Munster Senior Football Semi-Final – Kerry 1-17 Clare 1-13

Kerry defeated Clare by 1-17 to 1-13 in the Munster GAA Senior Football Championship Semi-Final on Sunday June 22nd at Cusack Park Ennis.

Report: @Kerry_Official overcame a resilient @GaaClare in Ennis to set up a @MunsterGAA SFC final v Cork on July 6: http://t.co/EdW07vJtVD

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 22, 2014

Munster SFC: Kerry just about hold off Clare

MUNSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL: CLARE 1-13 KERRY 1-17

Report from the GAA.ie web site

Defending champions Kerry finally showed their class to make it into the Munster football final after a battling performance from Clare at Cusack Park. Anthony Maher was sent off ten minutes from time for the Kingdom, but a strong second-half showing from Kerry ensured Clare received no reward for their brave display.

After Shane Hickey’s early black card, Clare received another huge setback when Paul Murphy goaled for Kerry in the ninth minute, but ten minutes later Shane McGrath’s reply saw the Banner men lead by 1-8 to 1-7 at the break.

But it was only on the resumption that play began to go as expected for the Kerry supporters, and three points in a row after the restart from Stephen O’Brien, Paul Geaney and Bryan Sheehan turned that deficit into a two-point lead. Enda Coughlan steadied Clare with a good score in the eighth minute of the half, but with Geaney beginning to find room inside for the Kingdom, the scores began to flow a little more freely.

Sheehan and Declan O’Sullivan put Eamon Fitzmaurice’s side four ahead before Maher was sent off following a second yellow card offence on Gary Brennan in the 60th minute. But that didn’t halt Kerry and further points from Geaney and substitute Barry John Keane wrapped up the win and a spot in the provincial final against Cork on July 6.
***
Scorers for Clare: S McGrath 1-2; D Tubridy 0-4 (2f); E Coughlan 0-2; S Brennan 0-1; M O’Leary 0-1; S Collins 0-1; R Donnelly 0-1; E Cleary 0-1.

Scorers for Kerry: P Geaney 0-6; B Sheehan 0-4 (1f); P Murphy 1-0; S O’Brien 0-2; Declan O’Sullivan 0-2 (1f); A Maher 0-1; M Geaney 0-1; BJ Keane 0-1.

CLARE: J Hayes; M Mc Mahon, K Harnett, D Ryan; C Russell, G Kelly, S Hickey; G Brennan, S McGrath; S Collins, P Collins, S Brennan; M O’Leary, D Turbidy, E Coughlan
Subs: J Malone for Hickey (6 BC), R Donnelly for O’Leary (45), S McNelis for Hartnett (53), C O’Connor for S Brennan (60), E Cleary for Coughlan (69).

KERRY: B Kelly; P Murphy, M O Se, S Enright; P Crowley, K Young, F Fitzgerald; A Maher, D Moran; Darran O’Sullivan, B Sheehan, M Geaney; S O’Brien, Declan O’Sullivan, P Geaney
Subs: A O’Mahony for Moran (23), BJ Keane for Darren O’Sullivan (27-28 blood), D Walsh for Darren O’Sullivan (h-t), J Lyne for M Geaney (54), B J Keane for O’Brien (63), C Donaghy for P Geaney (67), P Kilkenny for Fitzgerald (67).

Referee: D Gough (Meath)

Preview: @GaaClare v @Kerry_Official, @MunsterGAA SFC semi-final, Sunday, Cusack Park, Ennis, 3.30pm: http://t.co/fNJ6bPs8Xf #gaa

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 20, 2014

When – Sunday June 22^nd at 3.30pm

Where – Cusack Park, Ennis

Referee – David Gough (Meath)

Standby Referee – Eddie Kinsella (Laois)
Linesman – Michael Collins (Cork)
Sideline Official – Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary)
Umpires – Stephen Gough, Dean Gough, Terry Gough, Eugene Gough (Meath)

Next Round – the winners play Cork or Tipperary in the Munster final on July 6^th.

Ticket Information

General Admission – €15
Students and OAP’s – purchase a full price ticket and receive a concession at the designated stile with valid ID,
Under 16s free
Visit gaa.tickets.ie to purchase tickets online

Team News

Clare (SF v Kerry) – Joe Hayes (Lissycasey), Dean Ryan (Éire Óg), Kevin Harnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown), Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg), Gary Brennan (Clondegad) Capt., Shane Brennan (Clondegad), Sean Collins (Cratloe) Padraic Collins (Cratloe), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis), Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil), David Tubridy (Doonbeg), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

The Kerry team V Clare is announced: http://t.co/5wTEqAQKMV http://t.co/h11EslJvtR

— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) June 17, 2014

Kerry Senior Football Team V Clare
The Kerry Senior Football Team to play Clare in the Munster GAA Football Championship Semi Final in Ennis on Sunday sees 5 players make their full Championship debut. Brian Kelly in goal, Paul Murphy at corner back, Michael and Paul Geaney and Stephen O’Brien in attack all come into a side that is captained by Fionn Fitzgerald of Dr Crokes. The Geaney cousins made their Championship debuts as substitutes in last year’s Championship campaign, but Brian Kelly, Paul Murphy and Stephen O’Brien get their first taste of Championship action.

The team is as follows:
1. Brian Kelly Killarney Legion
2. Paul Murphy Rathmore
3. Marc Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht
4. Shane Enright Tarbert
5. Peter Crowley Laune Rangers
6. Killian Young Renard
7. Fionn Fitzgerald (Capt) Dr Crokes
8. Anthony Maher Duagh
9. David Moran Kerins O’Rahillys
10. Darran O’Sullivan Glenbeigh-Glencar
11. Bryan Sheehan St Marys
12. Michael Geaney Dingle
13. Stephen O’Brien Kenmare
14. Declan O’Sullivan Dromid Pearses
15. Paul Geaney Dingle

Fir Ionaid:
16. Brendan Kealy Kilcummin
17. Aidan O’Mahony Rathmore
18. Kieran O’Leary Dr Crokes
19. Mark Griffin St Michaels/Foilmore
20. Jonathan Lyne Killarney Legion
21. Barry John Keane Kerins O’Rahillys
22. Pa Kilkenny Glenbeigh/Glencar
23. Daithí Casey Dr Crokes
24. Paul O’Donoghue St Marys
25. Kieran Donaghy Austin Stacks
26. Donnchadh Walsh Cromane

Bainisteóir: Eamonn Fitzmaurice (Finuge)
Traenálaí: Cian O’Neill (Moorefield, Kildare)
Róghnóirí: Diarmuid Ó Murchú (Daingean Uí Chúis), Mikey Sheehy (Austin Stacks).

Rehabbing from Injury
James O’Donoghue Killarney Legion (Shoulder)
Johnny Buckley Dr Crokes (Ankle)
Jack Sherwood Firies (Hamstring)
Colm Cooper Dr Crokes (Knee Ligaments)

• Paul Murphy (Rathmore) Played with the Kerry Under 21s in 2012 and played Sigerson Cup with UCC last year. He won a Kerry Club Championship (senior) medal with Rathmore in 2011. He made his AFL debut in the opening Round against Dublin this year and played in all rounds.

• Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare) was a Kerry Minor panellist in 2009 and played Under 21 with the County in 2011 and 2012. He is the holder of a Cork Senior Football Championship medal and a Sigerson Cup medal, both with UCC (2011). He holds Kerry and Munster Junior Championship medals with his club. He made his AFL debut in the opening Round against Dublin this year.

• Michael (Mikey) Geaney made his Allianz League debut for Kerry against Down in 2012 and made his Championship debut in last year’s campaign when coming on as a substitute against Waterford and Cavan. A Kerry Under 21 player in 2010, the 25 year old hold Kerry Minor and Under 21 County Championship medals.

* Paul Geaney made his Allianz League debut for Kerry against Cork in 2011 and his Championship debut as a substitute against Cavan in last year’s campaign. The 23 year old student has a Munster Minor Medal from 2008 and played Under 21 in 2010. Holder of a Cork Senior Football Championship medal with UCC.

* Brian Kelly won a Munster Minor medal with Kerry in 2008 and played for 3 years on the Under 21 team (2009 – 2011). He made his Allianz League debut for Kerry against Mayo in 2012 and hails from a Club that has produced goalkeepers of the calibre of Johnny Culloty and Peter O’Leary to the Kerry team in the past.

* Killian Young returns from injury – a broken ankle received in the lead in to last year’s All Ireland Semi Final.

* Declan O’Sullivan returns for his first game since the All Ireland semi final defeat to Dublin last season and will play his 65th Championship game.

For the Record

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship 2014

Quarter-Finals

Saturday May 31^st

@ Pairc na nGael, Limerick          Tipperary 2-14         Limerick 2-11

Saturday June 7^th

@ Cusack Park, Ennis                   Clare 2-8                   Waterford 2-8

Quarter-Final Replay

Saturday June 14^th

@ Fraher Field, Dungarvan           Clare 3-11                 Waterford 0-12  

Semi-Finals

Saturday June 21^st

@ Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork                         Cork v Tipperary                            @ 7pm

Sunday June 22^nd

@ Cusack Park, Ennis                               Clare v Kerry                                   @ 3.30pm

Final

Sunday July 6^th

2pm throw-in

Top Scorers Munster SFC 2014

Paul Whyte (Waterford)                      1-7 (0-4 frees)

Barry Grogan (Tipperary)                   1-4 (0-3 frees)

Eoin Hanrahan (Limerick)                  1-4 (1-0, pen, 0-3 frees)

David Tubridy (Clare)                                     1-3 (0-1 free)

Philip Austin (Tipperary)                     1-2

Gary Brennan (Clare)                         1-2

Liam Ó Lonáin (Waterford)                 1-2

Shane McGrath (Clare)                      0-5

JJ Hutchinson (Waterford)                 0-4

Ian Ryan (Limerick)                            0-4 (0-3 frees)

Shane Brennan (Clare)                       1-0

Enda Coughlan (Clare)                       1-0

Rory Donnelly (Clare)                         1-0

Sean Collins (Clare)                            0-3

Useful Information

Both Tipperary and Clare were promoted from the Allianz Football League Division 4 this year with Tipperary defeating Clare in the final to secure the Division 4 title.

The average number of scores per game in the Munster Senior Football championship since 2008:

2008 – 21 scores per game; 2009 – 24; 2010 – 28; 2011 – 33; 2012 – 27; 2013 – 30.8, 2014 so far – 24.7

Since 2000, Kerry have drawn as many matches in the Munster Senior Football Championship as they have lost, 5 draws (all v Cork) as compared to 5 defeats in 38 matches played.

This year’s quarter final draw between Clare and Waterford was the first drawn game in the Munster senior football championship since 2010 when Cork and Kerry drew 0-15 each in the semi-final at Fitzgerald Stadium on June 6^th. Kerry won the replay by 1-15 to 1-14.

This year’s semi-final pairings are a bit of a novelty as Cork and Tipperary last met in the Munster championship in 2007 and Kerry and Clare last met in Munster in 2008, although they did meet in the 2012 qualifiers when Kerry won by 2-22 to 1-6.

Clare last qualified for the Munster senior football final in 2012, where they lost to Cork by 3-16 to 0-13.

Tipperary last qualified for the Munster senior football final in 2002 where they lost to Cork in a replay by 1-23 to 0-7.

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship Roll Of Honour

Kerry (75) – 1892, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013

Cork (37) – 1890, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1906, 1907, 1911, 1916, 1928, 1943, 1945, 1949, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012

Tipperary (9) – 1888, 1889, 1895, 1900, 1902, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1935

Clare (2) – 1917, 1992

Waterford (1) – 1898

Limerick (1) – 1896

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship – List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began 1888 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/sf_teams/

Munster Senior FOOTBALL Cup

No Name – Presented by Munster Council in 1928

All Ireland GAA FOOTBALL Senior Championship

In the Senior Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry are top with 36, 13 ahead of the next county – Dublin. Cork are 4^th in the roll of honour with 7 titles. Tipperary have won 4 All-Ireland’s, their last in 1920 while Limerick won the first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship played in 1887 and also won the All-Ireland in 1896.

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ger Ryan at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information