Under 21 hurlers get off to a strong start
ALL IRELAND UNDER 21 B HC PRELIMINARY ROUND
KERRY advanced to the next round of the All Ireland Under 21 B Hurling Championship, after a comprehensive eleven point victory over Down, with the Ulster-side falling apart in the second half after a promising opening period.
Kerry were full value for their eleven point victory and will be very pleased with certain aspects of their display, particularly in the second half and there is plenty for manager Ian Brick to build on heading into the next round.
They used the ball well at stages and racked up a big score, while winning comfortably so there are no doubt plenty of positives to take from the game.
This game was acting as a curtain raiser for Westmeath vs Wexford in the All-Ireland senior championship and it was the Mourne men who started brightly, with Mark Fisher’s ‘65 splitting the posts.
Phelim Savage added a further score for Down, but Kerry responded magnificently scoring the next seven points in succession to build up a healthy five point lead, with six different scorers registering points for the Kingdom in the meantime.
Shane Conway’s side-line cut in the 15th minute was a joy to behold and it was without doubt the best score of the evening in Mullingar across the two games. Down though managed to claw the gap back to two points, after Tim Prenter reacted quickest to Liam Savage’s long ball in before finishing to the back of the net.
It was a goal that Kerry goalkeeper Adam O’Sullivan will want back as it could be argued that he should have been quicker when coming out to the long ball, but it ultimately mattered little come full-time.
Shane Conway replied with a free for Kerry, but Down almost had a goal of their own, when PJ Davidson’s effort cannoned off the upright.
Three points in succession, from Cormac Coulter and Tim Prenter (2) levelled procedures, but Kerry had a goal disallowed of their own, when Jordan Conway found Brandon Barrett, but Barrett was deemed to be in the small square so the goal was ruled out.
Two further scores from Eoin Ross and Maurice O’Connor gave Kerry a 0-10 to 1-5 lead at half time. Kerry were excellent after half-time and had a goal in what was the first score of the second period when Shane Conway played in Maurice O’Connor who finished to the net.
Kerry added two further scores courtesy of Shane Conway and Brandon Barrett, before the Kingdom were awarded a penalty after Maurice O’Connor was fouled by Tom Murray and Shane Conway made no mistake with the finish to give his side a ten point lead.
Kerry sailed home from this point, emptying their bench heading into the closing stages, but Down did grab a consolation goal late on, when Ronan Blair tapped home from close range.
Fionan Mackessy’s late effort was the icing on the cake as Kerry cruised to an eleven point victory, with tougher tests no doubt upcoming in the later stages.
KERRY: Adam O’Sullivan; Niall O’Mahony, Jason Diggins, Eric Leen; Eoin Ross (0-2), Fionan Mackessy (0-2), Evan Murphy (01); Tomas O’Connor, Michael Leane (0-1); Barry Mahony (0-1), Jordan Conway (0-3), Gearoid Fennessy; Maurice O’Connor (12), Brandon Barrett (0-2) Shane Conway (1-6, 5f, 1 s/l, 1 pen) Subs: Billy Lyons for E Leen (39), Jeremy McKenna for B Barrett (45), Ronan Donovan for N O’Mahony (52), Jack O’Sullivan for G Fennessy (54), Kieran O’Regan for S Conway (58)
DOWN: Huw Flynn; Matthew Mee, Eoin Coulter, Tom Murray; Declan McCartney, Mark Fisher (0-2, 2 ‘65), Cathal Coulter; Liam Savage, PJ Davidson; Cormac Coulter (0-4, 4f), Jordan Murphy, Phelim Savage (0-1); Jordan Doran, Daithi Sands, Tim Prenter (1-2) Subs: Ronan Blair (1-0) for J Doran (42), Michael McKey for J Murphy (43), Phillip MIskimmon for PJ Davidson (46), Niall Lennon for McCartney (49)
REFEREE: Nathan Wall (Cork)