Kerry's performance in a hugely disappointing Munster Senior Football final was marked by a slow burning cumulative power and authority, but, only after a second goal midway through the second half did they acquire the composure they needed to move up a gear and express themselves fully, to the total discomfort of a hapless Clare at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick yesterday. It was Kerry's 67th Munster title.
As the game went into the second quarter, it became apparent that neither team was capable of producing good football - the ball was repeatedly given away, both teams in turn fed off misplaced passes and, as far as value for money was concerned, the 23,176 crowd became disenchanted spectators who had to stand and sit through a dreadful match.
The more Clare in particular attempted to play with verve and imagination, the more they were exposed as a disjointed outfit. Their problems grew more acute by the minute with their usual inspirational figure Martin Daly having to be replaced in the second half, after producing form that could only have had a morale crushing effect on his team.
Then, early in the second half, when Clare needed a goal like bone needs marrow to make inroads on a six-point deficit, Barry Keating, Clare's most industrious wing back, lobbed a perfect over-the-top pass to Daly who was standing on his own, but the Lisscasey man failed to catch the ball and the goal chance was lost.
Thus, with Clare's key man in attack failing to find his usual form, the challengers were left virtually directionless up front. At one stage, centre back Mark O'Connell clearly felt the need to advance, but his blistering 55-yard solo-run came to nothing, the ball being gifted to a Kerry defender.
Kerry's first goal was a crushing blow for Clare, coming, as it did, against the run of play but, worse still, from one of the games biggest defensive errors. Aodhan MacGearailt, Noel Kennelly and Liam Hassett had been foraging deep for an uncertain Kerry and O Cinneide had just landed a huge point for a 0-6 to 0-2 lead by the 27th minute, when that first goal arrived.
Brian Considine meant to pass a sideline ball to Mark O'Connell, who lost the ball inside his own 14-metre line, out on the left. John Crowley accepted the gift and careered forward to shoot for goal, but Clare goalkeeper James Hanrahan parried on the line before Liam Hassett slotted to the net. Clare manager Tommy Curtin and midfielder Joe Considine regarded that goal as the big turning point.
Kerry had still not attained the lofty standards they had managed in the first half against Cork in the semi-final. There had not been a flicker of warning of the lightning that was to strike Clare's limited resources for dead after the second goal almost at the halfway stage of the second half.
Donal Daly, who had been playing second fiddle to his partner, the brilliant Dara O Se, made the run down the left and swiftly passed inside to MacGearailt, who rattled the net for a 2-10 to 0-6 lead. MacGearailt was exceptional in getting the Kerry attack moving and both Tomas and Dara O Se - who both received yellow cards - were repeatedly doing good work to set up attacks. Seamus Moynihan at full back was his sound self before he had to retire, feeling the effects of an earlier knock.
The last 20 minutes resembled the type of game most people had expected, Kerry had got into the driving seat and Clare were bereft of any idea of what to do about it. When Maurice Fitzgerald was introduced in the 58th minute, a deafening roar erupted from the large Kerry crowd.
The great Kerry striker amused the crowd by popping up in the full-back line to make doubly sure that Clare were not going to be allowed to spring any late scores. But, in fact, there was little chance of this, as Clare seemed prepared to concede defeat by that stage.
