Kerry's experience the telling factor

Kerry 1-7

The ability to hold their nerve, as Limerick, urged on by a huge home crowd, threatened to dethrone the champions, was crucial and after the Shannonsiders had reduced the deficit to the minimum at the three quarter stage, Kerry finished in style to set up a semi-final meeting with Tipperary.

Kerry owed much to the excellence of their defence where Padraig Sheehan and Colm O'Connor were very impressive.

Their four senior inter-county men had mixed fortunes with Seamus Scanlon, at midfield, and Declan Quill, in attack, the two to make the biggest impression.

Limerick will be bitterly disappointed. They created numerous chances but on a night when the persistent drizzle proved a real spoilsport, only Stephen Kelly in attack and John McCarthy and Michael Clifford in defence offered any real challenge.

Limerick got the perfect start against the wind with a pointed 40 metre free in the second minute but Kerry's slick inter-passing football saw them draw level five minutes later with a delightful Declan Quill point.

Stephen Kelly's point in the 10th minute restored Limerick's lead but they had a huge let off two minutes later when Michael Collins fisted effort came back off the crossbar to the unmarked Ross O'Donovan who, with goal at his mercy, blazed wide.

Kelly was magnificent in that opening half and had the home crowd in full voice as he constantly tormented the Kerry defence.

From one such run, in the 16th minute, his inch-perfect pass in behind the Kerry backs found John O'Connell but his effort thundered back off the crossbar.

However, Kerry's football was clearly slicker and they drew level with another excellent point from Declan Quill, tying the game once more.

Looking for greater penetration in attack, Kerry switched Declan O'Sullivan to full-forward with Quill in the corner and it paid a handsome dividend in the 23rd minute when Colm Cooper got his fist to Quills long range free to punch home a goal.

That score had the desired effect and as Kerry took complete control, and with Seamus Scanlon giving them a grip at midfield, Quill showed his prowess with another great point. D.J. Fleming added another, and at half time the champions led 1-5 to 0-3.

Limerick threw the gauntlet down to Kerry in no uncertain manner on the change over with three points in a row inside five minutes and the champions were clearly rattled.

With the bit firmly between their teeth, Stephen Kelly raised the roof with a magnificent point after another great run.

Kerry were being reduced to sporadic raids but from one such raid, Ross O'Donovan again missed an easy chance for a goal when Limerick goalkeeper Ken Kendrick got a hand to deflect the ball around the post for a 45 while O'Donovan managed to deflect Quill's effort over the bar for a point to ease the pressure.

You have to hand it to Kerry, however, who never panicked in the face of the constant Limerick pressure, playing the possession game to perfection and they hit back strongly.

As the Limerick challenge finally began to wilt, Kerry's slicker football began to tell and points by the classy Declan Quill and an og by Limerick full back John McCarthy gave the champions safe passage to next months semi final.

Scorers: Kerry: D.Quill 0-5, (0-3 frees) C. Cooper 1-0, D.J. Fleming 0-1, J. McCarthy 0-1 (og)

Limerick: D. Foley 0-4 (0-3 frees), S.Kelly 0-3, (0-2 frees).

KERRY: S. Clifford; N. Lynch, E. Lawlor, F. Griffin; P. Sheehan, C. O'Connor, E. Kavanagh; S. Scanlon, P. Kelly; R. O'Donovan, D. O'Sullivan, M. Collins; C. Cooper, D.Quill, DJ Fleming. Subs. D.Walsh for Fleming.

LIMERICK: M. Kendrick; O. Burke, J. McCarthy, P. McCarthy; P. Ranahan, M. Clifford, P. Browne; D. Foley, D. Horan; S. Kelly, J. Collins, J. O'Connell; J. Lyons, AN Other, T. Butler. Subs. A.Lane for P.McCarthy, N.Moran for Butler, A.O'Connor for O'Connell, S.Fox for Lyons, K.O'Connor for Collins.

Referee, B. Tyrell (Tipperary).