Underdogs 3-11 Kerry 2-11: Underdogs manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan can confidently claim the reality television experiment of scouring the country for club footballers to turn into a competitive intercounty outfit more than exceeded its initial brief, after his charges defeated the admittedly understrength All-Ireland champions after 20 minutes of extra-time. The teams had finished level at 2-8 each at full-time.
Although the main aim of TG4 was to drag in the couch potato, the programme's value to several intercounty panels and football in general may become apparent in the New Year.
"You take a concept where you have above-average club players and you can get them to a level where they can compete at intercounty level," explained O'Sullivan. "We only had 15 contact days with them. Intercounty panels today are obsessed with physical fitness and invest millions in its development. What we showed is if you empower the player to look after their own physical fitness there is more time to work on the skills aspect of things.
"It led to a far more cohesive group. We (the management team of O'Sullivan, Jarlath Burns and Micheal Ó Muircheartaigh) could have walked away three weeks ago. They took control themselves and had an incredible leader in Mairtín Ó Cinneide who knew how to set up structures within a team. Dublin could do with taking a look at him, especially considering he was playing out of position for us (at full back)."
Never mind the fact they beat the champions Kerry on their own turf in Austin Stacks Park late on Saturday night they also unearthed a few gems who are in line to make their intercounty debuts next year.
"Kieran Donaghy is going to be a very serious footballer. Already he is an international basketballer," said O'Sullivan. "I spoke to him and to Jack O'Connor after and Jack has brought him into the panel. Kieran said he is going to give his full commitment to football and Kerry can't afford to lose him as he will be the finest fielder in the game if he sticks to football."
Donaghy was the unfortunate player to be dropped by O'Connor last season when Séamus Moynihan returned to full fitness. On Saturday, the 21-year-old kicked two points while up against his Tralee Tigers team-mate Michael Quirke.
O'Sullivan also picked out Donaghy's midfield partner Pierce O'Neill, from Cork, along with Armagh centre forward Barra Ó Muirí, who kicked 1-5, including four frees, as players to watch closely.
O'Neill has already been called up to the Cork senior panel, as has Kildare goalkeeper Mark Herbert, while Killyclogher corner back Eoin Bradley is in line for a start under Mickey Harte in Tyrone.
"There was a real championship atmosphere to the whole night," O'Sullivan continued. "Kerry may not have been fit at all but they had guys playing who are on the periphery of the panel and were trying to show what they could do.
"Kerry had nothing to gain but they bought into it in a great sporting manner."
The Underdogs struggled to get to grips with the contest early on, slipping four points behind after contributions from Colm Cooper and Declan Quill and trailed by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time but goals from Kerry man Stephen Wallace and Ó Muirí from the penalty spot turned things around after the break.
It even took a goal from Kerry's Ronan O'Connor to reel them back in and force extra-time. In time added on Wallace struck his second and the contest's decisive goal with Daniel McCabe kicking a late insurance point.
Proceeds from the gate, which exceeded 6,000, went to a charity for muscular dystrophy.
KERRY: D Murphy; P Reidy, T O'Sullivan, M Lyons; R Ó Flatharta, Stephen O'Sullivan, P Kelly; M Quirke, W Kirby; D O'Dwyer (1-0), E Brosnan (0-2), Seán O'Sullivan (0-1); D Quill (0-6, five frees), R O'Connor (1-0), C Cooper (0-2). Subs: M Ó Sé for Ó Flatharta, D O'Sullivan for O'Dwyer, J Sugrue for Kirby, P Hennebery for S O'Sullivan, O'Dwyer for S O'Sullivan, Ó Flatharta for Cooper.
UNDERDOGS: H Murphy (Kerry); E Bradley (Tyrone), M Ó Cinnéide (Dublin), L Kiely (Cork); M Horgan (Kerry), M Murphy (Armagh), G Britton (Donegal); K Donaghy 0-2 (Kerry), P O'Neill (Cork); P Brady (Cavan), B Ó Muirí 1-5, four frees (Armagh), D O'Connell (Cork); B Rafferty (Armagh), S Wallace 2-2 (Kerry), D McCabe 0-2 (Down). Subs: M Herbert (Kildare) for H Murphy, A Gavin (Roscommon) for P Brady, P O'Connor for Rafferty.
Referee: B White (Wexford).
