The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry survive rally to stay on track
Kerry 2-19 Down 1-15
KERRY were unconvincing winners in their All-Ireland Minor B hurling Championship semi-final fixture against Down, but they keep their hunt for five All-Ireland Minor B titles in-a-row alive.
A stunning opening half from Barry O’Mahoney, scorer 1-5 amidst a Kerry side who settled early was only equalled by the performance of midfielder, Shane Conway, last Saturday in Newbridge, but like a man who attempts to paint his house by only buying the brushes, Kerry nearly left the most crucial part their job undone.
Despite drawn at three points apiece in the tenth minute through O’Mahoney (2) and Eric Leen, Kerry appeared to have neutralised the game with a successive 1-7 in a fifteen-minute period.
With Conway’s second score and Colin Sheehy’s first, Kerry led at the break by eight points, 1-12 to 0-7. With Eric Leen (2), Bryan McAuliffe, Maurice O’Connor and Shane Conway (2) adding points in a domineering display, Barry O’Mahony’s 14th minute goal which combined his sublime touch and a Conway run left the balance of the game in no doubt.
Then oddly Kerry reversed their tactics. Even with Down’s Callum Smyth sent off for a second yellow in the 32nd minute, Kerry dropped their main scoring threat into the sweeper role. And while O’Mahony is capable of much, he looked at sea in the role and contributed little thereafter.
This was exemplified as, following three successive points from two of Down’s marquee players, Ruairí and Conor McCrickard, by the 40th minute Conor McCrickard reduced the margin to just two points with a goal.
Letting an eight-point lead slip, Kerry did respond in a fashion that will prove useful in the final against Meath. With Shane Conway, Colin Sheehy (2) and Micheál McCarthy adding four consecutive points, the re-exerted pressure began to tell as Down corner-back, Eoin Kelly, was needed to deny Eric Leen a goal.
However, the two McCrickard’s would respond to keep the pressure on Kerry. Taking up O’Maho- ny’s mantle from the first-half, Leen eventually found the net in the 54th minute with a kicked goal. This crucial score secured the win by giving Kerry a seven-point margin.
But, proving that their first-half performance was not up to par, again the two McCrickard’s would respond. Without a goal though, Down were never going to outshoot Kerry.
As proof, along with Leen and Tomás O’Connor points, the game ended with Down’s Conor McCrickard and Shane Conway trading frees as Leen was denied for a second goal by brave Down defending.
With Kerry facing a Meath side who turned Wicklow upside down with an 8-25 – 0-11 victory, the team pursing five-in-a-row will not be afforded the start to the second-half that saw their eightpoint lead evaporate.
But with O’Mahony, Conway and Leen on song in a choir of players reaching the high notes, Meath will be no match for the Kingdom of All-Irelands on the September 3. KERRY: Adam O’Sullivan, Bryan McAuliffe (0-1), Conor O’Keeffe, Evan Murphy, Gearoíd Fennessy, Liam Mullins, Thomas Quinlan, Conor Galway, Shane Conway (0-4, 2f, 1’ ‘65), Colin Sheehy (0-3), Eric Leen (1-3), Darragh Goulding, Padraig O’Mahony, Barry O’Mahony (1-5, 2f), Maurice O’Connor Subs: Tomás O’Connor (0-1) for Quinlan (34), Micheál McCarthy (0-1) for Goulding (46), Gary Carey for Galway (51) DOWN: Conor McLornan, Eoin Kelly, Paddy Branagan, Jake Carlin, Callum Smyth, Eoin Coulter, Donal Og Rooney, Ruairí McCrickard (0-6, 5f), Tom Murray, Conor McCrickard (1-5, 2f), Declan McCartney (01), Philip Miskimmon, Daithi Sands (0-3), Adrian Mee, Stephen McKey Subs: Niall Fitzsimmons for Miskimmon (48), Michael Napier for Rooney (50), Colin McPolin for Fitzsimmons (60) REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)