Kerry 1-9 Laois 1-5This was probably not how Darragh Ó Sé once dreamed of lifting the cup for Kerry, but still. So forbidding was the theatre for yesterday's Allianz Division Two league final in Limerick that the memory of it alone will probably prevent another Kerry descent from the top flight for many years ahead.
Yesterday's game was the antithesis of the all the great Kerry final wins. The Gaelic Grounds looked barren, with a baleful wind towards the city goal and a series of phenomenal hail storms which questioned the timber of all but Ventry's finest.
Páidí Ó Sé stood resolute during the savage downpour minutes before half-time and later recollected himself with the bright optimism of a man who had enjoyed a pleasant afternoon stroll.
"Twasn't the greatest of games really. Conditions had a big bearing on that. The wind had a major influence on the game and possibly we won our game in the first half. Colm Cooper's goal knocked the bit of spirit out of Laois really - they made a few early attacks but didn't score and then we made a goal from our very first attack against the wind.
"Then we tacked on two points before the break and going in just two points down at the break with the luxury of the gale in the second half, twas only a matter of time before we got the scores."
His summary really contained the essence of the occasion. The make-up of his team, however suggested that a subtle shift in emphasis from the Kerry 2000 model.
With Maurice's unavailability now confirmed, Ó Sé is developing a fresh creative platform.
Central to yesterday's argument was young Cooper, a languid protégé of last year's minor team who finished with 1-2 and was persuasive enough to give Johnny Crowley pause for thought.
Cooper's first act was to convert Tomás Ó Sé's thoughtful ball into a goal. From a nothing position on the wings, the Dr Croke's youngster danced through an admittedly passive Laois defence and coolly slipped his shot underneath Fergal Bryon. It was an auspicious beginning and, after an hour of industry and guile, the new comer had convinced.
"He's an up and coming player," acknowledged Páidí. "He has been playing senior with his club for quite some time so he's an early vocation.
"We are going to mind him, we just gave him a touch of it today but we are certainly going to mind him and bring him along."
Laois will not be heartened by their part in this, storm conditions not withstanding. Equipped with a gale that Páidí Ó Sé aptly described as luxurious, they failed to avail of it.
Midfielder Pauric Clancy and the Laois half-back line were full of industry, but the heralded lights of the county's under-age success did not make the impression that could have been hoped for.
The McDonald-Conway axis was blunted and Tomás Ó Sé gobbled up Ian Fitzgerald's sauntering game-style.
Indeed, the elder nephew of the Kerry boss typified a robust defensive performance from the winners. Eamon Fitzmaurice excelled, patrolling his own patch of ground and initiating many of Kerry's attacks.
However, Laois's first-half goal was the consequence of some dithering around the goal-line. When Tom O'Sullivan was harshly whistled for a foul, Fitzgerald lobbed a free towards Declan O'Keeffe's goal and Laois full forward Greg Ramsbottom poked a toe at the spilled ball.
That left the score at 1-3 to 1-1 for Laois after 20 minutes, a stage in the game when they looked promising. However, the scores came too slow and too rarely and the pick of their first half was Michael Lawlor's wonderful bolt from 40 metres on 15 minutes.
To the second half, they contributed just a lone point, scant consolation for Derek Conroy after 72 minutes of play.
Funnily, the best score of the day was disallowed. Again, Tomás Ó Sé was involved, ambling up the wing and directing a nice ball for Cooper.
Eoin Brosnan thundered on to his floated hand-pass and crashed a great goal, but was called for charging, a curious call given that the forward was clearly focused only on the ball.
That misfortune summed up Brosnan's stop-start day and he was withdrawn to fret about the lively input of his replacement, Seán O'Sullivan for the last 12 minutes. Noel Kennelly and Aodhan MacGearailt were also on song for Kerry on a day when Liam Hassett was subdued and Mike Frank Russell, while delivering a number of killer passes, didn't register a score.
Currow's Séamus Scanlon will also have pleased Ó Sé for the way he complemented Darragh Ó Sé at midfield, despite the best efforts of Clancy.
Laois looked worryingly leaden for a side embarking on championship adventure next weekend. They wanted for the old Emersonian leadership around the 40.
The totemic Colm Parkinson was announced as a late addition to the bench but did not make an appearance.
The sight of Cooper leading Pauric Leonard something of a merry dance quietened the Laois-strong attendance of 4,120 and, at various times in the second half, Kerry's lightning breaks forward stretched the Laois last-line.
Both sides rattled up wides in maelstrom of the second half and nobody was surprised when Kerry pulled three and then four points clear. In these conditions, such a lead was gaping.
So it ended with the unusual spectacle of a soaking Darragh Ó Sé lifting silverware in Limerick puddles of McCourtian proportions.
KERRY: D O'Keeffe; T O'Sullivan, S Moynihan, M Ó Sé; J Sheehan, E Fitzmaurice, T Ó Sé; D Ó Sé, S Scanlon (0-1); A MacGearailt (0-1), N Kennelly (0-3, 2 frees), E Brosnan; MF Russell, L Hassett, C Cooper (1-2). Subs: D Ó Cínnéide (0-1, free) for L Hassett (half-time); S O'Sullivan (0-1) for E Brosnan (58 mins); R O'Connor for MF Russell (66); D Daly for S Scanlon (70).
LAOIS: F Byron; P Leonard, T Kelly, P McDonald; D Conroy (0-1), K Fitzpatrick, D Ryan; N Garvan (0-1), P Clancy; I Fitzgerald, D McEvoy, M Lawlor (0-1); B McDonald (0-1), G Ramsbottom (1-0), C Conway (0-1, free). Subs: J Kealy for N Garvan (48); G Kavanagh for G Ramsbottom (56); D Brennan for J Kealy (64).
Referee: B Crowe (Cavan)
