Munster MFC Semi-Final 1st Playoff – Kerry 1-14 Waterford 1-3

Kingdom power past Déise but questions remain

Kerry 1-14 Waterford 1-3

By John Murphy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Although there was never a doubt about a decisive Kerry victory in last night’s Munster MFC losers group game at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, the quality of the Kingdom display raises serious questions about their ability to win the provincial title. Waterford displayed determination aplenty, but they just didn’t have the all-round ability to bring off a surprise result, and in the end the 11-point margin mirrored the difference in class between the sides.

Kerry, backed by a very strong breeze, totally dominated the opening half and weren’t at all flattered by their 1-7 to no score lead at the interval. They had a tonic start when corner-forward Conor Keane fisted their only goal in the second minute after a woeful defensive mix up, but after that, they wasted numerous scoring opportunities. They had kicked half a dozen wides inside the opening 10 minutes, although an exception was centre-forward Jack Savage, who landed four quality points as Waterford struggled to even get out of their own half. Kerins O’Rahillys clubman Savage stood head and shoulders over everyone as he led that Kingdom attack in regal style, while just behind him midfielder Kieran Murphy was equally influential.

Despite the magnitude of their task facing into the second half, Waterford, to their credit, set about getting back into the game in a very determined style. Reward came early as the outstanding Ryan Donnelly finally opened their account from a 37th minute free and that was followed almost immediately by another from play by an industrious Michael Curry. In the 40th minute their goal came when Donnelly expertly converted a penalty after a foul on Laurence Houlihan and the gap had been narrowed to half a dozen points. But with their supremacy under threat Kerry upped the ante and five unanswered points in the closing nine minutes sealed their deserved win.

Scorers for Kerry: J. Savage (0-6); C. Keane (1-1); K. Murphy (0-3); N. Sheehy (0-2, 0-1 free); K. McCarthy, D. Daly (0-1) each.

Scorers for Waterford: D. Donnelly (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free); M. Curry, L. Houlihan (0-1) each.

KERRY: G. Curran (Dingle); C. O’Luing (An Ghaetacht), G. Crowley (Templenoe). S. O’Connor (John Mitchels); B. Crowley (Templenoe). R. Murphy (Beaufort). J. Barry (Na Gaeil); E. O’Conchuir (An Ghaeltacht). K. Murphy (Kilcummin); N. Sheehy (John Mitchels). J. Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys). C. Fitzgerald (Churchill); K. McCarthy (Kilcummin). D. Daly (St. Mary’s). C. Keane (Legion).

Subs: A. Spillane (Templenoe) for Fitzgerald (26); G. O’Shea (Dr Crokes) for McCarthy (H.T.); S. Moloney (John Mitchels) for Barry (H.T.); G. Horan (Austin Stacks) for O’Luing (33); A. Barry (Brosna) for Sheehy (57).

WATERFORD: A. Kirwan (Stradbally); C. Burke (Tramore). J. O’Donnell (Brickey Rangers). B. Looby (Ballinacourty); S. O’Donovan (Modeligo), T. Burke (Clashmore), J. Barron (An Ghaeltacht); T. Devine (St Patrick’s), M. Kiely (St Patrick’s); A. O’Donoghue (Gaultier), M. Curry (Rathgormack), P. O’Connor (Clashmore); C. Gleeson (Nire), L. Houlihan (Brickey Rangers), R. Donnelly (Dungarvan).

Subs: S. Halley (St Olivers) for C. Burke(40); M. Casey (Clanna Gael) for O’Donoghue(48); M. Troy (St Patrick’s) for Houlihan(54); D. Scanlon (Clashmore) for Kiely(58).

Referee: Kevin Murphy, Cork.

Murphy the maestro as Kerry crush Waterford

Report from the Irish Independent newspaper

Kerry 1-14 Waterford 1-3

Munster MFC play-off

A strong first-half showing allowed Kerry to keep their championship hopes alive at Fraher Field last night. The visitors played with the aid of the elements in the opening half and carved out a 1-7 to 0-0 lead at the break. After losing to Tipperary in the quarter-final last Saturday, Kerry started with intent. The scoring spree began only 90 seconds into the contest, when Conor Keane fisted home a Niall Sheehy delivery to the net. Jack Savage also kicked four points and Kieran Murphy landed two as they established a commanding 10-point cushion.

Murphy dominated the midfield exchanges and rifled over his third point on the resumption. But the home side refused to wilt and hit 1-2 without reply in a three-minute spell to breathe life back into the game. Waterford opened their account on 37 minutes when Ryan Donnelly converted a free, quickly followed by a point from Michael Curry. Then Donnelly emphatically dispatched a penalty to the roof of the net on 40 minutes after Gavin Crowley fouled Laurence Houlihan.

After seeing their lead reduced to six points, Kerry found the perfect response. Points from the impressive Savage and Sheehy eased any nerves as they pulled away. Waterford full-back Jack O’Donnell received his marching orders three minutes from time after picking up a second yellow. Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side will now face Limerick on April 24 to earn a place in the last four.

Scorers — Kerry: J Savage 0-6 (3f), C Keane 1-1, K Murphy 0-3, N Sheehy 0-2(1f), S Moloney, D Daly 0-1 each. Waterford: R Donnelly 1-1 (1-0 pen, 1f), L Houlihan, M Curry 0-1 each.

Kerry — G Curran; C U Luing, G Crowley, S O’Connor; B Crowley, R Murphy, J Barry; E O Conchuir, K Murphy; N Sheehy, J Savage, C Fitzgerald; K McCarthy, D Daly, C Keane.

Subs: A Spillane for Fitzgerald (27), S Moloney for Barry (h-t), G O’Shea for McCarthy (h-t), G Horan for O Luing (34), A Barry for Sheehy (54).

Waterford — A Kirwan; C Burke, J O’Donnell, B Looby; S O’Donovan, T Burke, J Barron; T Devine, M Kiely; A O’Donoghue, M Curry, P O’Connor; C Gleeson, L Houlihan, R Donnelly.

Subs: S Halley for C Burke (42), M Casey for O’Donoghue (49), M Troy for Houlihan (54), D Scanlon for Kiely (59).

Ref — K Murphy (Cork)

For the Record

Odds and Ends

Prior to 2012, Kerry’s last defeat in a first round Munster Minor Football Championship game was in March 2002 when they lost to Tipperary by 2-11 to 2-9 at Kilmallock. Kerry avenged that defeat with a 3-16 to 2-6 win over Tipperary in the 2002 Munster Final played at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Kerry have never lost 2 Munster Minor Football Championship matches in the one year.

Dating back to 2005, Waterford have won 1 of their last 16 games in the Munster Minor Football Championship.

Clare’s victory against Waterford in the first round ensured a semi-final place in May. Clare have qualified for the Munster Minor Football Semi-Final in just 2 of the previous 6 seasons dating back to 2006, losing the semi-finals of 2009 (to Kerry) and 2011 (to Cork).

Since 1956, Cork and Kerry have won every Munster Minor Football title with the exception of 1984, 1995 and 2011 when Tipperary were successful.

Tipperary have played 48 matches in the Munster Minor Football Championship since 2000, more than any other Munster county.

Cork, Kerry and Tipperary have won at least 1 match in the Munster Minor Football Championship every year since 2001.

MUNSTER GAA FOOTBALL MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

First Round

Saturday April 14^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick            Cork 3-13 Limerick 0-6
@ Austin Stack Park Tralee            Tipperary 2-9 Kerry 0-8
@ Cusack Park Ennis                      Clare 2-20 Waterford 0-6

Semi-Final Play-off 1

Tuesday April 17^th

@ Fraher Field Dungarvan  Kerry v Waterford @ 7:00pm

Semi-Final Play-off 2

Tuesday April 24^th

Limerick vs. Kerry or Waterford

(See venue permutations below)

@ Kerry venue                                    Kerry v Limerick
(met in 2010 Semi-final at Newcastlewest)

@ Waterford venue    Waterford v Limerick
(last meeting in 2010 First Round at Kilmallock)

Semi-Finals

Wednesday May 16^th

@ Cork venue Cork v Tipperary

@ venue TBC Clare v v Winners of Semi-Final Play-off 2

Final
Sunday July 8^th

2012 Munster Minor Football Championship Matches played to date

Tipperary 2-9 Kerry 0-8 – April 14^th @ Austin Stack Park Tralee (Munster First Round)

Scorers –
Tipperary: C Kennedy 2-2 (0-2f), T J Ryan (0-1f), B Maher 0-2 each, J Lonergan, I Fahey and P Quirke 0-1 each
Kerry: N Sheehy (fs), D O’Se (0-1f) 0-2 each, K Murphy (45), A Barry, S Moloney and E O’Conchuir 0-1 each

Clare 2-20 Waterford 0-6 – April 14^th @ Cusack Park Ennis (Munster First Round)

Scorers –
Clare: E Cleary 1-6, C Cleary 0-6, C.Deasy 1-0, B Lynch, J Malone 0-3 each, N Deasy 0-2.
Waterford: R Donnelly 0-5, D Scanlon 0-1.

Cork 3-13 Limerick 0-6 – April 14^th @ Gaelic Grounds Limerick (Munster First Round)

Scorers –
Cork: C Horgan 3-0 (1 pen), B O’Driscoll 0-4 (2f), ST O’Sullivan 0-3, A O’Donovan, C Vaughan 0-2 each, I Maguire, P Fitzgerald 0-1 each
Limerick: R Burke 0-2 (1f), S Barrett, J Breen, G Bateman, C Sheehan 0-1 each

2012 Top Scorers – Munster Minor Football Championship

Conor Horgan (Cork) – 3-0 (1-0 penalty)
Eoin Cleary (Clare) – 1-6
Colman Kennedy (Tipperary) – 2-2 (0-2 frees)
Conor Cleary (Clare) – 0-6
Ryan Donnelly (Waterford) 0-5
Brian O’Driscoll (Cork) – 0-4 (0-2 frees)
Sean T O’Sullivan (Cork) – 0-3
C Deasy (Clare) – 1-0
B Lynch (Clare) – 0-3
J Malone (Clare) – 0-3
Niall Sheehy (Kerry) – 0-2 (0-2 frees)
Dara O’Se (Kerry) – 0-2 (0-1 free)
Robbie Burke (Limerick) – 0-2 (0-1 free)
Alan O’Donovan (Cork) – 0-2
Cathal Vaughan (Cork) – 0-2
TJ Ryan (Tipperary) – 0-2 (0-1 free)
Bill Maher (Tipperary) – 0-2
N Deasy (Clare) – 0-2

D Scanlon (Waterford), Jason Lonergan (Tipperary), Ian Fahey (Tipperary), Philip Quirke (Tipperary), Kieran Murphy (Kerry) (0-1 45), Adam Barry (Kerry), Sean Moloney (Kerry), Eanna O’Conchuir (Kerry), Sean Barrett (Limerick), J Breen (Limerick), G Bateman (Limerick), C Sheehan (Limerick), Ian Maguire (Cork), Paul Fitzgerald (Cork) 0-1 each

Munster Minor Football Championship Roll Of Honour

Kerry (41)

1931, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009.

Cork (29)

1939, 1952, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2010

Tipperary (6)

1934, 1935, 1955, 1984, 1995, 2011

Clare (3)

1929, 1930, 1953

Limerick (1)

1956

Munster Minor Football 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 in1929 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/mf_teams/

Munster Minor Football Cup

The Tadhg Crowley Cup was presented by Munster Council in 1990 to commemorate late Munster Council Treasurer. Tadhg was elected as Munster Council Treasurer in 1968 and served until his death in December 1989. A teacher by profession, he also served as Kerry County Board Secretary from 1955 until 1970. Tadhg was recognized as a specialist in organizing and handling styles and gates at big Munster Championship games.

All Ireland Minor Football Championship

In the Minor Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry top the charts with 11 titles while Cork are tied for second with Dublin with 10 titles. Clare won the first All-Ireland Minor Football title in 1929 while Tipperary’s two All-Ireland successes at this grade came in 1934 and 2011. Between them Munster counties have accounted for 24 All-Ireland Minor Football titles, ahead of Leinster and Ulster (20 titles each) and Connacht (17 titles).

Kerry were All-Ireland Minor Football Champions in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1946, 1950, 1962, 1963, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1994

Cork were All-Ireland Minor Football Champions in 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1981, 1991, 1993, 2000