Kerry 3-15
Tyrone 0-9
A 22-MINUTE James O’Donoghue hat-trick sealed Kerry’s first league points of the year in a crushing 3-15 to 0-9 win over Tyrone in Killarney today.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s men produced a sizzling second half display outscoring the Red Hand men by 3-7 to 0-1. O’Donoghue was the star hitting the back of the net in the 47th, 62nd and 69th minutes.
The Kerry surge was unexpected especially as they had laboured towards the end of the first 35 minutes. The sides were level at the break 0-8 apiece. However an O’Donoghue point in the 16th minute had been Kerry’s last from play and when substitute Ciaran McGinley edged Tyrone ahead, the locals were getting restless.
The introduction of Paul Geaney and Pa Kilkenny gave Kerry fresh impetus and they squeezed Tyrone out of the game with Anthony Maher and David Moran dominating the centre.
Mickey Harte repositioned Seán Cavanagh to the edge of the square for the second half but he was far too isolated as Kerry wrestled back control.
The Kingdom started the game brightly and had two great goal chances inside the first five minutes. Both efforts – from Peter Crowley and James O’Donoghue – were expertly saved by Niall Morgan.
By the 16th minute Kerry led by 0-5 to 0-2, with Bryan Sheehan prominent in his first start of the year (he ended with 0-8 to his name, seven from frees).
Tyrone slowly gained the upperhand and hit four consecutive points in seven minutes to go ahead for the first time – 0-6 to 0-5 – after 25 minutes. Peter Harte from half back was hugely influential in the surge hitting two first half points. It was to be as good as it got for the Ulster men as they failed to score after the 36th minute as Kerry stormed to a 15-point win.
Scorers for Kerry: James O’Donoghue 3-3 (0-2 frees), Bryan Sheehan 0-8 (0-7 frees), BJ Keane, Anthony Maher, Paul Geaney, Kieran O’Leary 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tyrone: Peter Harte, Darren McCurry, Niall Morgan (0-2f), Ronan O’Neill (0-2f) 0-2 each, Ciaran McGinley 0-1.
KERRY: Brian Kelly; Paul Murphy, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright; Peter Crowley, Fionn Fitzgerald, Marc Ó Sé; Anthony Maher, David Moran; Daithí Casey, Bryan Sheehan, Donnchadh Walsh; Barry John Keane, Stephen O’Brien, James O’Donoghue.
Subs: Pa Kilkenny for Shane Enright (34), Kieran O’Leary for Donnchadh Walsh (45), Paul Geaney for BJ Keane (45), Darran O’Sullivan for Daithi Casey (50), Aidan O’Mahony for Peter Crowley (59), Johnny Buckley for Bryan Sheehan (65).
TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Barry Tierney, Ronan McNamee, PJ Quinn; Peter Harte, Ronan McNabb, Conor Clarke; Colm Cavanagh, Seán Cavanagh, Emmett McKenna, Shay McGuigan, Patrick McNeice; Darren McCurry, Mattie Donnelly, Ronan O’Neill.
Subs: Ciaran McGinley for Ronan McNabb (half time), Mark Donnelly for Patrick McNiece (half time), Niall McKenna for Shay McGuigan (57), Conan Grugan for Emmett McKenna (62), Aidan McCrory for PJ Quinn (65).
Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare).]