Kerry 0-17
Tipperary 0-14
Paul Brennan reports from Austin Stack Park, Tralee
A THOROUGHLY DESERVED three-point win over Tipperary sets the Kerry hurlers up for a crack at All-Ireland champions Limerick next week in the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling Cup semi-final, and on the evidence of what they pulled off here it will be a challenge that wonโt daunt them.
And why should it?
Of course they wonโt beat John Kielyโs all-conquering team โ whatever shape the Shannonsidersโ team takes โ but it will give new Kerry manager Stephen Molumphy a second game to get more acquainted with his new players. For the Waterford man, it is classic bonus territory.
This result comes with a huge caveat: this is January hurling, and played through the heaviest and coldest rain showers at that, but whether in hail, rain or sunshine โ and we had all three at Austin Stack Park โ the scoreboard doesnโt lie.
Kerry had three points to spare over Tipperary but the scoreboard doesnโt reveal that the home side had a late penalty saved, when a goal then would have put the Kingdom five clear. That they had to dig deep in the final few minutes after Shane Conwayโs miss to find late scores from Paudie Ahern and Conway, will have pleased Molumphy as much as anything over the preceding 80 minutes.
Somewhat remarkably Kerry were never behind in this contest. Ahern, from the Killeedy club in west Limerick, opened the scoring for the home side after two minutes, and at the first water break Kerry led 0-4 to 0-3.
By half time the hosts led 0-9 to 0-6, Conway accounting for 0-5, with full back Fionan Mackessy booming over a huge point, as Kerry kept Tipperary under all kinds of pressure.
Sean Ryan converted four frees in the first half, and three more after the break, and perhaps one of the more damning stats from Tipperaryโs point of view is that they scored just three points from play and never troubled Kerry goalkeeper Louis Dee with a meaningful shot.
The Premier county โ short a lot of regulars, just as Kerry were โ hit too many wides in the first half, and given they played with a strong wind advantage, wonโt have pleased manager Colm Bonnar.
By the 50th minute sub Willie Connorsโ point brought Tipperary to within a point of Kerry, 0-11 to 0-10, and one feared the home side might run out of gas in the fourth quarter. Instead, Michael Leane, Gavin Dooley and Conway (free) struck for points to make it 0-14 to 0-10 at the second water break, and there was no evidence Tipp were going to turn it around.
Dylan Walsh came on for Connors, who suffered a serious leg injury that caused an 11-minute delay, and scored four frees, but Kerry were equal to the task, and should have put the game to bed with Conwayโs 76th minute penalty. Barry Hogan saved the strike brilliantly, but Kerry drew more inspiration from the save than Tipp did, and held out for a famous win.
Limerick next week will be another mountain to climb, but Kerry will set out for that Everest with renewed confidence in themselves.
Scorers for Kerry: Shane Conway 0-9 (6f), Paudie Ahern 0-3, Fionan Mackessy 0-1, Colum Harty 0-1, Michael Leane 0-1, Gavin Dooley 0-1, Shane Nolan 0-1 (0-1f).
Scorers for Tipperary: Sean Ryan 0-7 (0-7f), Dylan Walsh 0-4 (0-4f), Robert Byrne 0-1, Conor Stakelum 0-1, Willie Connors 0-1.
Kerry
1. Louis Dee (Mungret)
25. Conor OโKeeffe (Lixnaw), 3. Fionan Mackessy (St Brendans), 4. Sean Weir (Crotta OโNeills)
5. Michael Leane (Ballyheigue), 6. Eric Leen (St Brendans), 23. Eoin Ross (Ballyduff)
8. Colin Walsh (Ballyheigue), 9. Colum Harty (Causeway)
22. Shane Nolan (Crotta OโNeills), 11. Shane Conway (Lixnaw), 12. Gavin Dooley (Causeway)
13. Mark Heffernan (Dr Crokes), 14. Paudie Ahern (Killeedy, Limerick), 15. James Sheehan (Crotta OโNeills)
Subs
10. Brian Lonergan (Tralee Parnells) for C Harty (47)
19. Michael OโLeary (Abbeydorney) for J Sheehan (50)
21. Sean Sheehan (Causeway) for G Dooley (72)
Tipperary
1. Barry Hogan (Kiladangan)
2. Daragh Carey (Templderry Kenyons), 3. James Quigley (Kiladangan), 4. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
5. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), 6. Robert Byrne (Portroe), 7. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)
8. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), 9. Sean Curran (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone)
10. Ger Browne (Cashel King Cormacs), 11. Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), 12. Rian Doody (Cappawhite)
13. Sean Ryan (Templderry Kenyons), 14. Paul Flynn (Kildangan), 15. Kian OโKelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
Subs
18. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill) for P Cadell (18)
17. Declan McGrath (Kiladangan) for D Carey (inj, 25)
20. Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for R Doody (half-time)
19. Seamus Kennedy (St Marys) for S Curran (54)
22. Dylan Walsh (Ballingarry) for K OโKelly (56)
15. Kian OโKelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for W Connors (inj, 67)
Referee: Ciaran OโRegan (Cork)
Well done Kerry. Hope Limerick wont spoil the parade.
When you work hard results like this can happen.Well done Kerry
Kerry for the Double 2022
@Patrick O Connell: you heard it here first
Tipperary hurling at a new low, There be no shortage of tinfoil in July anyway as theyโll be out by the time the munster championship is over.
@Anthony Baggott: youโve absolutely no idea what youโre talking about.
@Anthony Baggott: Not to take away from this great Kerry achievement, but letโs not forget its a warm-up competition and Tipp fielded about 3 first team players in the 15: Hogan in goals, McCormack in midfield, and Ger Browne. Again, Kerry can only play whoโs infront of them so fair dues. Itโs just clear Tipp were using the more peripheral, young, panel players today.
@แดแดแด49: good one, Go and jump on a Carrolls ham advertisement there for yourself .
@แดแดแด49: Disgusting comment
@Ciarรกn Oโ Donoghue: disgusting, having the crack and he referes to heroin , shows there mentalityโฆ and shows why everyone loves beating them .
@Anthony Baggott: Tinfoil for the sandwiches and spoons for the tea. If your mind jumped to heroin thatโs on you.
@แดแดแด49: the only spoon thatโs worth mentioning is the one your mother shouldโve beat you with
@Anthony Baggott: child abuse? Disgusting comment
@Ultan Corcoran: Kerry short their Kilmoyley players
@Michael Gleeson: True Michael, only read that later on. More credit to Kingdom hurlers so! As I said earlier, itโs a brilliant achievement and will go a long way towards encouraging more of the small ball being played in the county. Perhaps even in parts that are predominantly football playing.
Two Limerick club players in the Kerry team this afternoon, a good opportunity for them to get experience like David Reidy did with Kildare. Split Limerick in four!!
@Fergus McGrath:
Little bit presumotious cocky comment on your part Dare I say.
Maybe it was a bit tongue in cheek ?
Well I reckon the goalkeeper with a name like Dee would have strong North Kerry Roots and might have aspirations to continue to play for them !!.
Not sure about Paudie Ahern
David Reidy was actual teaching in Kildare when he played for them.
@Nick Condon Sen: It is completely tongue in cheek and it is actually hilarious to see Tipperary where Limerick were for decades. Another young hurler from Limerick is joining the Kerry panel, he has a chance of actually making the Limerick panel in the long term. David Reidy was not in a position to play for Limerick at the time and the game time served him well in the end it has to be said.
Comhghairdeas le Ciarraรญ. An bhfuil foireann nua ag teacht isteach sa spรณrt?
@Sรฉan ร Nuanรกin: bfhรฉidir!
Tipp goalie Barry Hogan the only full time member of the Tipperary squad to start today donโt think Kerry should get too excited with the result
@Bill: true but todayโs team was peppered with players we would be hoping would be putting their hands up for selection later in the season. Beating Kerry, who were also missing some of their first team players, should have been well within reach of this Tipp team. Very disappointing.
@Bill: Dan McCormack, Chatham
@Bill: Dan McCormack, Cathal Barrett, Paddy Caddell weโre all involved last year.
@Bill: there was a lad on that miller shield banging in the goals cant think of his name? Strong corner foward and very fast. Did he make it? If dere is one thing Tipp is missing its pace.
@Jim: couldnโt agree more Jim it was a disgrace he wasnโt called in after scoring 3-7 in the Miller cup
As a limerick hurling fan youโd be expecting limerick to go out and beat kerry next week, but I certainly wouldnโt be shouting it from the roof tops before we play them, different days bring different results, weโll wait and see what kerry bring.
great result for kerry
The 2 Johnnieโs were playing today they should have been subbed.
Kerry without Kilmoyley player because of club intermediate champion also couple lads from Ballyduff who are resting after North Kerry football final last weekend
Speechless wake up
Time to split kerry Iโm two!!
Noโฆ.. Too soon?