Derry take Division 1 title

Allianz NFL Division One Final:
Kerry 2-9 Derry 2-13

Derry claimed a surprise win over All-Ireland champions Kerry in Sunday’s Allianz NFL Division One Final at Parnell Park on Sunday.

The Kingdom raced into an early lead that saw them seven points up at one point in the first half, but a remarkable about-turn inspired by brilliant displays from Fergal Doherty and Conleith Gilligan saw Derry run out winners by four points in the end.

Kerry’s inept second half showing will leave neutrals questioning the validity of naming them as odds-on favourites for the upcoming All-Ireland championship.

Derry had little difficulty in figuring out that Kerry’s gameplan was one-dimensional, and when they curbed Kieran Donaghy’s influence after half an hour, Pat O’Shea’s side seemed incapable of adapting accordingly.

There was something of a crisis for Derry before throw-in when influential full-back Kevin McCloy was ruled out and Niall McCusker was given the unenviable task of marking Kerry dangerman Donaghy.

And during that first half, it looked like the loss of McCloy would prove fatal, but the introduction of Seam Lockhart before the interval steadied the Derry defence and their attack soon clicked into gear.

At the death, Kerry sub Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper – who was making his first appearance since the All-Ireland final last year – was sent off for a second yellow card, but not before Paddy Bradley fired over a glorious sideline kick to seal a stunning four-point win.

Kerry made the best possible start to the game when Kieran Donaghy soared into the Donnycarney sky and made a remarkable catch before offloading to Cromane man Donnchadh Walsh, who blasted past Barry Gillis in the Derry goal.

Donaghy beat both Kevin McGuckin and Niall McCusker to the high ball in what looked like an ominous portent for the Derry defence.

Kerry extended their lead a minute later when Mike Frank Russell – who took over the freetaking duties from the injured Bryan Sheehan – slotted over a point from a placed ball to give his side a three-point lead.

Donaghy was causing Niall McCusker all sorts of difficulties at full-forward, and after ten minutes, Derry boss Paddy Crozier must have been considering a switch when the giant attacker once again set up Darren O’Sullivan for a score.

Aidan O’Mahony tacked on another score after a foray up from defence, but Kerry could easily have had another goal but for a brilliant block by Niall McCusker after Donaghy had set up Walsh once again.

Eoin Bradley – his second of the game – and Conleith Gilligan pointed for Derry but Kerry somehow snatched a fortuitous goal through O’Sullivan.

Tommy Griffin sent in a high ball to Donaghy, who flicked the ball with his open palm to the onrushing O’Sullivan who stumbled and set goalkeeper Gillis the wrong way with a miss-hit effort.

Kerry were seven points to the good at this point and there looked to be absolutely no way back for Paddy Crozier’s charges.

However, two-time All Star winner Paddy Bradley mounted a Derry comeback with a point after 26 minutes. Significantly, his marker, Marc O’Sé was booked for a challenge on Bradley as the Glenullin man started to stamp his influence on the game.

It was Doherty, however, who proved to be the inspiration for Derry’s goal on 32 minutes. He started the move from midfield, passed to Sean McGoldrick who had a shot blocked by Diarmuid Murphy in the Kerry goal, but managed to sweep up the rebound to blast past a thicket of Kerry players on the goal-line.

Lockhart was brought on to shore up the Derry defence just before the break, and he immediately moved in to look after the threat posed by Kerry corner-forward O’Sullivan.

Bradley then put over two points at the very end of the first half to leave just two points between the sides at the break.

Derry got the best start imaginable to the second half when Gilligan pounced on some indecision by the Kerry goalkeeper after a high ball into the box by Bradley to force the ball home for a goal that put the underdogs in the lead.

However, Kerry hit back with three points without reply before Paddy Bradley found his range and levelled the game after 50 minutes.

McCloy came on for Liam Hinphey after 59 minutes and his arrival saw Derry heralded three points without reply for the Ulster men.

Murphy, McCusker and substitute Michael McIver all landed points to give Derry a three-point lead before Donaghy spurned a late chance to level matters when he was free in front of goal.

However, the final say was to go to Bradley, who fired over a brilliant sideline kick to give the scoreline a coat of gloss from a Derry point of view.