Kerry 4-11, Longford 1-11. Full-forward Kieran Donaghy scored a single point and was still the obvious candidate for man of the match. It was enshrined in that iconic headline that became shorthand for his arrival: ‘A Star is born.’ Despite his sole white flag, Donaghy had a hand in 4-4 in that fixture. He was a focal point on the edge of the square, content to facilitate a constellation of strikers around him. In a world obsessed with scores, he craved the obscure commodity: Assists.

Source: Irish Examiner December 30, 2025 10:04 UTC