Kerry 2-19
Tipperary 0-8
KERRY CRUISED INTO the semi-final stage of the Munster SFC with a comfortable victory over Tipperary this afternoon.
The home fans in Fitzgerald Stadium saw Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s team produce a dominant display to claim the spoils as they had 17 points to spare at the final whistle.
James O’Donoghue and Colm Cooper – playing in a new role at centre-forward – both sparkled in attack for the Kingdom as they overwhelmed their opponents to claim a win over Tipperary for the fourth successive year in the Munster senior football championship.
O’Donoghue blasted home their first goal of the game just after half-time while substitute Darran O’Sullivan grabbed the second goal before the finish after great work by Kieran Donaghy.
Tipperary struggled to make an impact and did not register a score from play until the 43rd minute when Philip Austin pointed. Their aspirations were further dented by attacker Alan Maloney suffering a serious looking knee injury just before half-time and then star forward Barry Grogan was sent-off during the second-half after being shown a second yellow card.
Kerry got off to a bright start as they racked up four points without reply in the opening seven minutes of the game. They looked inventive in attack with Colm Cooper, James O’Donoghue and Donnchadh Walsh all on target from play while Johnny Buckley popped over a free.
Yet Kerry’s standards slumped midway during the opening half with O’Donoghue their primary threat in attack and that allowed Tipperary to come back into contention through the accuracy of Barry Grogan from placed balls.
At one juncture Tipperary had cut the gap to 0-6 to 0-3 but Kerry’s big guns Paul Galvin, Kieran Donaghy and Tomás Ó Sé all finished the half in a powerful fashion as they got on the scoreboard to ensure the Kingdom lead the way at the break by 0-11 to 0-4.
O’Donoghue’s goal after the break essentially put the game to bed yet Tipperary did enjoy a mini revival with Austin, Conor Sweeney and Ciaran McDonald all notching fine points.
However the game petered out as a contest thereafter with Kerry making their personnel advantage tell in the closing stages.
They cut loose in attack, lead by the majestic Cooper, and ran out victors to set up a semi-final meeting with Waterford next Saturday.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Scorers for Kerry: James O’Donoghue 1-3, Colm Cooper 0-5 (0-1f), Johnny Buckley 0-3 (0-1f), Darran O’Sullivan 1-0, Paul Galvin 0-2, Donnchadh Walsh, Declan O’Sullivan, Anthony Maher, Kieran Donaghy, Tomás Ó Sé, Bryan Sheehan (0-1 ’45) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Barry Grogan (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Conor Sweeney (0-3f), Philip Austin, Ciaran McDonald 0-1 each.
KERRY: Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin); Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore), Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes); Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Killian Young (Renard), Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers); Anthony Maher (Duagh), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes); Paul Galvin (Finuge), Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes), Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane); Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks), James O’Donoghue (Legion).
Subs: Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar) for Walsh (54), Mark Griffin (St Michael’s-Foilmore) for Marc Ó Sé (60), Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s) for Galvin (60), Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes ) for Declan O’Sullivan (63).
TIPPERARY: Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard); John Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy), Paddy Codd (Killenaule), Ciaran McDonald (Aherlow); Robbie Kiely (Arravale Rovers), Donagh Leahy (Arravale Rovers), Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers); George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers), Robbie Costigan (Cahir); Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers); Alan Maloney (Rockwell Rovers), Barry Grogan (Aherlow), Phillip Austin (Borrisokane).
Subs: Shane Leahy (Arravale Rovers) for Campbell (34), Brian Mulvihill (Moyle Rovers) for Kiely (half-time), Aldo Matassa (Clonmel Commercials) for Maloney (inj) (half-time), Lorcan Egan (JK Brackens) for Hannigan (58).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
