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Efficient Kerry end Tipperary’s run as Munster champions to book another provincial final with Cork.. and revenge will be on their minds

KERRY coasted into the Munster final as they ended Tipperary’s brief reign as provincial kingpins at Semple Stadium last night.

A David Clifford goal in the 15th minute set them on their way and though Peter Keane’s side never quite hit top gear, they were cruising for the most part.

After the glory of 2020, the result rounds off a deeply disappointing showing for Tipperary this year, as their defence of the Munster title ended abruptly here following relegation to Division Four last month.

They finished the game with 14 men after Michael Quinlivan’s second half red card, albeit there was little as to the outcome by then, though, to their credit, they didn’t capitulate.

Kerry will play Cork in the decider at Fitzgerald Stadium, where they haven’t lost a Championship match since 1995, on July 25 when they’ll be out to avenge last year’s shock defeat to the Rebels in the provincial semi-final.

With Kerry having fallen at the first hurdle last November before eliminating Tipperary this time, it’s the second successive year that the Munster champions have lost in the opening defence of their title, the first time that this has happened since 1918-19.

The game was cagey for much of the first quarter with each of the first three scores coming from frees as Kerry led by 0-2 to 0-1 before a sharp injection of quality came, typically, from Clifford.

Gavin White cut through the Tipperary rearguard with a slaloming run up the left wing and played a handpass, an illegal one as it happened, to Clifford and despite the angle not being especially favourable his finish to Evan Comerford’s top left corner was absolutely lethal.

A point from Paul Geaney and Sean O’shea’s free saw Kerry 1-4 to 0-1 clear and though Tipp kept the scoreboard ticking with points from Kevin Fahey and Jack Kennedy, Tom O’sullivan kicked two-in-a-row for the Kingdom.

Despite the No.4 on his back, O’sullivan was playing in an advanced role as his direct opponent, Brian Fox, was sweeping for Tipp and the Dingle man might have had another point before the half was out too.

The holders were thrown a lifeline when Kennedy barrelled through on goal and was bundled over by White with Conor Sweeney slotting the resultant penalty in the 28th minute but Kerry hardly lost stride and closed out the half with the last

four points, three of them from O’shea, to take a commanding 1-11 to 1-3 half-time lead.

Tipp hinted at keeping in touch when kicking two of the first three points of the second half.

But Kerry hit three of the next four themselves to move nine clear.

And the home side’s challenge was severely undermined with Quinlivan’s red card after referee Niall Cullen judged that he struck Gavin Crowley.

And just before the second water break they were reduced to 13 men with substitute Jason Lonergan black-carded.

Surprisingly, Kerry only scored a single point in the period where they had two extra players.

And it was a deserved one for Paudie Clifford, who worked tirelessly and drew several frees for his side over the course of the game.

Not all of their starting forwards fired on the evening, however.

And they got some bounce from their bench, particularly from Killian Spillane, who kicked two points in the closing minutes to seal the 11-point win.