Kingdom in a different class

Kerry 2-15 UCC 0-7

A number of Kerry players were keen to make an impression and Jack O'Connor and his fellow selectors were given food for thought as they plan their strategy for the season.

Kieran Cremin didn't put a foot wrong in goal; Eamon Fitzmaurice's display at centre-back suggests he's the man for the job should Seamus Moynihan call it a day, while Kieran Donaghy had an excellent outing at midfield.

In attack, Darren O'Sullivan began superbly, smashing home a great goal in the second minute.

O'Connor was reluctant to read too much into the victory other than to say it was a useful workout. "I'm happy enough with the performance," he said. "Our training is going well and fellas look to be getting their appetite back which is encouraging."

Apart from the opening minutes when they led through a Fintan Gould long range point, UCC never looked like causing an upset. They struggled in most areas to cope with Kerry's excellent workrate, and when Darren O'Sullivan finished a great four-man move with a cracking goal in the second minute, the signs were ominous.

With Eoin Brosnan sparkling at centre-forward, Kerry kicked a succession of points to lead 1-5 to 0-2 after 28 minutes. UCC, who had gone 23 minutes without a score, got their third point after Cremin deflected Liam O Lionan's piledriver over.

UCC finished the half well and should have had a goal when Rob Long drove the ball across the face of the Kerry goal. Kerry went in leading 1-6 to 0-3 and the introduction of Colm Cooper and Tomás Ó Sé for the second half signified just how seriously they were taking this game.

It was all one-way traffic on the changeover as Kerry, with Declan O'Sullivan at centre-forward in a swap with Eoin Brosnan orchestrating play, went on a scoring spree. Brosnan kicked three excellent points to add to the two he scored in the first half, Cooper knocked over a brace, before Mike Frank Russell jinked his way a couple of defences to stroke home a splendid goal.

Scorers: Kerry: MF Russell 1-2 (0-1 45); E. Brosnan 0-5; Darren O'Sullivan 1-1; C. Cooper, K. Donaghy 0-2 each; E. Fitzmaurice, K. O'Leary, P. O'Connor (free) 0-1 each. UCC: F. Gould, J. Hayes (frees) 0-2 each; L. O Lionain, P. O'Connor, C. Brosnan 0-1 each.

KERRY: K. Cremin; M. Ó Sé, M. McCarthy, P. Reidy; B. Guiney, E. Fitzmaurice, M. Lyons; D. Ó Sé, K. Donaghy; Declan O'Sullivan, E. Brosnan, P. Kelly; Darren O'Sullivan, A. O'Connor, MF Russell.

Subs: T. Ó Sé for Lyons; C. Cooper for D. Ó Sé; T. O'Sullivan for Reidy; K. O'Leary for A. O'Connor; P. O'Connor for Russell.

UCC: R. White; N. Horgan, M. Shields, C. Connery; R. McCarthy, J. Wycherley, D. Limerick; F. Gould, D. Walsh; R. Long, J. Hayes, P. O'Connor; R. Hussey, L. O Lionain, B. Mulvihill.

Subs: C. Brosnan for Mulvihill; M. O'Donoghue for Long; D. Óg O'Donovan for Horgan; C. O'Connell for P. O'Connor; M. Cussen for J. Hayes.

Referee: P. Russell (Tipperary).