Banner lowered as Kerry go on

AFTER controversy off the pitch, the Kingdom got down to business on it with their first championship game of the summer.

Kerry travelled to Cusack Park in Ennis to face off against the increasingly on-the-up Banner outfit managed by the well-regarded Colm Collins.

Before a ball was thrown-in a curve-ball was thrown when it was revealed that David Moran wasn’t going to start because of an injury. In his stead Anthony Maher started alongside debutant Jack Barry. The Duagh man went on to have a very fine game, in the first half especially, when his distribution of the ball was a key element.

Clare started the game really well, opening out a three points to nil lead after ten minutes. Kerry were in a spot of bother at this point of the game and needed a driving run from Peter Crowley – who assisted Paul Geaney for Kerry’s first score – to get them up and running.

After seventeen minutes, however, Clare had opened out a five point lead following a penalty – Donnchadh Walsh had fouled Kealan Sexton – but a Kerry purple patch put them in a good place by the half-time break – Clare 1-5, Kerry 0-8.

The only wrinkle that the breeze was set to favour Clare in the second half, but most people expected Kerry would push on in the second half regardless. The thing was though Clare started the half really well. They opened out a two point lead. They got in behind the Kerry cover and rattled the cross- bar. Some tactical switches by the Kerry management, however, brought Kerry back from the brink and they finished the game strongly – 1-18 to 1-12 winners.

Stephen O’Brien, on at half-time as a sub, was the key figure in this turnaround. The Kenmare man bagged 1-1 off the bench to set Kerry up for a tilt at the Rebels in the Munster final, a Munster final which, it would turn out, would be played in Killarney.

The match was due to be played in the new-look Pairc Uí Chaoimh, but it was announced this month that the work would not be completed in time to host.