Kerry 2-9
Donegal 0-12

Goals in either half from Paul Geaney and Kieran Donaghy proved decisive as Kerry defeated Donegal in a disappointing final to be crowned champions for a 37th time.

In a dour, defensive and scrappy encounter that was littered with unforced errors and poor finishing, the Kingdom won the tactical battle and the game to take the Sam Maguire home for the first time since 2009 and end Donegal's hopes of a second title in three years.

While the underdogs were the better team and frustrated Jim McGuinness' men by holding onto possession in the closing stages, the width of the post was all that denied Donegal a replay. Deep in stoppage-time, Colm McFadden saw his palmed effort come back off the butt of the post after Kerry goalkeeper Brian Kelly could only parry lively substitute Paddy McBrearty's deflected shot.

Despite Geaney's goal after just 50 seconds and a follow-up point from Donaghy, Kerry were reeled back in by Donegal as the sides went into the break on level terms, 1-3 to 0-6.

With both teams placing a huge emphasis on defence, the play deteriorated further after the restart. With James O'Donoghue - who failed to score - playing in a withdrawn role, the winners made a big breakthrough in the 52nd minute when Donaghy pounced on a dreadful mistake by Donegal 'keeper Paul Durcan to score their second goal.

With 10 minutes to go, the Kingdom had opened up a four-point lead, 2-8 to 0-10, but with McBrearty making a big impression at the other end, the Tir Chonaill men remained in contention and were just a whisker away from earning another bite at the cherry.

Kerry's victory is a remarkable achievement for their manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice who has guided them to the Promised Land in the wake of the high-profile retirements of Tomas O Se and Paul Galvin, and Colm Cooper's enforced injury layoff.

As expected, Donegal made two late changes which saw Rory Kavanagh and teenager Darach O'Connor replace Christy Toye and Paddy McBrearty in attack. Kerry lined out as selected.

The Kingdom made a sensational start when Paul Geaney held off Paddy McGrath to win possession from Stephen O'Brien's high ball and fire a right-footed shot low to the net. They extended their lead to four points in the third minute when Kieran Donaghy - who started out the field - raised the first white flag after Johnny Buckley's initial effort had rebounded from the post.

Michael Murphy opened Donegal's account from a 40-metre free in the fifth minute before adding a second free from outside the 45-metre line seven minutes later. At the other end, Donaghy was fouled by Anthony Thompson after making a trademark catch, and Geaney tapped over the free from 13 metres.

Donegal hearts skipped a collective beat moments later when James O'Donoghue's long ball hopped narrowly wide after goalkeeper Paul Durcan was caught in no man's land. Had the loitering Geaney got a touch to it, the umpires would have been reaching for the green flag again.

Following that let-off, Murphy slotted over his third free - this time from 30 metres - to narrow the gap to two, 0-3 to 1-2. As Donegal continued to feel their way into the game, Colm McFadden popped over another free from the hands.

The Ulster champions were just inches away from finding the net in the 24th minute when the two late replacements - Rory Kavanagh and Darach O'Connor - combined for the latter to fire across the face of the goal.

Kerry should have had a goal themselves two minutes later when Geaney once again out-fielded Paddy McGrath from James O'Donoghue's centre, but the corner forward blazed high and over to bring his tally to 1-2.

Just minutes after he could have been a hero, O'Connor made way for the experienced Christy Toye. Donegal's momentum continued to grow as Ordhan MacNiallais scored a brilliant soccer-style point (their first from play) before Karl Lacey got in on the scoring act after being set up by fellow half back Thompson to bring the North-Westerners level for the first time.

A poor, but nevertheless intriguing first half ended with wides for Donaghy (via the outside of the upright) and Lacey.

Kerry resumed with Michael Geaney on for Stephen O'Brien, but they fell behind for the first time in the 38th minute when Michael Murphy scored his fourth and first from play from 40 metres. Donegal's lead didn't last long, though, as Paul Murphy came up from wing back to kick a fine equaliser.

A long-range David Moran effort came back off the post before Paul Geaney registered the Munster champions' seventh wide. Donegal were also guilty of poor shooting as Murphy and McFadden registered wides.

Paddy McBrearty made his entrance in the 45th minute, replacing the ineffective Ryan McHugh, who had been man of the match against Dublin. Three minutes later, the Kingdom introduced Barry John Keane for goal-scorer Geaney. But further wides from Donnachadh Walsh and Michael Geaney brought their tally to 10.

The scoring drought was finally ended in the 51st minute when Keane popped over a 13-metre free after the raiding Killian Young was grounded. Disaster then struck for Donegal when Paul Durcan's short kick-out went straight to Kieran Donaghy who blasted home Kerry's second goal to give them a 2-5 to 0-7 lead.

But the response from Donegal was very impressive as sub McBrearty notched two points in a minute before Neil McGee came up from the full back line to leave the minimum in it with only his third ever championship point.

Kerry wrestled back the initiative with a huge score from Johnny Buckley, Keane's second 13-metre free (which he won himself) and a fisted effort from Donaghy after he fielded a cross-field pass from Aidan O'Mahony.

Donegal rallied again with points from Dermot 'Brick' Molloy, with his first touch, and Christy Toye to reduce the deficit to two, 0-12 to 2-8, with four minutes remaining.

However, one sensed that it was going to be Kerry's day when Bryan Sheehan nailed a 46-minute free just seconds after entering the fray. Donegal's frustration was summed up when their captain Murphy received a yellow card. Donaghy received a standing ovation as he made way for Kieran O'Leary at the beginning of stoppage-time.

Barry John Keane picked up a yellow card for cynically kicking the ball away before the game ended in a welter of excitement when McBrearty and McFadden were both denied an equalising goal.

A Kerry free ensued, followed by a black card by Johnny Buckley in the last action of a final that failed to live up to expectations.

Kerry:  B Kelly; M Ó Sé, A O'Mahony, F Fitzgerald; P Murphy (0-01), P Crowley, K Young; A Maher, D Moran; S O'Brien, J Buckley (0-01), D Walsh; P Geaney (1-02, 0-1f), K Donaghy (1-02, 0-1f), J O'Donoghue. Subs: M Geaney for O'Brien, BJ Keane (0-02, 2f) for P Geaney, S Enright for Fitzgerald, D O'Sullivan for Walsh, B Sheehan (0-01, f) for Moran, K O'Leary for Donaghy

Donegal: P Durcan; E McGee, N McGee (0-01), P McGrath; A Thompson, K Lacey (0-01), F McGlynn; N Gallagher, R Kavanagh; O MacNiallais (0-01), L McLoone, R McHugh; D O'Connor, M Murphy (0-04, 3f), C McFadden (0-01, f). Subs: C Toye (0-01) for O'Connor, P McBrearty (0-02) for McHugh, M McElhinney for MacNiallais, D Walsh for McLoone, D Molloy (0-01) for Kavanagh

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois)

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