The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kingdom class shows as another All-Ireland U-21 hurling title is secured
ALL-IRELAND U-21 ‘B’ HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
KERRY were crowned All-Ireland U-21 ‘B’ hurling champions after a convincing and fully deserved 2-20 to 0-11 victory over Derry, with Kerry crushing all opposition on course to success.
Derry were competitive for large periods of the game but ultimately though the gap between the sides shone through, with Kerry’s skill levels far superior to the Ulster outfit, who showed massive heart and never gave up despite being behind for large periods of the match.
There are plenty of positives to take out of the game for Derry but it was the better team who emerged victorious despite playing with a man less for the whole second half as midfielder Fionan Mackessy was sent off just before the interval, in the build up to Kerry’s goal before the break.
Mackessy’s sending off appeared to be very harsh on first viewing but it was baffling how the referee allowed the goal after deeming an offence in the build up worthy of a red card and Derry manager Colm McGurk stated as much when speaking after the game.
“Kerry got a killer goal just about a minute before half time. In the lead up to the goal our centre back got a whack. As a result of that the ball went in passed him and the Kerry forward went in and took the goal. The fella that done it was sent off after that and the goal stood. I can’t understand how that was allowed to go and that really was the difference between us coming in three points down at half time and coming in six.”
It was the Ulster side who opened the scoring courtesy of a free from Richie Mullan, before Kerry equalised courtesy of corner forward Maurice O’Connor.
Mullen responded shortly for Derry with a free, which was cancelled out by Shane Conway’s effort, with the Kerry senior star registering seven points throughout the game..
Mullen again responded for the Oak leaf county but the Kingdom would go onto score four unanswered points to take the lead for the first time and open up a gap in the scoreboard.
Wing-forward Jordan Conway struck a score on the run, before midfielder Fionan Mackessy added a long range score.
Two points from Jason Diggins and Jordan Conway gave Kerry a 0-6 to 0-3 lead, before Mullan responded with his and Derry’s fourth point.
Kerry almost had a goal then when Shane Conway’s effort was blocked superbly by Derry midfielder Conor McAllister, with Conway converting the resulting ‘65’.
Kerry then finally got a goal of their own after missing three clear cut chances, when Jordan Conway overcame his marker with a superb piece of skill before finishing superbly to the back of the net.
Fionan Mackessy was then sent off after the referee consulted with his linesman and sent off the Kerry midfielder despite allowing the goal to stand as Kerry held a 1-9 to 0-6 advantage at the break.
It was Derry who opened the second half scoring, to give themselves some hope heading into the second half and in fact it was very much game on when a great effort from wing back John Mullan sailed between the posts.
Kerry would tag on the next four scores though courtesy of Barry O’Mahony, Michael Leane and Shane Conway (2) to give themselves a nine point cushion heading into the last twenty minutes.
Derry battled hard to keep in the game, but struggled to create sufficient chances for their forwards and the game was very much over as a contest by the time Eoin Ross found the net for Kerry’s second goal, with a beautiful piece of skill from Shane Conway enabling him to pick out Ross who made no mistake with the finish.
Declan Quinn responded with what was to be Derry’s final score, as four late points from Michael Leane, Jordan Conway, Brandon Barrett and Shane Conway sealing the trophy for Kerry, who were full value for their 15 point victory.
This was a cakewalk for Kerry who have easily overcame opponents in every round of this competition and it looks like the Kingdom would be better off competing at a higher level of hurling.
KERRY: David Silles; Eric Leen, Evan Murphy, Niall O’Mahony; Eoin Ross (1-1), Jason Diggins (0-1), Barry O’Mahony (0-1); Tomas O’Connor, Fionan Mackessy (0-1); Jack O’Sullivan, Michael Leane (0-3), Jordan Conway (1-3); Maurice O’Connor (0-1), Brandon Barrett (0-1), Shane Conway (0-7, 1 ‘65’, 4f). Subs: Gearoid Fennessy (0-1) for J O’Sullivan (34), Gearoid O’Mahony for M O’Connor (42), Billy Lyons for E Leen (51), Kieran O’Regan for M Leane (57), Ronan Donovan for T O’Connor (57).
DERRY: Sean Kelly, Ruairi McCartney, Conor Kelly, Eoghan Gilmore; Ciaran Steele, Shane McGuigan, John Mullan (0-1); Conor McAllister, Sean Cassidy (0-1); Daragh Cartin, Eoghan O’Kane, Niall Smith; Richie Mullan (0-5, 4f), Liam Cassidy, Corey O’Reilly (0-2). Subs: Tomas Magee for D Cartin (24), Odhran McKeever (0-1) for L Cassidy (29), Proinsuas Burke for C O’Reilly (35, b/s), Corey O’Reilly for P Burke (37, b/s reversal), Proinsias Burke for N Smith (42), Conan Hunter for E O’Kane (49), Declan Quinn (0-1) for J Mullan (54).
REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)