Derrymen Win The League Title After Comeback Against Kerry

National Football League - Finals
Division One
Derry 2-13
Kerry 2-09

By Dermot Kavanagh

After 23 minutes play this game looked as good as over. Kerry, without overstretching themselves had sauntered into a 7 point lead (2-04 to 0-03) and looked to have both hands firmly on the county's 19th League title.

All Kerry's scores had come from play and with such ease that only a heavy defeat looked in store for the Derrymen.

The Derry management then made several switches, the major one being bringing cornerforward, Enda Muldoon out as a third midfielder.

Almost immediately the course of the game changed dramatically.

With total midfield dominance Derry swung into action and by half time reduced the deficit to a single point (2-04 to 1-06).

Derry outscored Kerry by 1-03 to 0-01 from the time of Muldoon's switch, a development that would be repeated during the second half.

Within a minute of the restart Derry had gone in front courtesy of Kerry's indecisivness and Gilligan's opportunism with a clever goal.

It was now clear that Kerry had a fight on their hands and as the game went on it was also clear that they were not really up for it.

Gradually Derry took over in all departments and it was they who looked the more complete team.

Playing with confidence they seamlessly moved the ball from defence to attack, a tactic that the leaderless Kerrymen were unable to counteract.

By the 60th minute Derry had gone into a 3-point lead (2-09 to 1-09) and barring the concession of a goal it became evident that the League title would most probably be theirs.

Derry continued to dominate and when Paddy Bradley scored his teams final point the door was firmly shut on Kerry's ambitions.

Derry were full value for their win. They outmuscled, outplayed and more importantly outscored Kerry by 2-10 to 0-05 in the final 47mins of the game.

They now face Donegal in a few weeks time in the Championship. Being mindful of the difference between League and Championship football they will, nonetheless face that Donegal test with justifiable confidence after passing this one with flying colours.

Kerry will be more disappointed with the manner of their defeat rather than the defeat itself.

Once Derry began to dominate many of Kerry's players were made to look very ordinary. A fact that Kerry will have to address before they set out in quest of a three-in-a row of All Ireland titles.

Division Two
Westmeath 0-15
Dublin 0-10

Dublin traveled to Navan on Saturday evening in a sulky, sullen mood arising from the suspensions handed down to 8 of their players following the previous game against Meath.

Apart from the opening 15 minutes, Dublin's pre-match demeanour was replicated throughout the game.

They were a sorry sight and the vast number of supporters in a very large attendance must have left Navan very dissolusioned by their team's efforts.

Westmeath were by far the most productive team. They chased and harried the Dubs throughout, a tactic that their out-of-sorts opponents showed neither the inclination or the ability to counteract.

The only mystery to the proceedings was that Westmeath did not wrap up the game until the 67th minute.

Dublin did make a bright start and led by 0-05 to 0-02 after 15 minutes. Then Jason Sherlock retired with an injury and with him went Dublin's only serious forward threat. That Dublin only scored 5 points in the final 55minutes of the game is testament to the poverty of their forward threat.

This win marks Westmeath's first national title and richly deserved it was. They now face Longford in the Championship in 2 weeks time.

The less said about Dublin the better. Despite the suspensions they still fielded about 10 of their likely championship team. To this observer they require as much remedial work to their mental game as they do to their football game.

Division Three
Wexford 3-15
Fermanagh 0-20
(AET 2-10 0-16)

Wexford required extra time to claim Division Three title at the expense of their bogey team (Fermanagh)

Wexford were marginally the better team but Fermanagh will ask themselves how they managed to loose a match wherein they scored 20 times.

Part of the answer might lie in the obvious weaknesses which they displayed in the full back line and in the goalkeeping positon.

Scoring 2 goals in the first 5 minutes Wexford made the dream start.

Fermanagh gradually got back into the game and were no way flattered to be only one point behind at the break (2-04 to 0-09).

The second half saw an even contest with very little between the sides.

While both teams had chances to win the game it was no surprise that the scores were level at the final whistle.

Fermanagh edged into a 2 point lead in the early stages of extra time.

When it seemed that they would take that lead in at the break the Fermanagh full back line and their goal keeper somehow managed to mess up a high ball allowing Wexford's Paddy Colfer to nip in for this side's third goal (3-10 to 0-18).

The concession of that goal seemed to unhinge the Fermanagh as they were unable to match Wexford for the final 10 minutes as the Wexfordmen went on to seal the victory.

What the game lacked in quality (it was actually a very poor game) the closeness of the scoring and the competiveness of the teams kept the attendance enthralled.

Division Four
Offaly 2-13
Tipperary 0-12

While Offaly's winning margin was a mere 7 points they were so much better in all departments that a much greater winning margin would not have flattered them.

Offaly were in control throughout the game and never looked in trouble.

They lead at half time by 1-08 to 0-05 with corner forward Niall McNamee showing some deft touches. McNamee scored 7 points and look a consummate forward.

To their credit Tipperary battled hard but they were simply not in the same class as Offaly.

One suspects that they will find life in the Thrid Divison somewhat difficult.