Kerry 2-14
Tipperary 2-8
Jackie Cahill reports from Semple Stadium, Thurles
KERRY HAVE BEATEN Tipperary by six points in Thurles this afternoon, setting up a Munster final showdown with Cork on 5 July.
17 points separated Tipp and Kerry in Killarney two years ago but the Premier County closed the gap with a spirited display, pockmarked by an unfortunate tally of 13 wides.
Kerry registered just five wides over the 70 minutes, an indication of their economy of shooting on the day.
A bumper crowd of 11,248 held up throw-in for 15 minutes, with long queues outside attempting to gain access to Semple Stadium via the New Stand, the only stand open at the venue.
When the game eventually got underway, Tipp got off to a brilliant start but Kerry, who led by two points at the break, reeled them in.
And a strong second half display, which saw the visitors outscore Tipp by 0-8 to 0-4, was good enough.
Kerry reeled off five unanswered scores to effectively kill the game, before Tipp scored their first point of the second half in the 51st minute.
There were some positives from a Kerry perspective as Colm Cooper marked his return to championship action with a haul of 0-3, including two from play.
And the depth of Kerry’s panel was illustrated by the subs they brought on in the second half, with Fitzmaurice introducing the likes of James O’Donoghue, Darren O’Sullivan, Donnchadh Walsh and former AFL star Tommy Walsh.
Kerry led by 2-6 to 2-4 at half-time but they were 0-0 to 1-1 down within four minutes, as Tipp got the start they craved.
Colin O’Riordan, who was clearly struggling later in the game with injury, popped over the opening point before Michael Quinlivan brilliantly slipped a fourth minute goal past Brendan Kealy, after Conor Sweeney provided a defence-splitting pass.
Kerry’s first score arrived in the fifth minute, courtesy of Bryan Sheehan, and a feature of their first half play was economy of shooting.
Tipp finished the half with five wides, four of those within the opening four minutes, but Kerry didn’t register a wide until the 35th minute.
The Kingdom were ahead in the 18th minute when Evan Comerford’s kickout, intended for Steven O’Brien, went awry.
Kerry were quick to exploit the opening and a quick exchange of passes presented Barry John Keane with the goal in his first ever senior championship start, despite 18 previous substitute appearances.
O’Brien was lucky to escape a black card before Cooper marked his return with a point from play in the 20th minute, a score greeted with a huge roar by the travelling Kerry hordes.
Sheehan added a point to put Kerry 1-5 to 1-2 clear and they were six ahead when 2014 All-Ireland final goal hero Paul Geaney netted on the half hour mark.
Jonathan Lyne’s diagonal ball from the right touchline caused panic in the Tipp full-back line and Geaney was on hand to provide a delicate, close-range finish.
Tipp could have folded then but instead, and to their credit, the hosts replied in kind at the other end, Austin feeding Quinlivan for his second goal of the game.
Sweeney and Cooper traded frees before Jason Lonergan’s fisted point kept Tipp very much in touch at the midway point.
But Kerry took over in the second half, although Tipp had a great goal chance in the 57th minute.
Ger Mulhaire found himself one-on-one with Brendan Kealy but the Kerry netminder pulled off a superb save.
Scorers for Tipperary: Michael Quinlivan 2-0, Conor Sweeney 0-2 (0-2f), Colin O’Riordan, Ger Mulhaire, Brian Fox, Kevin O’Halloran (0-1 ’45), Barry Grogan (0-1f) & Jason Lonergan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney 1-2, Barry John Keane 1-1, Bryan Sheehan 0-5 (0-3f), Colm Cooper 0-3 (0-1f), Anthony Maher, Michael Geaney, Stephen O’Brien 0-1 each.
Kerry
1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)
2. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
5. Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion)
6. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
7. Killian Young (Renard)
8. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
9. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s)
10. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
11. Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes)
12. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
13. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
14. Kieran Donaghy (C) (Austin Stacks)
15. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys)
19. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore) for Crowley (49)
Subs
18. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare) for Buckley (33)
17. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion) for Keane (48)
19. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore) for Crowley (49)
20. Darren O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Kilcar) for M Geaney (53)
24. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane) for Sheehan (62)
22. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Maher (67)
Tipperary
1. Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
2. Paddy Codd (c) (Killenaule)
3. Ciarán McDonald (Aherlow)
4. Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers – Cork)
5. Seamus Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
6. Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers)
7. Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers)
8. Steven O’Brien (Ballina)
9. George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers)
10. Colin O’Riordan (J K Brackens)
11. Philip Austin (Borrisokane)
12. Ger Mulhaire (Arravale Rovers)
13. Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen)
14. Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials)
15. Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty)
Subs
24. Jason Lonergan (Commercials) for Kiely (31)
21. Barry Grogan for Hannigan (half-time)
20. Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe) for Austin (54)
22. Liam Casey (Cahir) for Fox (65)
23. Brian Mulvihill (Moyle Rovers) for Sweeney (65)
18. Andrew Morrissey (Galtee Rovers) for Kennedy (70)
Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down)
