Blues' duo depart on a winning note
Kerins O’Rahillys (Kerry) 1-11 Clonakilty (Cork) 0-10
Tommy Walsh and David Moran signed off with Kerins O’Rahillys on a winning note as they helped the Blues to a 1-11 to 0-10 victory over Clonakilty in today’s AIB Munster Club SFC quarter-final clash in Tralee.
The Kerry duo will depart for Down Under on Wednesday as they begin life with Australian Rules club St Kilda.
Walsh claimed the AIB man-of-the-match award, kicking two points and setting up a number of scores for his team-mates including his younger brother Barry John’s goal.
The younger Walsh found the Clon net in the sixth minute after his Melbourne-bound brother had broken a high ball down to him.
Barry John top-scored with 1-3 while Tommy and Declan Quill were the other Kerins scorers as Ogie Moran's side built a 1-7 to 0-3 half-time lead.
Tommy Walsh was the target man for Kerins at full-forward and he popped over the opening point in the fourth minute after a well-taken high catch.
After the younger Walsh's goal, Cork champions Clonakilty opened their account with frees from Colm Callanan and Colin O'Donovan, reducing the arrears to 1-1 to 0-2.
But Kerins O'Rahillys dominated the remainder of the first half with Moran increasing his influence in midfield, a foul on him led to a pointed free from Quill.
Tommy Walsh handpassed for Quill to land a point from open play, three minutes later, and Walsh provided the assist again for his younger brother to pop over a neat point.
Kerins went 1-7 to 0-2 in front thanks to further points from target man Walsh, who was afforded far too much space, and Quill with Barry John Walsh also contributing a fisted effort.
As heavy rain tumbled down from the grey Tralee sky, a timely free from O'Donovan stopped the rot for the visitors just before the half-time whistle.
Clonakilty lived largely off frees from Callanan and O’Donovan, who scored 0-4 apiece from placed balls, with the latter missing a gilt-edged goal chance that could have put a different complexion on the game.
Indeed, the Cork side had to wait until the 47th minute for their first point from play - scored by full-forward Conor McManus.
By that stage, Kerins were well on course for the semi-finals, with Ross O'Callaghan and Barry John Keane adding their names to the scoresheet.
A terrific point from the left wing from McManus cut the gap to 1-10 to 0-7 with ten minutes remaining, and O'Donovan should have done better when he was given a chance to find the net. Instead, he blazed his shot wide of the left-hand post.
Kerins recovered from that 51st minute scare - although Callanan did make it a four-point game with two more frees.
In the end, a late point from corner forward Quill, when a goal looked on the cards, was enough to see them through to a home semi-final against Tipperary champions Moyle Rovers on November 22.
