Sport

Sheehan snatches deserved share of the spoils from dogged 14-man Derry

Kerry 0-10 Derry 0-9 KERRY WERE fortunate to grab a last-minute winner from Bryan Sheehan after a titanic battle with a previously…

Mon Mar 03 2008 - 00:00

Kerry 0-10 Derry 0-9KERRY WERE fortunate to grab a last-minute winner from Bryan Sheehan after a titanic battle with a previously unbeaten Derry at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.

Kerry played well against the wind in the opening half and were looking good when retiring only 0-6 to 0-5 adrift at half=time. They had the advantage of the elements at their backs after the break and, crucially, also an extra man.

Derry corner back Francis McEldowney was sent off for retaliation following an incident with Kerry's Kieran O'Leary. Cork referee Michael Collins consulted his umpires before controversially issuing a red card to McEldowney and a yellow to Kerry's Paul O'Connor.

However, Derry brought on Kevin McCloy and he took over at centre back. Michael McIvor filled in at corner back, with corner forward Ciarán Mullan being withdrawn as Derry played the second period with only five forwards.

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Kerry struggled for 20 minutes as Derry played possession football. Ten minutes into the second period Derry led 0-8 to 0-6 and Kerry did not take the lead in the game until Bryan Sheehan converted a 45 in the 63rd minute.

Both defences were on top, with Aidan O'Mahony, Tomás and Marc Ó Sé outstanding for the Kingdom while Kevin McGuckin, full back Niall McCusker and right half back Liam Hinphey played sterling stuff for Derry.

Kerry's half forwards won little breaking ball and the two young corner men, Kieran O'Leary and Paul Conway lost out to physically stronger opponents.

Earlier, Derry began well as the long ball to Paddy Bradley had Kerry full back Tom O'Sullivan in all sorts of bother. Bradley kicked three excellent points from play, with Enda Muldoon adding another by the 20th minute.

Kerry kept in touch thanks to points from Seán O'Sullivan, Kieran Donaghy and two frees from Bryan Sheehan. Bradley restored Derry's lead again before Kerry switched Marc Ó Sé to shadow him and thereafter Bradley failed to score from play.

Seán O'Sullivan levelled again two minutes into the second half, but Derry upped their game into the wind and points from Enda Muldoon and another from Liam Hinphey saw them move two clear. The introduction of David Moran and Killian Young lifted the home side and Sheehan, with two superb points from play, levelled matters again with 13 minutes left.

Sheehan (from a 45) and Bradley (a free) added to their tally before, in the 70th minute, Sheehan availed of a dubious-looking free to clinch Kerry's win.

KERRY: K Cremin; M Ó Sé, T O'Sullivan, P Reidy; T Ó Sé, A O'Mahony, D Bohane; S Scanlon, T Griffin; Darren O'Sullivan, B Sheehan (0-6, three frees, one 45), S O'Sullivan (0-2); K O'Leary, K Donaghy (0-1), P O'Connor (0-1). Subs: E Brosnan for P O'Connor, K Young for D Bohane (inj), D Moran for Darren O'Sullivan, T Walsh for S O'Sullivan, D Walsh for K O'Leary.

DERRY: J Deighan; K McGuckin, N McCusker, F McEldowney; L Hinphey (0-1), M McBride, M McIvor; F Doherty, J Conway (0-1); M Lynch, B McGoldrick, E Muldoon (0-2, two frees); C Gilligan, P Bradley (0-5, one free), C Mullan. Subs: K McCloy for C Mullan, P Murphy for B McGoldrick, J Keenan for M McBride, E Lynn for C Gilligan.

Referee: M Collins (Cork).