Tipp rue missed chances against efficient Kerry
GAA: Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 1
Tipperary 1-10
Kerry 2-19
Report: Stephen Barry in New Inn
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Paddy Lane (Kerry)
SCORERS - Tipperary: Daithí Hogan 0-6 (4 frees); Ben Carey 1-1; Billy Tierney, Joe Higgins, Darragh O’Connor 0-1 each.
Kerry: Tomás Kennedy 1-4 (0-2 marks); Daniel Kirby 1-3; Paddy Lane 0-5 (2 frees); Evan Boyle 0-2; Ben Murphy, Ciarán Collins, Odhrán Ferris, Liam Evans, Jack Tagney (free) 0-1 each.
Typical of April Fools’ Day, the scoreboard offered a misleading complexion as the Tipperary under 20 footballers got their Phase 2 Munster campaign underway with a twelve point defeat against Kerry.
The Premier carved out a half-dozen goal chances but couldn’t convert half enough of them while Tomás Ó Sé’s visitors missed next to nothing.
The wind played a prank on Tipp too. Having gusted behind the Kingdom in the first half, it died completely as Tipp were poised to launch a fightback from eight behind.
They did fight on with a catalogue of second-half goal openings but clinical Kerry struck for early and late majors via Tomás Kennedy (1-4) and Daniel Kirby (1-3).
This is a serious Kingdom team, even by their lofty standards, with nine starters that lost last year’s All-Ireland final to Tyrone, plus two used subs, still underage. All bar injured top-scorer Cormac Dillon fielded here.
Ó Sé’s backroom team is just as strong, featuring two inter-county senior managers in Mark Fitzgerald and Maurice Horan.
Midfield was the one line where they didn’t include a returning starter and that was Tipp’s strongest department with standout performances from the Clonmel Commercials pairing of Joe Higgins and Darragh O’Connor. They were well supported in the air and on breaks by JP Mbokha Tansia, who was a late addition to the starting team.
The Ballina man could’ve added two goals but was penalised for a square ball before he, like Higgins, was denied by Michael Tansley.
Paddy O’Keeffe couldn’t produce his usual sharp finishing when presented with a couple more chances. While Kerry’s elite efficiency saw them convert 81% of their shots, Tipp’s shooting faltered for a 46% return.
Kerry keeper Tansley also came up with a big win in the pre-match coin toss. Paddy Lane began with a pair of points to punish Tipp turnovers. The quick start continued with a goal, a disallowed goal, and a goal chance inside eight minutes. Tipp created two of those, but the green flag went to the visitors. Firstly, Paddy O’Keeffe’s scuffed shot was blocked by Gearóid Evans; and at the other end, Kerry were clinical with Donagh O’Sullivan’s attacking turnover providing for Kennedy’s classy finish.
Tipp hit the net within two minutes. Jamie O’Keeffe’s shot looked destined to go in before Mbokha Tansia’s final touch. It was correctly ruled out for a square ball. After a Daithí Hogan free, Kennedy’s mark and Kirby’s brace pushed Kerry 1-5 to 0-1 ahead.
When they breached the 4v3 structure by keeping insufficient defenders behind halfway, Hogan tapped over another. The St Patrick’s dangerman followed it with Tipp’s first from play after a smart move by O’Connor.
Kerry reeled off four in a row approaching the break, with Collins scoring before a Kennedy treble, capped off by his second mark. Tipp ended on a positive note with a patient attack rounded off by Ben Carey’s handpassed point to cut the half-time deficit to eight; 1-9 to 0-4.
They traded points in the early stages of the second half. Ben Murphy soloed forward from the throw-in for the opener. Hogan’s free was followed by O’Connor teeing up corner-back Billy Tierney to score. Evan Boyle then kicked his first of a fine second-half display.
Using their midfield edge, Tipp carved out three goal chances in three minutes. Dylan Cotter supplied Mbokha Tansia, but Tansley saved with his feet and Odhrán Ferris pointed on the counter.
Killian Butler’s turnover and Carey’s solo-and-go sent Higgins through, but Tansley palmed over his stinger. Hogan then fed Paddy O’Keeffe, who fired agonisingly wide.
Kirby and Liam Evans kicked points, but Tipp replied with 1-1. Mbokha Tansia forced an overcarrying free which led to O’Connor’s stylish point. From the kick-out, they put together a move to stretch Kerry through Carey, Charlie King, Thomas Charles, and Paddy O’Keeffe before the ball was returned to the untracked Ben Carey for a deserved goal. That made it 1-14 to 1-8 but Kerry began to fare better on the breaks to see out the victory.
A Paddy Lane brace and Boyle cancelled out the goal. Hogan’s one-two with O’Connor provided a Tipp response but a Jack Tagney free and Lane tagged on two more. Hogan tapped over a free on the hour before Kerry’s subs made a late impact. Ronan Carroll and Tagney combined to lay on for Kirby, who walked in their second green flag and applied an extra blow to Tipp’s score difference.
Tipperary play Clare in round 2 on Tuesday, 8th April at 7.00pm at a Tipperary venue.
TEAMS - Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore-Castleiney), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers), Charlie King (Ballina, Capt), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Darragh O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials); JP Mbokha Tansia (Ballina), Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels), Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials); Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers), Ben Carey (Ballylooby-Castlegrace).
Subs: Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Cotter (42); Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Charles (53); Cillian Ryan (Ballina) for Tierney (56, inj).
Kerry: Michael Tansley (Capt); Maidchí Lynch, Dara Stack, Gearóid Evans; Ben Murphy, Darragh O’Connor, Eddie Healy; Evan Boyle, Aaron Kennelly; Ciarán Collins, Donagh O’Sullivan, Daniel Kirby; Odhrán Ferris, Tomás Kennedy, Paddy Lane.
Subs: Liam Evans for Kennelly (41); Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich for Ferris (45), Ronan Carroll for Collins (49); Jack Tagney for O’Sullivan (54); Jack Murphy for Lynch (58).
Referee: Cormac Dineen (Cork).