O'Sullivan sparkles again as Kerry give Kildare a roasting

KERRY produced a marvellous second half display to overcome a game Kildare side in the All-Ireland MFC quarter-final at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, on Saturday.

Again Darren O'Sullivan who was superb against Cork in the provincial final, added to his growing reputation with another magnificent display of scoring and playmaking.

Using his breathtaking pace to great effect, O'Sullivan roasted the Kildare defence at every opportunity. His 50 metre run in first half injury time lead to the Kingdom's first goal while he helped them to a four point interval lead (1-6 to 0-5) and left Kildare reeling.

However this was by no means a one man show. Padraig Reidy and Killian Young lorded it in defence, while Mark Evans, Rory Keating, Shane Murphy and sub Paul O'Connor also made significant, contributions in attack.

Kildare were forced to field without four of their Leinster final team and it showed. While they matched Kerry score for score for most of the first half, and led briefly after the impressive Padraic O'Neill kicked his side's fifth point, they didn't have the craft of their Munster opponents who always had the facility to move up a gear when danger threatened.

However the Lilywhites did make a significant contribution to a very sporting contest and had excellent players in Daragh McEvoy, Padraic O'Neill, Michael Conway and Conor Hughes.

The sides were level on three occasions in the first half. Kerry almost struck for a goal three minutes before the break when O'Sullivan fed Mark Evans but goalkeeper James Kindregan produced a tremendous save.

However Evans wasn't to be denied his moment of glory. Three minutes later O'Sullivan again took off on another electrifying run before parting to Evans who made no mistake.

Kildare who enjoyed most of the possession particularly at midfield through Padraic O'Neill and Conor Hughes tried for goal but were repelled time and again by the Kerry defence in which Reidy, Luke Quinn and Young starred.

They did manage a half chance after 40 minutes when Ciaran Kelly blazed over the bar when a goal looked likely. Kildare kept plugging away and the margin was down to two by the end of the third quarter.

Sensing the danger, Kerry upped the pace hitting 1-3 in five minutes to close the door on Kildare.

The goal came after 53 minutes following another of these tremendous solo runs by O'Sullivan who set up Andrew Kennelly for an easy finish. The Kingdom lads tacked on a few more points before Mark O'Sullivan's goal only served to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard for Kildare.

Scorers: Kerry: M. Evans 1-6 (0-4 frees); R. Keating, P. O'Connor 0-3 each; A. Kennelly 1-0; S. Murphy, D. O'Sullivan 0-2 each; J. Buckley, B. Moran (free) 0-1 each. Kildare: M. Conway 0-5 (0-2 frees); M. O'Sullivan 1-0; P. O'Neill 0-2 (0-1 free); C. Hayes, C. Kelly, P. Dunne 0-1 each.

KERRY: B. Kealy; P. Reidy, L. Quinn, K. Young; D. Doyle, C. Kelleher, D. O'Connor; B. Moran, A. Kennelly; D. O'Sullivan, S. Murphy, M. O'Donoghue; M. Evans, R. Keating, J. Buckley. Subs. P. O'Connor for Buckley; D. Cullotty for O'Donoghue; B. Dennehy for Evans; K. O'Leary for O'Sullivan; J. O'Reilly for Quinn.

KILDARE: J. Kindregan; D. McEvoy, K. Healy, I. Lonergan; T. O'Connor, J. Creighton, DE. Brennan; P. O'Neill, G. White; B. Bell, A. Smith, C. Kelly; M. Conway, C. Hughes, P. Dunne. Subs. M. O'Sullivan for Smith; B. Coyle for Healy; L. Heavens for Creighton.

Referee: J. White (Donegal).