Munster Junior Football Championship Semi-Final – Kerry 1-19 Limerick 0-6

Rampant Kerry always in control against Limerick

Kerry 1-19 Limerick 0-6

By Kieran McCarthy, Gaelic Grounds for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, June 06, 2011

WITHOUT ever needing to move out of second gear, Kerry booked their spot in the Munster JFC final with the minimum of fuss on Saturday. Easing home by a whopping 16 points, the Kerry juniors simply brushed aside a poor Limerick challenge in this disappointing semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds that was every bit as one-sided as the score-line states. With Alan Fitzgerald leading the Kerry charge with a haul of 1-8 (1-7 from placed balls), alongside the impressive Andrew Garnett at midfield, Kerry had the game’s two top performers, while Limerick, after a promising opening five minutes, were distinctly second best for most of the contest.

Having raced into an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead, Limerick, thanks to promptings of full-forward Garrett Noonan, looked to make a game of it. However, with Garnett and Tim Coakley settling in midfield, Kerry quickly took control. Six points on the trot in a 10-minute spell saw Kerry overhaul Limerick’s advantage, as the visitors moved 0-7 to 0-3 ahead, thanks to three Fitzgerald frees, as well as efforts from Garnett, Gary Sayers and Gavin O’Grady. Still holding that four-point advantage at half-time, 0-9 to 0-5, Kerry kicked on in the second half, outscoring Limerick by 1-10 to 0-1, with Fitzgerald clinically dispatching an early penalty after O’Grady was fouled in the square.

Incidentally, it’s the second match in a row that Kerry have held the opposition to just one second half score, as they achieved the same feat against Tipperary in the first round match two weeks’ previously. So with Limerick just managing a solitary Donnagh Kelly point in reply, the second half was a Kerry procession, as they added scores at will, with Fitzgerald, Sayers, Garnett, Brendan Poff and Paul Kennelly all helping to keep the scoreboard operator busy.

Scorers for Kerry: A Fitzgerald 1-8 (6f, 1-0 pen, 1 45), G Sayers 0-3, B Poff, A Garnett, G O’Grady (1f) 0-2 each, P Kennelly, M Brennan 0-1 each.

Limerick: G Noonan (3f), D Kelly, J Bourke, T Collins 0-1 each.

KERRY: S Óg Ó Ciardubháin; K O’Dwyer, S Brosnan, C O’Mahony; E Hickson, B Costello, J Walsh; M Coakley, A Garnett; G Sayers, M Murphy, M Brennan; G O’Grady, B Poff, A Fitzgerald.

Subs: P Kennelly for M Brennan (45); F Courtney for M Murphy (51); T McGoldrick for G O’Grady (54); P O’Connor for J Walsh (54); K O’Connor for C O’Mahony (54).

LIMERICK: C Wallace, M Fitzgerald, A O’Sullivan, D Finnerty; C Ryan, P Martin, E Mulcahy; E Horan, P Horan; B O’Sullivan, J Bourke, T Scanlon; R Lynch, G Noonan, T Collins.

Subs: M McMahon for E Horan (ht); T Butler for D Finnerty (ht); D Kelly for B O’Sullivan (ht); D Lambe for P Horan (45); B Shannon for T Collins (52).

Referee: Keith O’Brien (Tipperary)

Admission Prices –
Adult Covered Stand (Mackey Stand) – €20 (Tickets can be pre-purchased in advance through Clubs or on https://www.munster.gaa.ie)
Adult Terrace (Clare End) – €10
Student/OAP – Concession on specific s styles on the day (on production of I.D.)
Family tickets for the Covered Stand at €20 for adults and €5 for Under 16s (Tickets can be pre-purchased in advance through Clubs or on https://www.munster.gaa.ie)
Under 16s will admitted free to the terrace

Team News

The Kerry Junior team to play Limerick in the Munster GAA Junior semi final on Saturday next at 4.45pm is as follows:

1. Sean O’Ciardubháin, Cordal 2. Kevin O’Dwyer, Watervill Shane Brosnan, Kerins O’Rahillys 4. Colin O’Mahony, Ballydonoghue 5. Eamon Hickson, Annascaul 6. Brian Costello, John Mitchels 7. James Walsh, Knocknagoshel 8. Mike Coakley, Scartaglin9. Andrew Garnett, Spa 10. Gary Sayers, Keel 1. Michael Murphy, Gneeveguilla (Capt) 12. Michael Brennan, Churchill13. Gavin O’Grady, Glenbeigh-Glencar 14. Brendan Poff, St. Pats 15. Alan Fitzgerald, Castlegregory

Subs: 16. Paul O’Sullivan, Churchill 17. Francis Courtney, Beaufort 18. Paul Kennelly, Ballydonoghue 19. Pa Kilkenny, Glenbeigh-Glencar 20. Tom McGoldrick, Brosna 21. Pádraig O’Connor, Gneeveguilla 22. Kieran O’Connor, Listowel 23. Edmund Walsh, Knocknagoshel 24. To be announced

Match Preview

Kerry’s absent stars could make clash with Limerick a close call

By Murt Murphy for kerrrygaa.ie

Kerry O’Sullivan has probably the most difficult job in football, in fact the manager of any junior intercounty team, particularly Kerry and Cork never know because of the vagaries of the rules, what players they will have from game to game so planning is very much on an ad hoc basis. However the Currow clubman takes it all in his stride – doesn’t do stress or get over excited, so possibly possesses the right qualities for this difficult job.

Kerry started with a big win over Tipperary after a tight opening half and one would imagine that this would set the side up nicely for Saturday’s tilt at Limerick. However while a week might be a long time in politics it’s even longer when you are the Kerry Junior boss. Since the win over Tipperary just two weeks ago, Kerry have lost centre back Adrian Greaney who is gone to Boston and wing forward JB Spillane had done his collar bone and if Kerry beat Limerick, he will also miss the Munster Final. On the positive note it appears that Mike Coakley and Colin O’Mahony who missed the Tipperary game are fit again and Mikey Brennan who was due to head away from the summer has delayed his departure for now. Kerry has the advantage of a game under their belts as Limerick is making their first appearance on Saturday, so that should give Kerry a slight edge.

Team boss Kerry O’Sullivan confirms that there will be changes from the Tipperary game “Adrian Greaney will definitely be missing, but Colin O’Mahony and Mike Coakley who missed out the last day, should be fit for Saturday. JB Spillane will be out with his collarbone injury so it will not be the same line up. The players were playing Co League over the weekend so we will have see have we picked up any knocks but right now we don’t have any plans to add players to the panel. With so many players going away or thinking about going away, you just don’t know where you stand at the moment and you would just be hoping to get over this game and then seeing what you have left in early July. Fellows are hedging at the moment about travelling but we will definitely know after the Co Championship so it’s all about winning on Saturday and having a look then”

O’Sullivan thinks that the fact that Kerry have played a game and Limerick have not will stand to the Kingdom “Having a match under your belt is bound to be an advantage in a competition where there is no prior form like a league or anything so rather than going in cold, having a game, has to be an advantage to a team. “ O’Sullivan was most impressed with Kerry’s team work first day out “ I think it was the teamwork from a team that were playing for the first time together that impressed me most against Tipperary. I thought the players really bedded in well together when they got going in the second half. We will not be making any wholesale changes maybe a few positional to accommodate the replacements but that will be it”

So what does the Kerry boss think of Limerick and Kerry’s chances “We would be optimistic on the basis that the game we played will stand to us. We have obviously lost a couple of key players but we have probably built up enough of an understanding to be competitive. We should certainly start the game better and we would be hopeful of not falling behind early on. We will hope that our forwards will get enough balls and if they do we would be hoping to post enough scores against a Limerick side who will probably be physically bigger than us”

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information

For the Record

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Junior Championship 2011

Quarter-Finals

Sunday May 22^nd

@ Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney    Kerry 2-16 Tipperary 1-8

@ Pairc Uí Chaoimh                       Cork 2-14 Clare 0-6

Semi-Finals
Saturday June 4^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick           Limerick v Kerry 4:45pm

Sunday June 5^th

@ Pairc Ui Chaoimh                       Waterford v Cork 1:30pm

Final

Wednesday July 6^th

7:30pm throw-in

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Junior Championship Record – 2000 to 2010

2011 Munster Junior Football Championship Matches played to date

Kerry 2-16 Tipperary 1-8 – May 22^nd @ Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney (Munster Quarter-Final)

Kerry: S Óg Ó Ciardubháin; K O’Dwyer, S Brosnan, B Maguire; E Hickson, A Greaney, J Walsh; A Garnett, B Costello; G Sayers, M Murphy, JB Spillane; G O’Grady, B Poff, A Fitzgerald.
Subs: F Courtney for B Costello (48); M Brennan for A Greaney (48); T McGoldrick for A Fitzgerald (53); P Kennelly for G O’Grady (53); P Kilkenny for J Walsh (57).

Tipperary: J English; D O’Sullivan, D Lynch, R Kiely; D Leahy, J O’Callaghan, M O’Sullivan; D Heffernan, E Kendrick; B Hewitt, A Moloney, G Ryan; J Egan, D Butler, A Walsh.
Subs: M O’Dwyer for J O’Callaghan (24); T Hanley for D Heffernan (40); G Quinn for M O’Sullivan (50); S O’Connor for D Butler (50); A Hannigan for B Hewitt (57).

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)

Cork 2-14 Clare 0-6 – May 22^nd @ Pairc Ui Chaoimh (Munster Quarter-Final)

Cork: T. O’Connor; R. Buckley, O. O’Mahony, K. Harrington; S. Kiely, R. O’Sullivan, B. Daly; A. O’Sullivan, S. O’Sullivan; D. O’Donovan, K. O’Driscoll, C. O’Driscoll; M. Cronin, A. O’Brien, C. Keane.
Subs: AJ O’Connor for Daly (45); T. Clancy for S. O’Sullivan (50); M. Dilworth, for O’Donovan (55); P. Gayer for R. O’Sullivan (55); B. Coughlan for A. O’Sullivan (55).

Clare: T. Burke; C. Marrinan, D. Hickey, Dean Ryan; S. Tierney, P. O’Connor, C. O’Brien; T. Ryan, S. Crotty; E. Lyons, S. Collins, P. Clancy; P. McMahon, David Ryan, M. McCarthy.
Subs: M. O’Loughlin for Merrinan (ht); P. Collins for E. Lyons (ht); G. Lyons for C. O’Brien (ht); m. Malone for D. Ryan (35); A. Considine for S. Crotty (50).

Referee: Brian Tyrell (Tipperary)

2011 Top Scorers – Munster Junior Football Championship

A Fitzgerald (Kerry) – 1-4 (0-2 frees)

Cathrach Keane (Cork) – 2-1
Alan Moloney (Tipperary) – 1-3 (0-2 frees)

Mark McCarthy (Clare) – 0-5 (0-2 frees)
G O’Grady (Kerry) – 1-1 (0-1 free)
G Sayers (Kerry) – 0-4
C. O’Driscoll (Cork) – 0-4 (0-1 free)
Mark Cronin (Cork) – 0-3 (0-1 free)
Gavin Ryan (Tipperary) – 0-3
B Poff (Kerry) – 0-2
Kevin O’Driscoll (Cork) – 0-2

D. O’Donovan (Cork), S. O’Sullivan (Cork), Andrew. O’Sullivan (Cork), A. O’Brien (Cork), P. McMahon (Clare), E Hickson (Kerry), JB Spillane (Kerry), J Walsh (Kerry), B Costello (Kerry), B Maguire (Kerry), J Egan (Tipperary), D Butler (Tipperary) 0-1 each

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Junior Championship Roll Of Honour
Kerry (39) – 1913, 1914, 1915, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1941, 1946, 1947,

1949, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010

Cork (27) – 1911, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009

Tipperary (7) – 1910, 1912, 1923, 1935, 1937, 1952, 1998

Limerick (4) – 1916, 1929, 1939, 1950

Waterford (3) – 1948, 1999, 2004

Clare (1) – 1925

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Junior 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 in 1910 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/jf_teams/

Munster Junior FOOTBALL Cup

No Name – Presented by Munster Council in 1957

All Ireland GAA FOOTBALL Junior Championship

34 of the 80 All-Ireland titles contested in this grade have been won by 4 Munster counties. In the Junior Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork and Kerry lead the way with 15 and 14 titles respectively. Tipperary have won 3 All-Ireland’s while Waterford’s 2 titles came in 1999 and 2004.  23 counties in total have won an All-Ireland Junior Football title.