Kerry 1-21
Tyrone 2-11
Paul Brennan reports from Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney
THE PERFECT CONFLUENCE of results and scores has pitted Kerry against Dublin in next week’s league final in what will be an eagerly awaited rematch of last year’s final and the more recent ill-tempered contest in Tralee last month.
With Dublin beating Monaghan and Mayo getting the better of Donegal, Kerry kept their side of the deal by beating Tyrone by seven points to overturn Donegal’s superior scoring difference going into today’s final round of fixtures.
From the moment Mikey Geaney found the net in the third minute Kerry never looked like losing this match, and they went about putting up a big winning margin with utter ruthlessness.
The first half was a most untypical Kerry versus Tyrone affair lacking all the intensity and edge of recent meetings. In essence Kerry ran riot from pillar to post and Tyrone were powerless to stop them.
It took just three minutes for Kerry to breach the Tyrone rearguard when David Moran played in Geaney and he fired the ball past Mickey O’Neill for the half’s only goal.
Donnchadh Walsh followed with the first of his three first half points from play (he scored six in all), and the first of Paul Geaney’s five first half frees made it 1-2 to 0-0 after five minutes.
It was 1-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes with Sean Cavanagh posting two frees for Tyrone who were cleaned out in midfield by the imperious Moran and who were wretched in defence.
Barry John Keane blazed a great goal chance over the bar in the eighth minute and Darren McCurry drew a smart save from Brendan Kealy at the other end in the 16th minute, but Kerry’s attack was relentless and two more Paul Geaney frees extended the home side’s lead.
Cavanagh converted his and Tyrone’s third score in the 20th minute but points from play from Mikey Geaney and Walsh made it 1-8 to 0-3 before Keane had another goal opportunity deflected out for a ’45′ by Tyrone goalkeeper O’Neill.
Two more Paul Geaney frees, either side of a Stephen O’Brien point, pushed Kerry 1-11 to 0-3 ahead, before another Cavanagh free and two from Peter Harte left it 1-12 to 0-6 at the interval with Tyrone failing to score from play over the 37 minutes played.
Two Peter Harte goals in the second half kept Kerry honest though the visitors never looked like winning here, especially given the stark fact their first score from play was Harte’s 44th minute goal. Indeed, Tyrone’s only points from play was a second half brace from substitute David Mulgrew.
Kerry were 1-18 to 1-10 ahead when Frank Burns won a 65th minute penalty, which Harte converted to leave Kerry needing to find a couple of late scores.
The Kingdom were five clear going into added time but Donnchadh Walsh sealed his man of the match performance with two late points that, in essence, nudged Kerry into the top two places and sets up that rematch with the still unbeaten Dubs.
Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney 0-6f, Donnchadh Walsh 0-6. Michael Geaney 1-2
Barry John Keane 0-2, Stephen O’Brien 0-2f, Stephen O’Brien 0-1, Tadhg Morley 0-1, Paul Murphy 0-1.
Scorers for Tyrone: Sean Cavanagh 0-5f, Peter Harte 2-4 (1-0 pen, 0-4f), David Mulgrew 0-2.
Kerry
1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)
2. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michaels-Foilmore)
4. Ronan Shanahan (Austin Stacks)
5. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
6. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
7. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
9. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
10. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
11. Kevin McCarthy (Kilcummin)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
13. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys)
14. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
15. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
Subs
20. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s) for K McCarthy (45 mins)
21. Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion) for P Crowley (50 mins)
22. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar) for Barry John Keane (52 mins)
17. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil) for A Maher (59 mins)
26. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe) for Fionn Fitzgerald (62 mins)
25. Denis Daly (St Mary’s) for Stephen O’Brien (69 mins)
Tyrone
1. Mickey O’Neill (Clonoe)
2. Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciarán)
3. Pádraig Hampsey (Coalisland)
4. Cathal McCarron (Dromore)
5. Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher)
6. Ronan McNabb (Dromore_
7. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciarán)
8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)
9. Padraig McNulty (Dungannon)
10. Conall McCann (Killyclogher)
11. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
12. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
13. Mark Bradley (Killyclogher)
14. Sean Cavanagh (Moy)
15. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
Subs
24. Conor Meyler (Omagh) for C McCann (HT)
26. Jonathan Monroe (Carrickmore) for D McCurry (HT)
19. Frank Burns (Pomeroy) for K McGeary (b/c, 38 mins)
25. David Mulgrew (Ardboe) for M Bradley (43 mins)
23. Cathal McShane (Eoghan Roe O’Neill’s) for N Sludden (b/c, 45 mins)
18. Rory Brennan (Trillick) for Ronan McNabb (69 mins)
Referee: Martin Duffy (Sligo)
