Cooper again the guiding force

Kerry 1-15 Laois 0-10

Instead it was his neighbour Jack O’Connor from the adjoining parish of Dromid who gained all the satisfaction from a semi-final victory which was as good as guaranteed at half -time.

That was after the incomparable Colm Cooper had taken advantage of slack marking to hit the only goal of the game in injury time and give the home side a six-points advantage.

In different circumstances, given that Kerry had played with a strong breeze, that margin might not have been enough. However, on this occasion there was a clear difference in standards and it was never going to be bridged.

Starting without the injured Aidan Fennelly and Chris Conway, Laois were reasonably competitive for the opening 15 minutes - at the end of which the sides were level at 0-3 each.

But, even in that short period of time, Kerry showed signs of what was to come.

Marc Ó Sé charged into the game at full-back from the start and Seamus Moynihan was quick to establish a grip at centre-back and limit the normally industrious Billy Sheehan.

More significantly, centre-fielder Darragh Ó Sé turned in an outstanding performance and Kieran Donaghy - who fielded a few spectacular high balls - added to his growing reputation with a solid and consistent display.

With the defence in general acquitting itself well against a sometimes lack-lustre Laois attack, Kerry had plenty of time to build attacking movements and the scoring power to make the pressure tell.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice contributed hugely once he was brought into the game; Paul Galvin played with his usual ruthless efficiency and while Padraig McMahon succeeded at times in making it difficult for Cooper, the Crokes star was heavily involved in most of Kerry’s forward movements.

Declan O’Sullivan played a strong part in the full-forward line in the way he foraged for possession and made it tell, and Ronan O’Connor tried the same without achieving more than a decent return.

Bryan Sheehan’s free-kicking from far out was superb, while his general play was also very creditable.

While Kerry had jumped three points clear by the 20th minute, their lead could have been greater but for the excellence of goalkeeper Fergal Byron.

Twice in quick succession he denied Cooper, on the first occasion when he tried to goal from close range after winning a long ball from Tomas Ó Sé.

The second time, Byron’s alertness saw him advance off his line to prevent Cooper from gathering the ball - with Ó Sé again the provider.

Considering that they continued to struggle at midfield, where Padraig Clancy failed to curb the rampant Ó Sé and Noel Garvan’s lack of match practice severely limited him, Laois’ forwards saw little of the ball.

Over the course of the second quarter Ross Munnelly was involved on a few occasions and Billy Sheehan made the odd break, but as a unit they were below par.

Ahead 1-8 to 0-5 at half-time after the Gooch had shown his class with a typically opportunist goal, Kerry added on two quick points on the resumption - the second a marvellous free from Sheehan from outside the 50 yard line.

To be fair to Padraig Clancy, he was to lift his game and make a few openings, but Garvan continued to struggle before eventually going off.

Likewise, while the Laois forwards saw more of the ball, there was no real difference in the threat they posed.

Colm Parkinson was brought in at full-forward and Brian McDonald in the left corner. Parkinson might have had a goal in the 53rd minute when, under pressure, he kicked straight into Diarmuid Murphy’s hands, while McDonald was to kick two scores from frees.

The best chance of a Laois goal fell to Kerry native Billy Sheehan, who hit a good shot against the centre of the crossbar just before Parkinson’s miss.

The former Stacks player didn’t even have the satisfaction of seeing the ball go over the bar. It was that kind of a day for the Midlanders, who now have seven weeks to prepare for their opening Leinster championship game against either Carlow or Westmeath.

Pat McEnaney, handling his first game in Killarney, refereed well up to his high standard. In truth, it was a relatively simple assignment.

Scorers: Kerry: C Cooper 1-2; B Sheehan 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘45); P Galvin 0-3; E Fitzmaurice and D O’Sullivan 0-2 each; R O’Connor 0-1 Laois: R Munnelly 0-3 (0-1 free); B Sheehan 0-2; B McDonald 0-2 frees; C Kelly (Stradbally), P Clancy and B McCormack 0-1 each

KERRY: D Murphy; A O’Mahony, M Ó Sé, T O’Sullivan; T Ó Sé, S Moynihan, M Lyons; D Ó Sé, K Donaghy; P Galvin, E Fitzmaurice, B Sheehan; C Cooper, D O’Sullivan (capt), R O’Connor.

Subs: E Brosnan for Fitzmaurice (57th minute); D O’Sullivan for Sheehan (61st); P Kelly for Donaghy and T Griffin for T O’Se (68th).

LAOIS: F Byron; J Higgins, D Rooney, P McMahon; T Kelly, D Conroy, B McCormack; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, B Sheehan, G Kavanagh (capt) ; C Kelly (St Joseph’s), Colm Kelly (Stradbally), K Kelly.

Subs: D Brennan for Conroy (injured, 28th minute); C Parkinson for C Kelly (St Joseph’s) and B McDonald for C Kelly (second half); I Fitzgerald for Lawlor (54th minute); D Miller for Garvan (55th).

Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).

* A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Kerry native Jim Sayers, a member of the Leinster championship-winning side of 1946.