Quillinan's side showed character in second half after stern half-time talk
When substitute Liam O'Brien fired over the insurance point, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise on Saturday Kerry manager Wayne Quillinan could finally relax. His Kerry minor football side had subdued the dogged resistance of Cavan.
This All-Ireland quarter-final, in windy conditions, never hit any great heights, but there was an unrelenting stubbornness about the Breffni men all afternoon. Without playing to near their potential, the Kingdom youngsters, just about, got the job done.
'I suppose it's only one emotion really. It's just relief to get over the line with this of bunch of players who showed a bit of character there, particularly when they got the goal. We got the next three points in a row, but then we just let it slip, uncharacteristic errors, and we know that,' said Quillinan.
'We'll be told it now in the next couple of weeks by people, but we know it. We're the most important people that would know it. We just didn't play the way that we we'd like to have played.'
With wind advantage in the opening half, Kerry hit nine wides as their decision-making and shot execution let them down. Only ahead by the bare minimum at the break (0-6 to 0-5), they simply had to respond on the changeover.
'From an energy point of view, and a work-rate point of view, the first half wasn't good enough. The boys were told in no uncertain terms that it wasn't good enough when you're wearing the Kerry jersey. So they brought a different energy after that.
'If there's a moment of toughness on the pitch, go back to what you know. Don't come outside the box. I thought for the first 10, 15 minutes, even 20 minutes of the second half, I thought we did that. We were structured. We were composed, and we just worked.'
That opening 20 minutes of the second half was the Munster champions at their best. Despite conceding a goal, expertly finished by Cavan corner-back Matthew Duffy, they hit seven points, and almost raised three green flags themselves, all efforts foiled by Breffni 'keeper Cian McConnell.
Leading by five points (0-13 to 1-5), Kerry then faded dramatically, as the Ulster side hit four unanswered scores to leave the winners battling to hang on in an exciting finale. O'Brien's late, late point was absolutely crucial.
'The big thing for us is you talk about character, it's the learning that we're going to take out of this. I told the lads inside, listen, enjoy the moment. They're young fellas. They have made an All-Ireland semi-final. It doesn't happen every day,' stressed the Kerry boss.
Scorers for Kerry: B Kelliher (0-5, 0-2fs), K Griffin (0-3, 1tpf), G White (0-2, 0-1f), D Murphy, T O'Connell, P Ó Mainnín, L O'Brien (0-1 each).
Scorers for Cavan: J Graham (0-5, 0-2fs, 1tpf), M Duffy (1-0), F Graham, G McCabe, C McConnell, N Quigley (0-1 each).
KERRY: R Kennedy; R Sheridan, E Joy, T Ó Slatara; D Murphy, D Sargent, M Clifford; M Ó Sé, J Curtin; M O'Carroll, G White, A Tuohy; N Lacey, K Griffin, B Kelliher.
Subs: T O'Connell for Lacey (41), P Ó Mainnín for Griffin (48), L O'Brien for Kelliher (56), J Kissane for Tuohy (58), C McGibney for Clifford (60+3).
CAVAN: C McConnell; D Brady, C Bough, M Duffy; M Smith, H McMullen, J Donohoe; S Maguire, F Graham; CJ Fitzpatrick, J Brady, C Smith; F McIntyre, N Quigley, J Graham.
Subs: D Lynch for Fitzpatrick (36), S Smith for C Smith (47), G McCabe for M Smith (48), K Heery for McMullan (54).
Referee: N Quinn (Clare).
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At 31, not quite the force he was but will be entrusted by Jim McGuinness to do a job before inevitably being hauled ashore midway through the second half. 9 Michael Langan - 9 Comes into the final on the crest of a wave after a series of big performances, not least in the semi-final win over Meath, when he notched 0-4 to bring his season's total to 1-25. A huge talent who has settled at midfield this year having played much of his football from wing-forward. 10 Shane O'Donnell - 8 Not a prolific scorer but his best attributes bring a nice blend to the Donegal attack as his fingerprints are on the scores of so many others, both in terms of giving the final pass and his ability to break defensive lines with his ball-carrying ability. A player who has blossomed under McGuinness. 11 Ciaran Thompson - 7 His huge left boot has proven a very useful weapon in the new game, with his ability to kick two-pointers augmenting a tally of 1-22 in this Championship campaign. The only player to have been on the field for every minute of Donegal's 10-game run to this final. 12 Ciaran Moore - 8 Scored a brilliant goal in the semi-final win over Meath to go with his crucial strike in the Ulster final win over Armagh, while he also came up with the dramatic late winner against Mayo which showcased his athleticism and accuracy, not to mention his ability to come up with big moments. 13 Conor O'Donnell - 8 If Donegal needed something more after last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway, then O'Donnell has provided much of it having upped his game and become much more of a scoring threat with the 3-21 that he has notched across this campaign making him their top scorer from play. 14 Michael Murphy - 9 Donegal's Michael Murphy takes a free (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) Albeit he may have retired a bit too prematurely for most people's liking, not least McGuinness's, Murphy's legacy as an all-time great was already assured when he stepped aside in 2022. But now, given what he has brought to the team after two seasons away, he is embellishing it with one of the great comeback stories. 15 Oisin Gallen - 7 Looked poised for a big summer but made a slow start to the Championship and wasn't always on the starting team, though he is finding his best form as the Championship reaches its climax. The quality of his finish from a tight angle against Meath spoke of a man whose confidence is surging. Donegal bench - 9 McGuinness will keep us all guessing on what his starting team will be right up to the throw-in, and there's every chance that the likes of Caolan McGonagle will be in the first 15 yet. Whatever the combination, McGuinness will have strong options over his shoulder, led by captain Paddy McBrearty, Daire Ó Baoill and Jason McGee, with the bench contributing 0-28 across their 10 Championship games. Total: 127 The squads cannot be separated, even if the bookies have Kerry as marginal favourites. The draw is priced at 13/2 for those interested. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
