Dublin 2-14 Kerry 0-14
In the end it turned out much as expected. Dublin, with a stronger selection and more energy, confirmed the trend of recent meetings with Kerry by chalking up an eighth victory in the 10 league and championship contests this decade.
Kerry were every bit as limited as their injury list suggested they might be whereas Dublin looked more energetic and cohesive than might have been expected.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice acknowledged his team’s difficulties with an under-strength pick and a later than ideal team holiday but he was clearly disappointed by the lack of urgency.
“I’m a glass half-full kind of person but look, that was a disappointing performance. We felt that coming up it was going to be a big ask to win the game but we prepared reasonably well over the last couple of weeks.
“We don’t have a huge pile of work done but I just felt that if you hadn’t seen last year’s All-Ireland final and you came in and looked at it, you would have maybe said that we had beaten Dublin and that they were the team that looked hungrier and looked more anxious to prove a point so that was the disappointing thing from our point of view. I felt that our attitude should have been better; our work rate wasn’t near good enough. Even in possession our accuracy was well off tonight but no, a poor performance - simple as that.”
At half-time Kerry had at least the encouragement that despite Dublin’s clear superiority the match was level at seven points each. By the final whistle the limited consolation was that, as Fitzmaurice said, their points difference could have been in minus double figures instead of just six.
If the outcome, ultimately determined by the goals scored after half-time by Paddy Andrews and Diarmuid Connolly, followed expected lines the indications for the rest of the year were more interesting.
Dublin are in good shape for All-Ireland champions but no-one dwells for long on league matches in January.
The key question of who takes over from Rory O'Carroll drew a good response from Michael Fitzsimons, who put a slightly queasy phase before half-time behind him to cope well with Tommy Walsh but the big Kerry man gave plenty of indication that with more considered supply and livelier support he can be a central figure for Kerry.
Cian O’Sullivan’s quality of being able to read opposition attacks and his mobility was a noticeable element of the winners’ display whereas James McCarthy with whom he switched lines brought pace and penetration to centrefield, winning the penalty that Connolly put away in the 51st minute.
Up front the return of Paul Mannion from his year away in China was impressive even though Kerry debutant Brian Ó Beaglaoich was resilient and hard working. His problem and that of his full-back colleagues was that the team’s decision to go man-to-man left a lot of exposed space.
Paddy Andrews feasted on the opportunities, helping himself to 1-4 from play, whereas Dean Rock had three from play but could have had emulated Andrews with the chances created.
As in September’s All-Ireland final, Dublin left a fair few goals behind them. In the first half Rock could had a couple, Tomás Brady and Andrews one each but Brendan Kealy was very alert in the Kerry goal.
The visitors had their own chances but Donncha Walsh missed and a Barry John Keane shot from a Tommy Walsh lay-off was blocked. None the less they capitalised on Dublin’s profligacy with a volley of points late in the first half to level it at the break.
Diarmuid Connolly shook off Paul Murphy after the break to orchestrate the Dublin attack to more focused effect and from his converted penalty on, the result wasn’t in doubt. For good measure John Small and Footballer of the Year Jack McCaffrey, on as a replacement in the second half, both cracked shots of the crossbar.
“Yeah, I think the performance in certain phases was good,” said Dublin manager Jim Gavin afterwards. “Obviously we created a lot of goal-scoring chances, on which we do an awful lot of work on the training field. Good to see come of those moves coming off. Execution could have been a lot better in most of them, so that gives us something to take away for the remainder of the league. But to see them being created, from a coaching perspective, is very pleasing.
“A quiet word at half-time to sharpen a few things up, and I thought our conversion rate was much improved in the second half. And overall, to score 1-10 from play in the opening round of the national league is pleasing enough for time of the year.”
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; J Cooper, M Fitzsimons, David Byrne; Davy Byrne, C O'Sullivan, J Small; J McCarthy, D Bastick; T Brady (0-1), D Connolly (1-0, pen), C Kilkenny (0-1); P Mannion, D Rock (0-7, four frees), P Andrews (1-4). Subs: J McCaffrey for Davy Byrne (41 mins), E Ó Conghaile for Bastick (50 mins), C Costello (0-1) for Brady (53 mins), C Reddin for Kilkenny (57 mins), D Daly for O'Sullivan (61 mins). C O'Callaghan for Mannion (67 mins).
KERRY: B Kealy; S Enright, M Griffin, B Ó Beaglaoich; P Murphy, K Young (capt), F Fitzgerald; D Moran (0-2, one free), J Buckley (0-1); D Walsh (0-1), D O'Sullivan (0-3), S O'Brien (0-1); BJ Keane (0-4, frees), T Walsh (0-1), P O'Connor. Subs: P Kilkenny for Griffin (41 mins), J Lyne for D Walsh (BC, 46 mins), P O'Connor for Fitzgerald (53 mins), B O'Sullivan (0-1) for Buckley (53 mins), G O'Grady for Keane (57 mins), C Cox for T Walsh (65 mins), (S Enright bc, 68 mins).
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).
