Kerry 2-21
Sligo 0-10
A ROARING START to the second half from Kerry enabled them to advance past the challenge of Sligo in the All-Ireland JFC semi-final at Cusack Park in Ennis this afternoon.
Having seen a five-point lead wiped out in eight minutes before half-time as the sides went in level at 0-8 each, the Kingdom responded with an unanswered 1-7 in the third quarter to push the game beyond the Connacht champions and remain on course for a 16th All-Ireland.
Corner-forward Gavan O’Grady caught the eye for Kerry, finishing with nine points, while at midfield Andrew Garnett and Brendan O’Sullivan were dominant apart from Sligo’s renaissance prior to the interval.
Otherwise, Kerry were by far the better team, pushing ahead after the sides had been level twice in the early stages. O’Grady and Ciarán Keating were among the scores as they pushed 0-8 to 0-3 in front but then they went to sleep, allowing Sligo back in.
Barry O’Mahony, Cathal Brennan and Mark McGoldrick were central as the westerners tied matters, but they were simply blown away by Kerry’s start to the second period. Seven points in a row were scored before sub Dara Roche made the game safe, profiting from good work by another replacement, Alan O’Donoghue.
Ray Connolly did open Sligo’s second-half account but the scores continued to come for Kerry, with centre-back Denis Daly scoring a great individual goal late on.
Scorers for Kerry: Gavan O’Grady 0-9 (0-2 frees), Dara Roche 1-3, Ciarán Keating 0-3, Denis Daly 1-0, Greg Gibson, Thomas Hickey, Edmund Walsh, Alan O’Donoghue, Shane Murphy (0-1 45), Jeff O’Donoghue 0-1 each.
Scorers for Sligo: Mark McGoldrick 0-3 (0-2f), Barry O’Mahony, Cathal Brennan, Ray Connolly 0-2 each, Darragh Cummins 0-1.
KERRY
1. Shane Murphy (Kilcummin)
2. Fionán Clifford (Waterville)
3. Kevin O’Dwyer (Waterville)
4. Danny Wrenn (Tarbert)
5. Greg Gibson (Waterville)
6. Denis Daly (St Mary’s)
7. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)
8. Andrew Garnett (Spa)
9. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia)
10. Philip O’Connor (Cordal)
11. Ciarán Keating (Skellig Rangers)
12. Brian Crowley (Templenoe)
13. Gavan O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar)
14. Paul Kennelly (Ballydonoghue)
15. Thomas Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds)
Subs
22. Dara Roche (Glenflesk) for Hickey (12, injured)
21. Edmund Walsh (Knocknagoshel) for Kennelly (half-time)
17. Alan O’Donoghue (John Mitchels) for Brian Crowley (35)
20. Seán Moloney (John Mitchels) for Gibson (46)
24. Pádraig Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht) for Garnett (56)
23. Jeff O’Donoghue (Glenflesk) for Keating (56)
SLIGO
1. Chris McGlynn (Coolera/Strandhill)
6. Luke Bree (St Vincent’s)
2. Ben McGarry (St Mary’s)
18. Robert Reid (Eastern Harps)
17. James Kelly (Tubbercurry)
5. Dermot O’Connor (St Mary’s)
7. Cathal Surlis (Tubbercurry)
8. Ray Connolly (Coolaney/Mullinabreena)
9. Damien O’Boyle (Calry/St Joseph’s)
12. Cathal Burns (St Molaise Gaels)
11. Barry O’Mahony (Coolera/Strandhill)
10. Críostóir Davey (Coolaney/Mullinabreena)
13. Cathal Brennan (Curry)
14. Colm Egan (St Mary’s)
15. Mark McGoldrick (St Mary’s)
Subs
21. Stephen Curley (Castleconnor) for Brennan (half-time)
24. Gary Feeney (Drumcliffe/Rosses Pt) for Reid (45)
16. Eoin McDonagh (Coolaney/Mullinabreena) for McGlynn (45)
19. Oisín Fox (St John’s) for O’Boyle (50)
22. David Quinn (Shamrock Gaels) for Curley (57)
23. Darragh Cummins (Calry St Joseph’s) for Kelly (57)
