Kerry 0-26
Limerick 0-6
Paul Brennan reports from Cusack Park, Ennis
BRENDAN O’SULLIVAN, THE man at the eye of the recent anti-doping case, kicked two points and came off to a rousing ovation from the travelling faithful in Ennis as Kerry remain on course for a fourth successive Munster junior football title after a comfortable win over Limerick.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice and junior manager Jimmy Keane obviously felt the best thing for O’Sullivan, after two weeks of adverse publicity owing to a positive finding in a drugs test last year, was to get the Valentia man back playing football as soon as possible.
When sufficient time wasn’t available to him with the senior team playing Clare, a midfield start in the curtain-raiser was next best, and O’Sullivan returned the opportunity with a confident performance.
Indeed, confident is the term applicable to the entire Kerry performance as they dispatched a very poor Limerick team with minimum fuss. With Kerry seniors past and future in their team, Kerry not only look a safe bet for that fourth provincial title in a row, but a third All-Ireland title on the trot looks a good bet at this stage also.
A couple of Kieran Daly scores gave Limerick the early lead, but Kerry quickly settled and reeled off the next nine points, including four Conor Cox frees. Limerick’s next score, a John Bourke point, came in the 20th minute, but Kerry were smooth and efficient in all areas, and scores from Philip O’Connor, Jeff O’Donoghue and Brendan O’Sullivan’s second point saw Kerry lead 0-13 to 0-4 at the break.
The pattern continued after the break with Daly getting the first score for Limerick before Kerry took over and dominated. Killian Spillane finished with four from play, former senior panelist Pa Kilkenny kicked two from the defence, and Ivan Parker came off the bench to kick a brace also.
O’Sullivan came off to generous applause in the 46th minute with a thigh injury, at which stage Kerry led 0-17 to 0-6, and the final quarter was mere shooting practice for the Kingdom who will play Cork for the Munster title in a fortnight.
Scorers for Kerry: Conor Cox 0-6 (5 frees), Killian Spillane 0-4, Jeff O’Donoghue 0-3 (1 ’45′), Philip O’Connor 0-3, Brendan O’Sullivan 0-2, Pa Kilkenny 0-2, Ivan Parker 0-2
Roibéard Ó Sé 0-1, Eanna O’Connor 0-1, Tomas Ó Sé 0-1, Evan Cronin 0-1
Scorers for Limerick: Kieran Daly 0-3 (2f), John Bourke 0-2, Tommie Griffin 0-1
Kerry
1. Tomas Mac an tSaoir (An Ghaeltacht)
2. Eamonn Kiely (Brosna)
3. Jack McGuire (Listowel Emmets)
4. Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
5. James Walsh (Knocknagoshel)
6. Michael Foley (Ballydonoghue)
7. Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk)
8. Roibeárd Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
9. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia)
10. Philip O’Connor (Cordal)
11. Jeff O’Donoghue (Glenflesk)
12. Eánna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht)
13. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
14. Conor Cox (Listowel Emmets)
15. Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
Subs
17. Liam Carey (Beaufort) for B O’Sullivan (inj, 46 mins)
18. Ivan Parker (Churchill) for T Ó Sé (48 mins)
21. DJ Murphy (Gneeveguilla) for J McGuire (51 mins)
19. Evan Cronin (Spa) for J O’Donoghue (54 mins)
22. Brandon Barrett (Ardfert) for D O’Brien (56 mins)
20. Dara Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht) for P O’Connor (56 mins)
Limerick
1. James Brouder (Mountcollins)
2. Mike O’Keeffe (Newcastle West)
3. Mike O’Leary (Newcastle West)
4. James Bridgeman (St Senans)
5. Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins)
6. Pakie Moran (Ballysteen)
7. Sean Sheahan (Rathkeale)
8. Tommie Griffin (Gerald Griffins)
9. Maurice Fitzgerald (St Senans)
10. John Bourke (Oola)
11. Sean Murphy (Newcastle West)
12. Jamie McGarry (Claughaun)
13. Eoin O Donnell (Rathkeale)
14. Padraig De Brún (Firies)
15. Kieran Daly (Na Piarsaigh)
Subs
22. Jack English (Adare) for 9. M Fitzgerald (26 mins)
19. Con Berkery (Cappamore) for 11. S Murphy (ht)
18. Ray Flattery (St Senans) for M O’Leary (41 mins)
20. Anthony Harnett (Mountcollins) for J McGarry (41 mins)
21. Shane Doherty (Adare) for C McSweeney (48 mins)
Referee: John Hannan (Clare)