Kerry 4-14
Tipperary 0-6
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT the Kerry football production lines are in perfect working order came today in Croke Park as they cruised past Tipperary to lift the All-Ireland minor football title.
It was the second successive year that Jack O’Connor guided a batch of Kingdom minors to September glory.
The latest feat was all the more impressive as today’s captain Mark O’Connor was the only survivor from the starting side that saw off Donegal last year.
Tipperary entered the game on the back of impressive form in the All-Ireland series and armed with high hopes of turning the tables on a Kerry team who conquered them in July’s Munster final by six points.
Instead Kerry turned on the style from the off and essentially had put this game to bed at the break when they were ahead 2-8 to 0-4.
The goals were hammer blows for Tipperary. Bryan Sweeney smashed home the first in the 20th minute for Kerry after being placed by Sean O’Shea while Conor Geaney clinically converted a penalty then before the break after being fouled himself.
Kerry didn’t ease off after the break with Michael Foley flicking home the third goal in the 40th minute after great approach play from Brandon Barrett.
Three minutes later the fourth goal was registered by Kerry with Geaney again despatching a penalty following a foul on Foley.
It was a tough day at the office for Tipperary. They shipped the opening four points of the game but managed to gain a foothold through scores from Tommy Nolan and Alan Tynan to trail 0-4 to 0-2 after the opening quarter.
Then Kerry claimed complete control. Their defence wrapped up Tipperary’s attack with Nolan and Tynan the only consistent scoring outlets. Jason Foley was exceptional at full-back for Kerry, maintaining the high standards he has set throughout 2015.
Captain O’Connor was back from injury to rule the skies at midfield while in attack Geaney, O’Shea and Sweeney constantly threatened.
Kerry were ahead 4-10 to 0-6 entering the final quarter and the game petered out to it’s inevitable conclusion from there.
Substitutes James Duggan and Stephen O’Sullivan got in on the scoring act as Kerry ran out 20-point victors to life the Tom Markham Cup once more.
Scorers for Kerry: Conor Geaney 2-4 (2-0 pen, 0-2f), Bryan Sweeney 1-1, Michael Foley 1-0, Sean O’Shea (0-1f), James Duggan 0-2 each, Stephen O’Sullivan, John Mark Foley, Brian Ó Seanacháin, Brandon Barrett, Mark O’Connor 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Alan Tynan 0-3, Tommy Nolan 0-2, Jack Kennedy 0-1 (0-1 ’45).
Kerry
1. Billy Courtney (Dr Crokes)
2. Darren Brosnan (Gneeveguilla)
3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
5. Jack Morgan (Austin Stacks)
6. Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil)
7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)
8. Mark O’Connor (Dingle – captain)
9. John Mark Foley (Kilgarvan)
10. Brian Ó’Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue)
11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare)
12. Brandon Barrett (Ardfert)
13. Michael Foley (Spa)
14. Bryan Sweeney (Listowel Emmets)
15. Conor Geaney (Dingle)
Subs
19. Stephen O’Sullivan (Templenoe) for Barrett (40)
21. James Duggan (John Mitchels) for Michael Foley (46)
17. Mike Breen (Beaufort) for John Mark Foley (46)
18. Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk) for O’Sullivan (46)
20. Dara O’Shea (Kenmare) for Brosnan (53)
22. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) for Morgan (53)
Tipperary
1. Charlie Manton (Fethard)
4. Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers)
3. Jack Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill)
2. Tadhg Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers)
5. Danny Owens Capt. (Moyle Rovers)
6. Liam Fahy (Rockwell Rovers)
7. Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)
8. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
9. Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch)
10. Aidan Buckley (St. Patricks)
11. Alan Tynan (Inane Rovers)
12. Colin English (Fr. Sheehys)
14. Brian McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
13. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers)
15. Brendan Martin (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
Subs
18. Jamie Bergin (Drom-Inch) for English (half-time)
17. Ross Peters (Clonmel Commercials) for Buckley (half-time)
19. Morgan Irwin (Moyle Rovers) for Fitzgerald (black card) (44)
21. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for McGrath (46)
23. Conor Cashman (Cahir) for Martin (56)
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though