Waterford Crystal Cup Quarter Final – UCC 2-23 Kerry 2-14

UCC defeated Kerry by 2-23 to 2-14 in the Quarter Final of the Waterford Crystal Cup on Saturday January 17th at Austin Stack Park Tralee.

UCC beat Kerry and setup Limerick clash

By Mortimer Murphy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Kerry 2-14 UCC 2-23

Waterford Crystal Cup

Despite a couple of scares along the way, a classier UCC outfit proved too strong for a youthful Kerry side in heavy and poor weather conditions at Austin Stack Park, Tralee on Saturday. Kerry had only returned to collective training so UCC — just 12 days away from their Fitzgibbon Cup opener — were always going to strip fitter and with superior stick work, by players from elite counties. Kerry, without their five Ardfert players, were never going to cause an upset.

But Kingdom boss Eamon Kelly will be happy with Clare import Patrick Kelly, who looks a good addition to the squad as they showed great spirit and endeavour to lead 0-6 to 0-3 after 25 minutes. It might have been interesting if Shane Nolan had converted his one-on-one penalty a minute later, but it was brilliantly saved by a diving David O’Gorman. This appeared to act as a wake up call to the students, as they fired over nine points without reply in as many minutes, with Alan Cadogan, Rob O’Shea and Barry Lawton doing most of the damage, giving College at 0-12 to 0-6 lead at half-time.

When sub Eoghan Finn extended the students lead to seven on the resumption, it looked like a blowout for the Kingdom, but the introduction of Colm Harty added pace to their attack, and two quick goals from Podge Boyle and Adrian Royle and a Nolan free had the sides tied at 0-13 to 2-7.

However class won out as UCC upped the tempo and a succession of points from Cadogan (3), Finn (3), Barry Lawton (4), with goals from Shane O’Keeffe and Brian Hartnett sealed a deserved win. UCC will now face Limerick in the semis.

Scorers for UCC: A Cadogan (0-6), B Lawton (0-6, three frees), R O Shea (0-4, two frees), E Finn (0-4), S O’Keeffe and B Hartnett (1-0 each), K Burke (0-2), M Breen (0-1)

Kerry: S Nolan (0-8, six frees), A Royle (1-1), P Boyle (1-0), M O’Leary (0-3), and C Harty (0-2)

UCC: D O’Gorman (St Finbarr’s); D Lester (Bishopstown), D Glynn (Kilkenny), M Breen (Ballina); K Burke (Midleton), P Prendergast (Waterford), S Roche (Shamrocks); D Roche (Sarsfields), R O’Shea (Carrigaline); B Lawton (Castlemartyr) , B Hartnett (Midleton), M Collins (Ballinhassig); T Devine (Waterford), DJ Foran (Waterford), A Cadogan (Douglas).
Subs: E Finn (St Finbarr’s) for M Collins (28); S O’Keeffe (Blackrock) for S Roche (56); D Geary (Fermoy) for D J Foran (60); R Cahalane (Ballymartle) for R O’Shea (67); M O’Brien (Waterford) for B Hartnett (67)

KERRY: S Murphy (Causeway); D Fitzell (Kilmoyley), A Fealy (Causeway), B Murphy (Causeway); P Costelloe (Ballyduff), P Kelly (Clare), S Weir (Crotta); J Griffin (Lixnaw), T Casey (Causeway); B O’Leary (Abbeydorney), M Boyle (Ballyduff), A Royle (Kilmoyley); S Nolan (Crotta), M O’Leary (Abbeydorney), P Boyle (Ballyduff)
Subs: C Harty (Causeway) for T Casey (h/t); K Carmody (Causeway) for B O’Leary (47); P McGrath (Causeway) for M Boyle (54); P Lucid (Ballyheigue) for P Kelly (58); T Casey (Causeway) for J Griffin (66).

Referee: J Mullins (Limerick)

Waterford Crystal Cup

Kerry 2-14 UCC 2-23

Kerry made their exit from the Waterford Crystal Cup when going down to UCC in the quarter final tie in heavy and trying conditions at Tralee’s Austin Stack Park today. Kerry, who lined out with Stephen Murphy between the posts, got off to a flying start and led by 6 points to 2 after just 15 minutes following 2 fine points from Michael O’Leary and 4 from the stick of Shane Nolan, but then the home-side passed up a great chance of a goal when Shane Nolan’s one-on-one penalty was saved by David O’Gorman in the 25th minute. Having survived that let-off, the Cork College went on to score 9 points without reply in the remaining 10 minutes of the half with Alan Cadogan and Barry Lawton excelling, to lead by 0-12 to 0-6 at the break.

Kerry got the perfect start to the second half when two goals in quick succession from Padraig Boyle and Adrian Royle that had the sides on level terms, 2-7 to 0-13 by the 39th minute. UCC, with corner backs, Kilian Burke and Michael Breen impressive, tacked on 6 points by the 49th minute before Midleton’s Brian Hartnett found the net and when Shane O’Keeffe added another goal in the 57th minute the Cork side were 10 points clear 2-10 to 2-10.

Kerry did not throw in the towel and added 4 points in the remaining time, including two from impressive sub Colm Harty, but UCC it is who advance to play Limerick in the semi final next weekend.

Scorers:
Kerry; Shane Nolan 0-8 (6fr), Adrian Royle 1-1, Padraig Boyle 1-0, Michael O’Leary 0-3, Colm Harty 0-2
UCC; Alan Cadogan and Barry Lawton (3fr) 0-6 each, Rob O’Shea (2fr) and Eoghan Finn 0-4 each, Brian Hartnett and Shane O’Keeffe 1-0 each, Killian Burke 0-2 and Michael Breen 0-1

Team News

The Kerry Senior Hurling team V UCC is announced:… http://t.co/StkFDy6cOY

— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) January 16, 2015

The Kerry Senior Hurling Team to play UCC in the Qtr Final of the Waterford Crystal Cup on Saturday in Austin Stack Park Tralee at 1:30 is as follows:

1 James Logue Ballingarry/Tipperary

2 Dougie Fitzell Kilmoyley

3 Anthony Fealy Causeway

4 Bryan Murphy Causeway

5 Paud Costelloe Ballyduff

6 Patrick Kelly Clarecastle/Clare

7 Sean Weir Crotta

8 John Griffin Lixnaw (Capt)

9 Thomas Casey Causeway

10 Brendan O’Leary Abbeydorney

11 Mikey Boyle Ballyduff

12 Adrian Royle Kilmoyley

13 Shane Nolan Crotta O’Neills

14 Michael O’Leary Abbeydorney

15 Padraig Boyle Ballyduff

Fir Ionaid

16 Stephen Murphy Causeway

17 Colm Harty Causeway

18 Paul McGrath Causeway

19 Keith Carmody Causeway

20 Philip Lucid Ballyheigue

21 Gearoid O’Doherty Crusheen/Clare

22 Giles O’Grady Ballyduff

Bainistíocht:

Bainisteoir: Eamon Kelly
Coach/Selector: Conor Gleeson
Treánalaí: Damien Ryall
Roghnoirí: Tom O’Connell (Abbeydorney), D.J. Leahy (Causeway)

Notes:

– James Logue is an All Ireland medallist at Minor, Under 21 and Intermediate level with his native Tipperary and has also represented the County at Senior grade being 3rd choice goalkeeper in 2014. He is a member of the Ballingarry club.

– Patrick Kelly, a Clare native whose mother hails from North Kerry, was a member of Davy Fitzgerald’s Senior All Ireland winning squad in 2013. He is also the holder of All Ireland medals at Under 21 and Intermediate levels.

– Gearoid O’Doherty is currently attached to the Crusheen Club in Clare with whom he has won a Senior Hurling Championship medal and he has also featured for Clare at underage level. He is currently working in Tralee and will also be transferring his Club allegiance to the county.