’t much he could do. Didn’t take a shot, but then neither did his replacement. Rating: 6
14. Damien Comer
By sheer force of will, he drove himself into a game that was mostly taking place away from his orbit. Did more defending than Galway wanted but won a monumental kick-out late on to feed McDaid for an equaliser. Rating: 7
15. Shane Walsh
You probably have to go back to Peter Canavan in 1995 for a better final performance in defeat. The game everybody has always known he had in him. Pace, power, balance and dreamy shooting. Didn’t deserve to lose. Rating: 9
Bench
Ultimately, the game came down to the benches and Kerry’s was better. A sign of their lack of depth was the fact that Eoin Finnerty was making his championship debut when he replaced Paul Conroy. The obvious starting point for Galway to improve on next year. Rating: 4
Manager — Pádraic Joyce
Overall, he has done a magnificent job, imbuing Galway football with the sort of gumption and skill he possessed himself as a player. Galway gave the best performance on the biggest day; can’t ask for a lot more than that. Rating: 8
[ Kerry player ratings: David Clifford produces a masterclass in Gaelic footballOpens in new window ]
