Kerry 1-18
Waterford 0-7
Tomas McCarthy reports from Fraher Field, Dungarvan
CATHAL BAMBURY AND Killian Spillane fired Kerry into the EirGrid Munster U21 football final on 29 March as a stylish first-half performance overwhelmed a gallant Waterford in tonight’s semi-final at Fraher Field.
The Kingdom strike force finished with 1-11 between them to tee up a final meeting with Cork later this month. Sean O’Shea and Tom O’Sullivan were also to the fore on the winning side.
Waterford haven’t earned a victory at this grade in eleven years but Tom Flynn’s charges battled to the end however with David Looby, Edmund O’Halloran and Dylan Guiry leading the way.
Jack O’Connor shook up the team with four changes prior to throw in and they boasted a fourteen point lead by the interval.
The 1/200 favourites rushed six points up inside ten minutes. Bambury kicked two points with Spillane, Andrew Barry, O’Shea and Matthew Flaherty also on the scoresheet.
David Looby registered Waterford’s opener from a free in the 13th minute. The outsiders lost full back Stephen Ryan on a black card as Spillane, Bambury and O’Shea added further points.
On 24 minutes, O’Shea raced through the home rearguard and passed to Spillane who fisted home. Number four Tom O’Sullivan sent over two points before the break as the green and gold led 1-12 to 0-1.
Before an attendance of 363, O’Shea increased the advantage to fifteen points on the restart with Looby replying with a crisp 45.
Kerry wing back Cormac Coffey was sent off after getting a second yellow card after 42 minutes of play. Moments later, Déise midfielder Cormac Curran got his marching orders for a high challenge.
Waterford troubled the leaders in the final quarter and shot four unanswered points through Joe Allen, Looby, Edmund O’Halloran and Conor Murray.
O’Connor’s team finished the job with late singles from Bambury and Spillane.
Scorers for Kerry: Killian Spillane 1-6 (0-3f), Cathal Bambury 0-5, Sean O’Shea 0-3 (0-1f), Tom O’Sullivan 0-2, Andrew Barry, Matthew Flaherty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: David Looby 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Edmund O’Halloran, Conor Gleeson, Conor Murray, Joe Allen (f) 0-1 each.
Kerry
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Tom (Leo) O’Sullivan (Dingle)
3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
5. Brian Sugrue (Renard)
20. Jack Morgan (Austin Stacks)
4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
18. Cormac Coffey (Kerins O’Rahillys)
8. Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)
6. Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil)
9. Brian Ó Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue)
11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare)
12. Matthew Flaherty (Dingle)
22. Lee O’Donoghue (Glenfesk)
17. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
15. Cathal Bambury (Dingle)
Subs
19. Ivan Parker (Churchill) for O’Shea (41)
13. Brian Ó Beaglaíoch (An Gaeltacht) for Barry (44)
21. Roibeard Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht) for Tom O’Sullivan (44)
7. Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk) for Sugrue (47)
10. Brandon Barrett (Ardfert) for Flaherty (47)
24. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) for Foley (54)
Waterford
1. Kevin Dwane (Ballinacourty)
2. Conor McCarthy (Ballinacourty)
3. Stephen Ryan (The Nire)
4. Michael Cronin (Ardmore)
7. Edmund O’Halloran (Clashmore)
5. Darach O Cathasaigh (An Rinn)
6. Sean Kelly (Gaultier)
8. Dylan Guiry (The Nire)
24. Cormac Curran (Brickey Rangers)
12. David Looby (Ballinacourty)
9. Conor Gleeson (The Nire)
10. Conor Murray (Rathgormack)
15. Craig Brown (Erins Own)
14. Joe Allen (Dungarvan)
11. Michael Sweeney (Stradbally)
Subs
17. Ciaran O’Neill (Brickey Rangers) for Ryan (19, BC)
22. Donal Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty) for Sweeney (38)
18. Jake Mulcahy (The Nire) for Brown (54)
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
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