The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Defeat for Under 21 hurlers in semi-final
ALL IRELAND UNDER 21 B HC SEMI-FINAL Meath 1-21 Kerry 1-12
FOR Kerry this was bitter disappointment, there’s no point in saying otherwise.
They went into this game as the warmest of favourites and with seven starters who’d played senior hurling in the last two years. Ian Brick’s men did suffer the loss of star man Michael O’Leary before the game, he failed to recover in time from the injury he sustained in the county championship semi-final.
O’Leary had been named in the side to face Meath so Kerry were obviously hoping against hope that he’d be fit in time to make this game. Alas it wasn’t to be and Kerry’s challenge seemed to lack a punch.
They played with the breeze (slight though it may have been) in the first half, but found Meath a difficult bunch to break down. Meath hurled conservatively against the slight breeze in the opening half and kept pace with their more vaunted rivals, but then cut loose with a devastating second period performance.
With staunch defensive work, non-stop effort through the middle and excellent accuracy from star man Jack Regan, Meath stunned Kerry after the break as they restricted them to just three points, while adding 1-13 to their firsthalf tally to complete a 13-point turnaround.
While Regan will take the plaudits for this 12 points return, 10 from frees, there were exceptional performances all over the field with Charlie Bird making several fine interventions, Liam Ferguson, Ronan Ryan and Conor Dempsey defending superbly, Sean Quigley returning from America to dominate midfield with Sean McGrath and Regan getting plenty of assistance from Stefan Kelly, Luke Martyn and Ross Ryan.
Kerry were overly reliant on the free taking of Philip Lucid and while he wasn’t up to his usual high standard it limited the Kerry threat with Cathal Kearney the visitors best player at full-back.
Before Jordan Conway’s 31st minute goal gave Kerry their 1-9 to 0-8 interval cushion the teams were tied seven times as they traded points throughout an entertaining opening period.
Regan converted the first of his four first-half frees in the fifth minute to give Meath the lead, but Kerry showed their danger two minutes later when Jack Goulding created a goal chance but blasted over the bar.
A fine score from Kelly restored Meath’s advantage, but Kerry responded impressively again with John Buckley levelling it up for a second time before Cian Hussey edged them ahead following a clever quick free from Lucid.
Another Regan free brought Meath level in the 14th minute, but within seconds Kerry were ahead again when Daniel O’Carroll struck a wonder score to make it 0-4 to 0-3.
A superb save by Bird prevented Fionan O’Sullivan from stretching Kerry’s lead and on the counter Meath went ahead again with Regan converting a free from 65 meters before winning the next puck out and setting up Luke Martyn for a fine point.
Kerry responded in kind with points from O’Sullivan and Lucid (free) making it 0-6 to 0-5, but Meath were looking the better side and edged ahead again with McGrath pointing from distance before Kelly blasted over a decent goal chance.
Lucid’s early inaccuracy cleared up as he struck a ‘65 and a close range free to make it 0-8 to 0-7 four minutes before the break and when he added another free two minutes later there was a bit of daylight between the sides for the first time.
Regan cut the gap to the minimum from a 67 metre free, but then Meath were dealt a blow when Conway raced clear of the hosts defence and rifled to the net despite a heavy challenge from Quigley which earned the Dunboyne man a yellow card.
The signs were ominous for Kerry as early as 35 seconds after the break as Regan closed the gap with a free after Martyn was fouled. Ross Ryan added another point before Regan’s first from play made it 0-11 to 1-9 within two minutes of the restart.
Lucid settled Kerry with another free, but Meath responded through David Reilly to leave the minimum between the sides again. Lucid’s point from a ‘65 was Kerry’s last for 17 minutes as Meath upped the tempo with two pointed frees from Regan dragging them level before Martyn gathered a long ball superbly and executed a brilliant finish to give Meath the lead for the first time since the 23rd minute, 1-14 to 1-11.
There was no looking back for the hosts. Kerry squandered several decent chances with Lucid missing a couple of frees and Daniel O’Carroll arrowing wide from good positions, while points from Gavin McGowan, who didn’t start because of injury, and Ross Ryan made it 1-16 to 1-11.
Bird made a brilliant save to deny Hussey a certain goal and that miss totally deflated Kerry as Regan punished indiscipline with three frees around Kerry’s final score from Hussey in the 54th minute to stretch Meath’s lead to 1-19 to 1-12.
Lucid saw a late free stopped by Bird before Meath put the icing on the well baked cake with late scores from Kevin Ryan and Regan’s second from play.
Kerry’s wait goes on.