THERE was quite a similarity between Gareth Clifford's goal for Kerry in yesterday's All Ireland minor football semi final at Croke Park and the famous one that Mikey Sheehy hit past Paddy Cullen in the 1978 senior final.

Like Sheehy's memorable goal, Clifford's score also followed confusion. But the instant the Kerry full forward realised it was a Kerry free 20 yards out he turned swiftly and lashed the ball to the Mayo net.

Clifford's opportunist goal came 20 minutes into the first half and it was totally out of character with anything else the Kerry forwards contrived all afternoon.

On the odd occasion the Kerry front runners produced the flair expected of them, they were either closed down by keen Mayo backs or Sean Campbell brought off a save. Campbell brought off a brilliant stop in the third quarter when Michael D Cahill set up Clifford with a clear chance.

Mayo could justifiably claim they deserved a draw at least. They were relentless in threatening the Munster champions, though Kerry's William Harmon, John Lynch, Tommy Griffin and Clifford were guilty of some bad wides.

The Kerry goalkeeper got away with being blocked down in the first half. Most Kerry backs were susceptible to the block but the Rathmore youngster emerged as something of a hero by bringing off an invaluable save near the end from Mayo substitute Fintan McHale. Mayo's Vincent Cawley will feel unlucky to have had a goal disallowed.

Noel Kennelly finally proved Kerry's real saviour, even if it took the Kerry selectors quite some time to discover that he is a natural attack leader.

Although wearing the number 11 he was stuck in the corner for much of the game. When he was finally brought out in the second half, a Kerry attack that had lost composure suddenly found fresh inspiration.

Mayo's deadly free taker Lyndon Reilly had brought his side level 11 minutes into the second half (1-3 to 0-6). But Kennelly restored Kerry's three point advantage with three excellent points, one from a free 50 yards out, and was seen soaring into the heavens at the Kerry goalline to fetch a dangerous lobbed effort by Reilly in the last minute.

Kerry led by 1-3 to 0-3 at the interval, the low scoring reflecting poor standards and also the slippery surface.