
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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RTÉ News
19 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
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Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
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Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
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Kerry and Donegal player ratings suggest an outside bet for All-Ireland final
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A Rathmore club mate of Shane Ryan. He's 33 now, but has all the football and won't give up. Can also get forward to score. 3 Jason Foley - 8 Pace to burn. He's had troubles at times with marquee forwards, but has the resilience and experience to stick at it and often comes out on top, or does enough. Kerry wouldn't start without him. Has the physique and power for full back and a very sticky marker. 4 Dylan Casey - 7 Casey has forced his way into the side this year. Had a first half to forget against Armagh, being stripped for a goal chance and backing off a kickout that led to a goal, but he's held his place. This is the Tralee man's fourth year on the squad. 5 Brian Ó BeaglaoÍch - 8 One of the most underrated Kerry players. Took a couple of hugely pressurised short kickout against Dublin in the 2022 All-Ireland semi-final win that showed his mettle. You don't lose that. Has defied ongoing injury issues to get himself right for Championship again. Well capable of scoring and now a proper hard nosed defender. 6 Mike Breen - 7 The fact he missed the emphatic Armagh win and was still brought straight back in to start the semi-final says a lot. Hugely athletic and quick enough to mark and drive forward. Plagued by injury in recent years, otherwise he would have been an established regular for a season or two now. 7 Gavin White - 8 Kerry's Gavin White ahead of the All-Ireland SFC semi-final (Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie) One of Kerry's very best. Has that relentlessness and pace to match anything Donegal have. His face has the cut of a serious athlete. His ability to pass and go makes him a serious goal threat. Often cuts the holes for the Cliffords and co to exploit. The skipper's hard runs have to be watched. 8 Seán O'Brien - 7 A relative unknown to most outside Kerry but they don't let many shrinking violets into the Kerry midfield. The Beaufort man, like Mark O'Shea, has taken full advantage of the absence of midfield duo Diarmuid O'Connor and Barry Dan O'Sullivan to claim a starting place. Gives that engine Kerry need to purr. 9 Mark O'Shea - 7 Only made his first Kerry Championship start in June, against Meath. His towering presence on kickouts has proven a weapon in the new game, breaking and catching ball. Will probably jump with Michael Langan. He's come out of nowhere, relatively speaking. A former basketball player, he is a nephew of coaching legend and former Kerry boss, Pat. 10 Joe O'Connor - 9 If there wasn't a David Clifford, O'Connor would be right in the hunt for Footballer of the Year. A nightmare to play against. Never stops, going box to box. It's clear how badly he wants it. All Star in waiting. Also a serious goal threat. Hit a stunning goal against Cork in the Munster semi-final. 11 Seán O'Shea - 9 Incredible attitude to go with his incredible accuracy from dead balls and play. Wasn't naturally physically, but brings that now - along with serious energy. Does the donkey work. His nine scores from nine shots against Armagh, for 0-12, was off the charts stuff. Jack O'Connor says he's the spiritual leader of the side. 12 Graham O'Sullivan - 7 O'Sullivan was outstanding in the 2022 All-Ireland Final victory over Galway so the occasion will hold no fears for him. You need a lot of football, brains and the right attitude to switch from wing back to wing forward, especially in a county like Kerry where this type of move is scrutinised heavily. Works all day and can score too. 13 David Clifford - 10 Kerry's David Clifford (Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon) The three-up rule means he has no real weakness now. Teams can't run him up and down. Occasionally has pot shots but his range and back catalogue means he's allowed them more than anyone else. Attracts attention for others to shine. A 6' 4' Gooch built like a brick outhouse with searing pace in tight areas. His sheer power is frightening. 14 Paudie Clifford - 9 What a footballer and he brings that ruthless competitive edge with it. Doesn't mind letting lads know about it either. The ultimate heads-up football. Always looking to kick forward, and as good a foot passer as there is in the country - quantity and quality. Coupled with huge mobility, pace and silky ball carrying it make him a nightmare to tag. 15 Dylan Geaney - 7 A clever footballer who has slotted in well to the Kerry attack and can score goals. He's in his third year on the panel. Conor Geaney, who started against Armagh, is his brother and Paul Geaney is his cousin. They all play for Dingle. Paul's injury has helped him start and he's taken full advantage. Kerry Bench - 8 Paul Geaney and Diarmuid O'Connor are two big guns to have on any bench, but how fit they are is another question. Donegal will be fully prepped for the entry of both. Micheál Burns is capable of a big impact. Killian Spillane remains a dangerous scorer and Tony Brosnan is a proven option. Total: 127 Donegal 1 Shaun Patton - 9 Endured a nightmare first half in the quarter-final against Monaghan and while that is very much an outlier, it may give Kerry encouragement to go after him. But Patton, with the speed at which he gets the ball on the tee and accuracy from there, is arguably the best in the business. 2 Finbarr Roarty - 8 Donegal's Finnbarr Roarty makes a superb block to deny Louth's Peter Lynch (Image: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty) The 19-year-old has taken to inter-county football seamlessly having only made his debut this year - and it would have come a year earlier if Jim McGuinness had his way. A strong tackler and hard runner, he has also chipped in at the other end, scoring 1-5 en route to the final. 3 Brendan McCole - 9 It's a virtual certainty that he will be assigned the man-marking job on David Clifford, and it's a duel that will likely be crucial to the outcome of the final. His task is so gargantuan that McCole will need cover from his defensive colleagues, but he is the best-equipped defender in the game to take it on. 4 Peadar Mogan - 8 An All Star last year as Donegal reached the semi-final but while he has arguably not scaled the same heights this year, his black card against Mayo being a low point, he is still performing to a high level and has got upfield to telling effect with 0-12 to his name in 10 Championship games. 5 Ryan McHugh - 7 He has been one of the greatest players across a very successful era for Donegal with five Ulster Championships to his name but, having arrived onto the scene in 2013, the All-Ireland is still elusive. Arguably no Donegal player deserves it more than the dashing wing-back, who may be asked to pick up Paudie Clifford. 6 Eoghan Ban Gallagher - 7 Has found his home on the half-back line at this stage having been employed at corner-back for much of his Donegal career, which has been hampered by injury episodes. Experienced player and a strong ball-carrier but may be vulnerable to being benched if McGuinness plumps for Caolan McGonagle. 7 Caolan McColgan - 7 Yet another speed merchant in a side teeming with them, McColgan broke into the side following the group stage loss to Tyrone, scoring a goal against Cavan. May have been down the pecking order after his club, Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin (Muff), reached the All-Ireland junior final but kept hold of the jersey once he got his chance. 8 Hugh McFadden - 7 One of the survivors from Donegal's last All-Ireland final in 2014, his debut season, though he didn't see action in the defeat to Kerry. 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.