ESB Munster Minor Football Championship – Kerry 1-12 Tipperary 2-7

Kerry defeated Tipperary by 1-12 to 2-7 in the ESB Munster Minor Football Championship on Wednesday at Austin Stack Park Tralee.Tipperary will now play the winners of Clare and Waterford on April 24th for a place in the Munster semi-final. 

Kerry rattled by battling Premier 

Kerry 1-12 Tipperary 2-7 

By Brendan Larkin for the Irish Examiner newspaper 

Thursday, April 15, 2010 

KERRY had their expected victory over Tipperary in the opening round of the ESB Munster MFC in Tralee last night but it was a close-run thing in the finish as Tipperary banged in two late goals to leave the home side hanging on with just two points to spare. In truth the final scoreline is not a true reflection of the game as Kerry were always in control of a game that rarely reached the heights. However had the visitors not wasted a gilt-edged goal chance in the opening half, the result might have been different. Judgment on this Kerry team will be reserved until later but the majority of the 2,002 spectators went home happy in the knowledge that there are a couple of excellent players on the horizon. 

Full back David Culhane, centre back Laurence Bastible and wing back and captain James Walsh excelled in defence; Damien Somers and George Durrant did well at midfield after a shaky start while up front the pace of Mark Reen, and the excellent point scoring of Eanna O’Connor and Gavin O’Grady ensured the home side advanced to the semi-final. Playing an excellent brand of direct fast football, Kerry hit Tipp early and often with scores to lead 1-4 to nil after just eight minutes and the signs were ominous for the visitors. Mark Reen began the scoring burst with a point after 40 seconds and when the same player took a delightful pass from Gavin O’Grady before slipping home a goal, Kerry got the best possible start. 

Eanna O’Connor who was the only survivor from the starting 15 which won last year’s title, landed a point from a sideline kick and to confirm just how dominant Kerry were in that opening period, Gavin O’Grady pointed a 40-metre free to put his side seven points ahead. Kerry were totally on top in most sectors of the field but strangely, struggled at midfield where the tall Kevin Seymour and John O’Callaghan were dominant, and it came as a surprise when Tipp took off Seymour in the 20th minute. 

Tipperary switched full forward Billy Hewitt out onto the 40 for the remainder of the half and it had the desired effect. They finally got on the scoresheet with a Liam Boland point and two more by Hewitt had them back in the game. Hewitt lost a glorious chance of a goal when Liam Boland put him through, but with only the keeper to beat, he blazed wide. It was a huge let off for Kerry who had gone eight minutes without a score before Barry Dwyer landed a point which gave his side a 1-6 to 0-3 half-time lead. 

Kerry maintained their strong grip in the second half and the scores continued to flow. By the end of the third quarter they had stretched their lead to nine points, 1-11 to 0-5 and looked on course for a comprehensive victory. However Tipp finished strongly with two goals in the closing minutes, and were made to rue that costly miss by Billy Hewitt in the first half. 

Scorers for Kerry: M Reen, 1-2; G O’Grady, 0-4, (2f); E O’Connor, 0-3, (2f); B Dwyer, 0-2; T Hickey, 0-1. 

Scorers for Tipperary: L Boland, 1-3 (0-1f); S Leahy, 1-1; B Hewitt, 0-3, (1f). 

KERRY: P McCarthy; P Kilkenny, D Culhane, F McNamara; J Walsh, L Bastible, J Hickson; D Somers, G Durrant; M Reen, T Hickey, M Mangan; B Dwyer, G O’Grady, E O’Connor.
Subs: J Moynihan for Dwyer, 42; T Morley for O’Grady, A Thompson for Hickson, both 50; E Kiely for Somers, 55; C Cox for O’Connor, 58. 

TIPPERARY: P Nolan; P Dalton, J Ryan, S Taylor; M Murphy, N O’Meara, P O’Meara; K Seymour, J O’Callaghan; D Leahy, B Harkin, B Maher; L Boland, B Hewitt, L McGrath.
Subs: M O’Sullivan for Murphy, 9; S Leahy for Seymour, 20; K Kennedy for N O’Meara, 35; C O’Sullivan for J Ryan, 44; S Power for B Maher, 45; L Treacy for D Leahy, 50. 

Referee: Roy Hickey (Clare). 

 Kerry survive late blitz 

 For the Irish Independent newspaper 

Kerry 1-12 Tipperary 2-7 

Thursday April 15 2010 

Two Tipperary goals in injury-time put a gloss on the scoreline as Kerry, under new boss Pat O’Driscoll, advanced at Austin Stack Park.  Mark Reen opened Kerry’s account with a superb point in the second minute before Thomas Hickey added another within 60 seconds.  Hickey then raced through the middle in the fourth minute and fed Gavin O’Grady, who passed to Reen, who blasted the ball to Tipperary net.  Eanna O’Connor saw his sideline ball hop over the bar and O’Grady made it 1-4 to 0-0 in the eighth minute with a pointed free. 

Two Billy Hewitt points and a Liam Boland free was all Tipp’ could muster as Kerry led 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval.  Kerry took over again in the third quarter with points from O’Connor, O’Grady and Hickey as they led 1-11 to 0-4. However Tipperary never gave up and two late goals from Boland and Shane Leahy cut the deficit to two points. 

Scorers — Kerry: M Reen 1-2, G O’Grady 0-4 (2f), E O’Connor 0-3 (1f), T Hickey 0-2, B Dwyer 0-1. Tipperary: L Boland 1-3 (0-1f), S Leahy 1-1, B Hewitt 0-3 (1f) 

Kerry — P McCarthy, P Kilkenny, D Culhane, F McNamara, J Walsh, L Bastible, J Hickson, D Somers, G Durant, M Reen, T Hickey, M Mangan, B Dwyer, G O’Grady, E O’Connor. Subs: J Moynihan for B Dwyer (47), T Morley for G O’Grady (50), A Thompson for J Hickson (54), E Kiely for D Somers (58), C Cox for E O’Connor (60). 

Tipperary — P Nolan, P Dalton, J Ryan, S Taylor, M Murphy, N O’Meara, P O’Meara, K Seymour, J O’Callaghan, D Leahy, B Harkin, B Maher, L Boland, B Hewitt, L McGrath. Subs: M O’Sullivan for M Murphy (10), S Leahy for K Seymour (25), K Kennedy for N O’Meara (32) ( blood) , C O’Sullivan for J Ryan (44), S Power for D Leahy(44) , L Treacy for B Maher (46). 

Ref — R Hickey (Clare) 

Perfect start puts Kerry clearFrom the Irish Times newspaper  

MUNSTER MFC FIRST ROUND/Kerry 1-12 Tipperary 2-7: TWO LATE Tipperary goals put a gloss on the score as a Kerry side under new boss Pat O’Driscoll deservedly advanced at Austin Stack Park last night. Kerry did the damage in opening eight minutes with an explosive scoring burst of 1-4 without reply.  Mark Reen opened Kerry’s account with a superb point in the second minute and Thomas Hickey added another within a minute. Tipperary were chasing shadows as Hickey raced through the middle in the fourth minute and he fed Gavin O’Grady, who quickly transferred the ball to the inrushing Mark Reen, who blasted the ball to Tipperary net. Two Billy Hewitt points and a Liam Boland free was all Tipp had to show as Kerry led 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval.Kerry took over again in the third quarter with a string of points from Eanna O’Connor, Gavin O’Grady and Hickey as they looked to be cruising as they led 1-11 to 0-4 at the end of the third quarter. Tipperary never gave up as Kerry ran their bench and two late goals from Boland and Shane Leahy cut the deficit to two points. Time, however, was not on Tipperary’s side. 

KERRY: P McCarthy; P Kilkenny, D Culhane, F McNamara; J Walsh, L Bastible, J Hickson; D Somers, G Durant; M Reen (1-2), T Hickey (0-2), M Mangan; B Dwyer (0-1), G O’Grady (0-4, two frees), E O’Connor (0-3, one free). Subs: J Moynihan for B Dwyer (47 mins); T Morley for G O’Grady (50); A Thompson for J Hickson (54); E Kiely for D Somers (58); C Cox for E O’Connor (60). 

TIPPERARY: P Nolan; P Dalton, J Ryan, S Taylor; M Murphy, N O’Meara, P O’Meara; K Seymour, J O’Callaghan; D Leahy, B Harkin, B Maher; L Boland (1-3, 0-1 from free), B Hewitt (0-3, one free), L McGrath. Subs: M O’Sullivan for M Murphy (10 mins); S Leahy (1-1) for K Seymour (25); K Kennedy for N O’Meara (32, blood); C O’Sullivan for J Ryan (44); S Power for D Leahy (44); L Treacy for B Maher (46). Referee: R Hickey (Clare)
 Team News The Tipperary Minor Football team to play Kerry in the Munster Minor Football Championship in Tralee this evening is: 1. Paul Nolan                     Clonmel Commercials
2. Paddy Dalton                 Arravale Rovers – Captain       
3. Jonathan Ryan               Ardfinnan        
4. Shane Taylor                 Clonmel Commercials
5. Micheál Murphy            Ballylooby/Castlegrace
6. Niall O’Meara                Kilruane MacDonaghs
7. Padraig O’Meara           Shannon Rovers          
8. Kevin Seymour              Burgess           
9. John O’Callaghan           Ballyporeen     
10. Donagh Leahy               Arravale Rovers          
11. Benny Harkin                 Borris-Ileigh    
12. Bill Maher                      Kilsheelan/Kilcash       
13. Liam Boland                  Moyle Rovers  
14. Billy Hewitt                    Ardfinnan        
15. Liam McGrath               Loughmore/Castleiney
  

The Kerry Minor Team to play in the Munster Quarter Final is as follows:1. Padraig McCarthy Rathmore 2. Pa Kilkenny Glenbeigh/Glencar 3. David Culhane Ballylongford 4. Ferghal McNamara Austin Stacks 5. James Walsh Knocknagoshel Captain 6. Laurence Bastible John Mitchels 7. Jason Hickson Annascaul 8. Damien Summers St Senans 9. George Durrant Dingle 10. Mark Reen Rathmore 11. Thomas Hickey Castleisland Desmonds 12. Marcus Mangan Milltown/Castlemaine 13. Barry Dwyer Waterville 14. Gavin O’Grady Glenbeigh/Glencar 15. Eanna O’Connor St Michael’s Foilmore
Substitutes are: 16. Damien Horgan St Mary’s Caherciveen 17. John Moynihan Rathmore 18. Andrew Thompson Kerins O’Rahillys 19. Tadhg Morley Templenoe 20. Daniel Daly St Mary’s Caherciveen 21. Eamonn Kiely Brosna 22. Conor Cox Listowel Emmett’s 23. Alan O’Leary Kenmare 24. Pa Wrenn Milltown/CastlemaineManager Pat O’Driscoll Ardfert
Selectors: Willie Maher ( Kilcummin,) Michael Moynihan (Na Gaeil), John Shanahan (Valentia) and Padraig Corkery (Dingle)