Unconvincing Tipp beat Kerry in Munster U20 Hurling opener

GAA: O’Neill’s Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 1

Kerry 0-13

Tipperary 3-15

Report: Shane Brophy in Tralee

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Kerry: Ronan Walsh 0-5 (4 frees); Nathan Guerin 0-4 (1 free); Kieran Carroll 0-2; Felim O’Sullivan, Dylan Moriarty (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Peter McGarry 1-2; Shane Gleeson 0-4 frees; Ed Connolly, Paddy Creedon 1-1 each; Kyle Shelly 0-3 frees; Eddie Ryan, Jack Leamy, Conor Cadell, Sean Kenneally 0-1 each.

Tipperary got their Munster Under 20 Hurling campaign off to a winning start but were far from convincing in their win over Kerry on Wednesday evening.

Played in difficult conditions with Tipp playing into the strong wind in the first half, Ed Connolly opened the scoring inside the first minute but for the next twenty minutes they were dominated by Kerry, although Tipp were largely the creators of their own difficulty with sloppy passing as they worked the ball through the hands.

Felim O’Sullivan brought Kerry level before Jack Leamy nudged Tipp back in front before Kerry went onto reel off six unanswered points to lead 0-7 to 0-2 after thirteen minutes and it could have been greater but for Jason O’Dwyer making a fine save to deny Nathan Guerin who scored three points from play in the opening half for the home side.

Peter McGarry pointed before Shane Gleeson was superbly denied by Kerry keeper Keltyn Molloy with Paddy Creedon pointing after the subsequent 65 fell short. Ronan Walsh and Eddie Ryan traded scores before Walsh restored Kerry’s four point lead on 25 minutes and they should have been further ahead for Ed Connolly scored Tipp’s first goal on 27 minutes. Shane Gleeson converted two frees for an undeserved 1-7 to 0-9 half time lead.

Even with the elements at their backs, Tipp struggled to put a plucky Kerry side away and they were level going into the final quarter but the losses of top scorers Ronan Walsh and captain Darragh Slattery to injury were costly and Paddy Creedon’s goal in the 48th minute opened the game up for Tipperary with Peter McGarry, who created that goal, got one for himself in added time for a flattering eleven point win.

Tipperary face Waterford in Thurles next Wednesday in round 2.

TEAMS: Kerry: Keltyn Molloy; Adam Segal, Darragh Conway, Kyle O’Connor; Darragh Slattery, Daire Nolan, Rory O’Mahony; Felim O’Sullivan, Luke Crowley; Ronan Walsh, Sean Brosnan, Nathan Guerin; Jack Sheehan, Colin Walsh, Kieran Carroll.

Subs: Dylan Moriarty for Walsh (42 inj); Charlie Keating for Crowley (53); Mikey Clifford for Slattery (56 inj); Aidan O’Connor for Brosnan (60); Padraig O’Sullivan for Carroll (60+3).

Tipperary: Jason O’Dwyer (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Conor O’Dwyer (Cashel King Cormacs), Ciaran Lloyd (Moyne-Templetuohy), Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane); Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormac), James Armstrong (Thurles Sarsfields), Michael Corcoran (Silvermines); John Campion (Drom & Inch), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields); Ed Connolly (Loughmore/Castleiney), Shane Gleeson (Kiladangan), Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); Jack Leamy (Golden-Kilfeacle), Peter McGarry (St Mary’s), Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields).

Subs: Conor McKelvey (Silvermines) for Corcoran (34 inj); Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris) for Gleeson (39); Conor Cadell (JK Brackens) for Ryan (42); Conor O’Brien (Mullinahone) for McKelvey (blood 50-52); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) for Leamy (57); Conor O’Brien for Armstrong (60+3).

Referee: Nicholas O’Toole (Kerry)