Kerry 1-18

Galway 0-13

A textbook Kieran Donaghy goal in the 13th minute laid the foundations for what was ultimately a comfortable Kerry victory over Galway in a tepid All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park.

Donaghy gave an exhibition of high fielding and was a constant thorn in the side of the Galway defence in a superb first half performance before receiving a standing ovation from the Kingdom faithful following his substitution in the 57^th minute. Paul Murphy, David Moran and substitute Stephen O'Brien also impressed for a Kerry team that was far from its best, yet still managed 1-18 as they progressed to another All-Ireland semi-final.

For Galway, it was a second successive All-Ireland quarter-final loss, but it wasn't as if they didn't have their chances against opponents who looked to be there for the taking. The beaten Connacht finalists passed up on at least three guilt-edged goal-scoring opportunities - misses which proved costly as their 52-year wait for a championship win over Kerry continues.

Kerry led by 1-10 to 0-8 at half-time, but went through a ropey spell in the third quarter before eventually pulling away for an eight-point victory. Sean Armstrong worked tirelessly in attack for Galway, but he didn't have sufficient support on a day when the other half of the 'Terrible Twins', Michael Meehan, surprisingly failed to make an appearance.

Kerry opened the scoring through Paul Murphy before they coughed up the first of two first half goal chances when Ian Burke broke clear, only for Brian Kelly to tip his shot over for a point. Johnny Buckley restored the Kingdom's lead and James O'Donoghue made it 0-3 to 0-1 before Sean Armstrong left the minimum in it again.

Paul Geaney opened his account for the afternoon before Kerry surged five clear when Donaghy brilliantly fielded over David Walsh, who was a late replacement for Cathal Sweeney in the Galway full back line, before showing some neat footwork and blasting to the net.

Ian Burke replied with a point for the Tribesmen before Donaghy fisted over after making another trademark catch. A Shane Walsh free and a Michael Daly point after Hawkeye had intervened left Galway just three adrift, 0-5 to 1-5, after 19 minutes before James O'Donoghue had a goal ruled out.

O'Donoghue, however, had better luck from a free before further scores from Paul Geaney, David Moran and Johnny Buckley pushed out the Kerry lead to seven points, 1-9 to 0-5. Sean Armstrong responded with Galway's first score in 13 minutes as Kerry defender Shane Enright picked up a yellow card for a heavy hit on Johnny Heaney.

Kerry had another huge let-off when Fionn Fitzgerald cleared Damien Comer's low shot off the goal-line before the ball was recycled back to Burke who fired over. Burke narrowed the gap with his fourth point before Donnachadh Walsh's effort in the fourth minute of injury-time completed the first half scoring.

The first point of the second half came six minutes in from a Sean Armstrong free after the raiding Michael Daly had been on the receiving end of a neck-high tackle from Peter Crowley just outside the 20-metre line. Galway were left to rue another missed goal-scoring opportunity moments later when Brian Kelly produced another superb save to deny Armstrong after Gareth Bradshaw had burst forward.

Kerry were struggling badly at this juncture, but Paul Murphy settled them with their first point of the half. Eamonn Brannigan, who had just come on for the disappointing Shane Walsh, kept the pressure on the Munster champions with a fine point before David Moran (a palmed effort which clipped the crossbar) and the tireless Armstrong traded scores to leave it 1-12 to 0-11.

But by now Kerry's strong bench was beginning to tell as subs Jack Savage and Stephen O'Brien both raised white flags before Paul Geaney's free restored their seven-point advantage, 1-15 to 0-11.

Ian Burke ended a 14-minute scoring drought for an increasingly ragged and dispirited Galway, only for Stephen O'Brien and Barry John Keane - who replaced Donaghy - to reply with three unanswered points.

All that Galway could muster in the six minutes of stoppage-time allotted by referee David Coldrick was a late Johnny Heaney effort as they came up well short.

Kerry - B Kelly; S Enright, M Griffin, F Fitzgerald; T Morley, P Crowley, P Murphy (0-2); D Moran (0-2), J Barry; M Geaney, J Buckley (0-2), D Walsh (0-1); P Geaney (0-4, 1f), K Donaghy (1-1), J O'Donoghue (0-1f). Subs: S O'Brien (0-2) for M Geaney, J Savage (0-1) for J O'Donoghue, A Maher for J Barry, B J Keane (0-2) for K Donaghy, K Young for T Morley, J Lyne for D Walsh.

Galway - B Power; E Kerin, D Kyne, D Walsh; G O'Donnell, G Bradshaw, L Silke; P Conroy, T Flynn; J Heaney (0-1), M Daly (0-1), S Walsh (0-1f); I Burke (0-5, 1f), D Comer, S Armstrong (0-4, 1f). Subs: C Sweeney for D Walsh, E Brannigan (0-1) for S Walsh, M Farragher for G Bradshaw, F O Curraoin for M Daly, C McDaid for T Flynn, D Cummins for S Armstrong.

Referee - D Coldrick.

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