Impressive start slows in third quarter
MUNSTER MF QUARTER-FINAL
IT didn’t turn into the massacre the early exchanges suggested, but it never really looked in doubt for the Kerry minors all the same. The Kingdom kept a magnificent streak spanning the last four years in tact as they saw off Clare in Austin Stack Park last Wednesday evening.
The thirteen point win over the Banner County was the 19th consecutive win for a minor side under either Peter Keane or Jack O’Connor’s watch as the 2013 All-Ireland minor quarter-final with Tyrone continues to be the last time a Kerry side lost a competitive encounter.
Kerry had scored 2-5 before Clare got their first score in the 16th minute and although the fact it was a goal was disappointing it was a rare defensive blemish from an otherwise solid outing at the back by the hosts.
Brian Friel had scored the most impressive of Kerry’s early three points, winning a kick-out and converting it himself, but it was the two Clifford’s who combined for the first Kerry goal in the fifth minute.
Fiachra was the one to complete a patient move through the Clare defence by some of his team-mates before team captain David continued on from where he left off in Croke Park the previous September in scoring the game’s first goal to go with the last goal of the 2016 campaign.
Donal O’Sullivan was the most impressive forward for the Kingdom in last Wednesday’s win, however, as he collected the rebound from his namesake and fellow corner-forward Donnachadh’s blocked effort and fired home for a 2-3 to 0-0 advantage after only seven minutes.
Gearóid Cahill was the scorer of Clare’s solitary goal from a free, which saw the Kingdom defence caught off guard to make the scoreline 2-5 to 1-0. The hosts responded with five points before the half-time whistle, midfielder Barry Mahony amongst the scorers as Kerry’s eight point advantage was a comfortable reflection of their first-half performance.
The second-half had an air of inevitability about it although Kerry might have been hoping to keep the intensity levels up a bit more despite the expected outcome of proceedings.
Centre-back Eddie Horan scored a fine point in the 36th minute and although they led by 2-14 to 1-0 after 39 minutes, Kerry laboured somewhat in the final quarter. Gavin Cooney finally scored a point for Clare in the 44th minute and they did manage another five before the final whistle as an injury to Sean O’Leary with 11 minutes left was a setback following a solid display in defence.
Chris O’Donoghue continued on from his displays with the Sem in the Hogan Cup in being the stand-out defender on the night as Horan will be disappointed to have been shown the line following a second yellow card late on.
The full complement of substitutes were used by Peter Keane and his management team as Niall Donohoe made the most notable contribution off the bench in becoming Kerry’s eighth scorer on the night.
The result was maybe more satisfying than the performance, but you can tend to nit-pick a bit on the first night out for a side at this level. While the semi-final opponents are still not nailed down, Kerry know that they have to lift it to meet the challenge of playing for what will essentially be a key component of the campaign in guaranteeing another two games.
This might well have been their only game at home for the year last Wednesday regardless of how long or short the campaign might be, but at the very least they have ensured that the county will not have lost a home tie at this level for five years.