February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
McCarthy stepped comfortably into O’Driscoll’s boots with a great performance that included four Bingoesque frees and one magnificent goal. He had an able running mate in Stephen Flynn whose two goals kept Donegal at bay.
Kerry led 1-10 to 0-6 at halftime, but Donegal opened the second half with three straight Joe Sweeney points. Donegal were on the comeback trail, but McCarthy pointed and Flynn followed with his second goal. Dave McSweeney tacked on another point for the Kingdom but Donegal were not yet dead. Mark McClafferty was pulled down for a penalty and Vernon Gallagher stitched it.
Then with Kerry leading 2-14 to 1-10, McCarthy finished it. Substitute Paudie Mulvihill chipped the ball skillfully to his hand and fed Flynn. Flynn found McCarthy, and McCarthy found the top corner with as pretty a goal as you’ll see anywhere. That was that and Kerry ran their record to 2-0 while Donegal leveled out at 1-1.
Man of the Match: Dave McCarthy
Kerry: Finbar Flood, Derek Riney, Sammy Finn, Adrian Finn, Pa Murphy, Dennis Carroll (0-2), Don Murphy, Mike Bishop (0-2), Dave McCarthy (1-9), Collie Fearon, Michael O’Donnell, Dave McSweeney (0-2), John Golden, Stephen Flynn (2-2). Subs: Paudie Mulvihill, John Loftus (0-1).
Donegal: Eunan Doherty, Mark McClafferty, Nicky Doherty, Christy Ryan, Gerry Kelly, Mike Maguire (0-1), Martin Donaghy, Adrian Mahon, Seamus Fitzgerald, Joe Sweeney (0-4), John Mason (0-1), Anton Diver, Connie Molloy, Vernon Gallagher (1-5, 1 penalty), Pat McGill.