Kerry 2-18 Tipperary 0-7
TWO opportunist early goals, the first less than half a minute after the throw-in, proved telling for Kerry as they brushed aside the challenge of Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles this Wednesday night to book their place in the Munster Minor Football Championship final.
A disappointing attendance saw Jack O’Connor’s side produce a workmanlike and effective performance and vital scores at key points in the game ensured they had the edge all through.
Kerry got off to a dream start when An Ghaeltacht corner forward Tomás Ó Sé – called into the side in place of the injured Cathal Bambury – finished the ball to the Tipp net and although the home side fought back, putting the strong breeze to good advantage when notching two points, Kerry were soon back in control.
Kerry’s second goal, early in the first half, was a real Dr Crokes’ effort with the lively Micheál Burns setting up his sharpshooting clubmate Jordan Kiely who followed his two-goal salvo against Clare with another clever strike to put Kerry 2-1 to 0-2 ahead.
A terrific point-scoring exhibition from Templenoe’s Killian Spillane, who was lethal from play and placed balls, was the real difference between the sides and his 10-point tally broke Tipperary hearts.
Spillane’s marksmanship helped Kerry to a 2-3 to 0-4 interval lead and they didn’t take their feet off the pedal on the resumption with a rapid-fire succession of points, courtesy of Brian Rayle, Tomás Ó Sé, Matthew Flaherty, substitutes Cormac Coffey and Stephen O’Sullivan and, in particular, the devastating Spillane who was the outstanding player on view.
Even Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan got his name on the scoresheet when the Rathmore netminder booted over 45 to help Kerry to an emphatic 2-18 to 0-7 victory.
The Kerry line-up was Shane Ryan, Rathmore; Jack Morgan, Austin Stacks; Brian Begley, An Ghaeltacht; Tom O’Sullivan, Dingle; Dan O’Donoghue, Spa; Andrew Barry, Na Gaeil; Brian Sugrue, Renard; Barry O’Sullivan, Dingle; Mark O’Connor, Dingle; Matthew Flaherty, Dingle; Brian Rayle, Lispole; Micheál Burns, Dr Crokes; Jordan Kiely, Dr Crokes; Killian Spillane, Templenoe; Tomas Ó Sé, An Ghaeltacht. Subs: Cormac Coffey, Stephen O’Sullivan, Liam Kearney, Shane Cronin, Patrick Clifford, Jason Foley.
