Kerry 2-18
Mayo 0-10
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
KERRY CLAIMED THEIR second All-Ireland junior football crown in four years with a hugely impressive display against Mayo in Croke Park this afternoon.
Thomas Hickey thumped home a goal three minutes before half-time after a terrific run forward by captain Alan O’Donoghue to send Kerry into a comfortable lead at the midway mark.
Hickey added his second goal in the 37th minute with a brlliant deft chip over the goalkeeper after again being fed by a pass from O’Donoghue.
That strike essentially finished the game as a contest with Hickey ending up with 2-4 to his name while corner-forward colleague O’Donoghue bagged 0-4.
Kerry were ahead 1-9 to 0-6 at the interval but Mayo rallied before the break as they reeled off four points without reply. Substitute Andrew Farrell, who missed the semi-final against Kilkenny due to injury, made a real impression when he came on and finished with 0-5 to his credit.
Kerry were grateful to a pair of outstanding saves either side of the break from goalkeeper Shane Murphy to prevent Darren McHugh and Andrew Farrell from raising green flags.
At the other end Kerry were extremely clinical and Hickey’s second goal pushed them ahead by 2-11 to 0-6.
Stephen Wallace’s side continued to pour forward with ten players ending up on the scoresheet and there were strong displays all over the pitch from the likes of Dan O’Donoghue, James Walsh, Liam Kearney and Brian Crowley to establish their dominance.
By the third quarter mark Kerry were ahead by 13 points and they had stretched 17 clear with ten minutes left on the clock. Mayo did manage to grab late consolation points from Declan Healy, Michael Togher and Cathal Freeman but ultimately they could not quell Kerry’s power.
Scorers for Kerry:Thomas Hickey 2-4, Alan O’Donoghue 0-4, Conor Cox (0-2f), Brian Crowley 0-2 each, Shane Murphy (0-1 ’45), James Walsh, Tadhg Morley, Jeff O’Donoghue, Philip O’Connor, Killian Spillane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Mayo: Andrew Farrell 0-5 (0-2f), Declan Healy, Michael Togher, Eoin O’Donoghue, Cathal Freeman, Damien McGing 0-1 each.
Kerry
1. Shane Murphy (Kilcummin)
2. Dan O’Donoghue (Spa)
3. Jack McGuire (Listowel Emmets)
4. David Culhane (Ballylongford)
6. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
5. James Walsh (Knocknagoshel)
7. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)
8. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia)
9. Liam Kearney (Spa)
12. Philip O’Connor (Cordal)
10. Brian Crowley (Templenoe)
24. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
15. Alan O’Donoghue (John Mitchels) (Captain)
14. Conor Cox (Listowel Emmetts)
13. Thomas Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds)
Subs
18. Brian Sugrue (Renard) for McGuire (half-time)
11. Jeff O’Donoghue (Glenflesk) for Cox (35)
20. Gary O’Sullivan (Listry) for Spillane (39)
19. Michael Brennan (Churchill) for O’Sullivan (black card) (42)
17. Eamonn Kiely (Brosna) for Kearney (49)
23. David Griffin (Ardfert) for Brian Crowley (53)
Mayo
1. Blake Forkan (Kiltimagh)
2. Pat Barrett (Belmullet)
3. Brendan Moran (Cill Chomain)
4. Barry Leonard (Lahardane)
5. Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis)
6. Darren McHugh (Hollymount/Carramore)
7. Eoin O’Donoghue (Belmullet)
8. Peter Collins (Slandeady)
9. Padraic Feerick (Hollymount/Carramore)
10. Gavin Conway (Ballaghaderreen)
11. Cathal Freeman (Aghamore) (Captain)
12. Darren Durcan (Parke)
13. Damien McGing (Ballintubber)
14. John Hutton (Claremorris)
15. Ronan Malee (Kiltimagh)
Subs
21. Andrew Farrell (Killala) for Malee (inj) (8)
18. Sean Gaughan (Belmullet) for Leonard (24)
20. Mickey Barrett (Knockmore) for Gaughan (black card) (27)
24. Mícheál Forde (Ballycastle) for Durcan (half-time)
19. Declan Healy (Davitts) for Moran (48)
22. Michael Togher (Belmullet) for Collins (49)
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
