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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