Kerry make light work of Tipp

GAA: Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Kerry 0-25

Tipperary 0-5

Report: Liam Hogan in Killarney

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Tony Brosnan (Kerry).

SCORERS – Kerry: Sean O’Shea 0-7 (4 frees); Tony Brosnan 0-5; Tom O’Sullivan 0-3; Paul Geaney, David Clifford (frees) 0-2 each; Dara Moynihan, Diarmuid O’Connor, Paudie Clifford, Jason Foley, Killian Spillane, Ruairi Murphy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Jack Kennedy 0-2 (1 free, 1 45); Kevin Fahey, Colm O’Shaughnessy, Stephen Quirke 0-1 each.

This Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final went as expected as Kerry cruised to a twenty-point win over Tipperary at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday.

The first half produced fourteen points with Tipp managing just two, the first after eleven minutes which saw Kevin Fahey equalise after Paudie Clifford had given Kerry the opening score after nine minutes.

The home side went on to score five unanswered points with Paul Geaney, David Clifford (free), Dara Moynihan, Diarmuid O’Connor and Seanie O’Shea by the 23rd minute.

Tipp went in search of a score and Colm O’Shaughnessy scored a brilliant point from forty metres out close to the side-line after 24 minutes.

However, Kerry resumed scoring often forcing fifteen Tipperary players behind the ball as the Kingdom’s attack swung the ball from wing to wing and a sudden cut through the Tipp defence allowed corner back Tom O’Sullivan to score from the outside of his left boot, closely followed by a David Clifford free on the half hour mark.

One minute later, Clifford was at the end of another mesmerising move and he won a penalty. However, Michael O’Reilly saved well. Yet Kerry came again, and full back Jason Foley scored with Sean O’Shea also on target before Tony Brosnan and Paul Geaney added a point each with the half time score reading Kerry 0-12 Tipperary 0-2.

Two Sean O’Shea points meant Kerry remained on course at the start of the second half. Tipperary needed something quick but had to wait until the 39th minute for Jack Kennedy to point a free after Stephen O’Brien was fouled. Both Tony Brosnan and Jack Kennedy (45) swapped points but Kerry were playing ducks and drakes with Tipp as David Clifford (free) and Tom O’Sullivan made it 0-17 to 0-4 after 45 minutes.

Despite the lob-sided nature of the scoreline, Tipperary never gave up. Shane O’Connell kept David Clifford in check while Colman Kennedy, Jack Kennedy and Colm O’Shaughnessy battled on while up front Stephen Quirke won two marks, the second leading to a score in the 50th minute.

Tipperary would failed to score in the remaining minutes while Kerry scored seven more with Tony Brosnan going on to added three while Tom O’Sullivan increased his tally to three with Sean O’Shea becoming top scorer with seven points while Kerry manager Jack O’Connor would be pleased to see substitutes Ruairi Murphy and Killian Spillane also getting on the score-sheet as they head into the Munster final against Clare while Tipperary look forward to the Tailteann Cup.

TEAMS - Kerry: Shane Ryan; Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Tadgh Morley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Barry; Dara Moynihan, Sean O’Shea, Paudie Clifford; Tony Brosnan, David Clifford, Paul Geaney.

Subs: Brian O Beaglaioch for Murphy (54); Barry Dan O’Sullivan for Barry (54); Killian Spillane for Geaney (54); Stephen O’Brien for P Clifford (59); Ruairi Murphy for Moynihan (59).

Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly (Clonmel Commercials); Shane O’Connell (Golden Kilfeacle), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Willie Eviston (Loughmore/Castleiney); Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Colman Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan); Mark Russell (Aherlow), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials); Emmett Moloney (Drom & Inch), Teddy Doyle (Ballina), Keith Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane); Steven O’Brien (Ballina, Capt), Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers), Cathal Deeley (Clonmel Commercial).

Subs: Luke Boland for Moloney (51-53); Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Fahey (55); Mikey O’Shea (Mullinahone) for Doyle (59); Donough Leahy (Arravale Rovers) for O’Brien (63); Mark Kehoe (Mullinahone) for Eviston (63); Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) for Quirke (65).

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).