Kerry battle past brave Banner

BELIEF. That was the major difference between the teams in yesterday evening’s Munster MFC first-round game in Ennis. There were other differences; Kerry were that bit slicker in their movement, they had the better fielders in the middle of the park, they had more balance in their attack, but on this evening at least, had Clare had any belief in themselves they would have been much closer at the finish.

Two points from right-corner forward Paul Geary, sandwiched round a pointed free by powerful centre-forward Colm O’Shea, had Kerry 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after 11 minutes, before towering full-forward Seán Crotty had the home side’s first score, a fine strike off his left from wide right.

After that it was back to business for Kerry. Looking sharper in movement, more cohesive and alert, they added a further five points before the break, wing-forwards Daithi Casey and Mike Tim O’Sullivan with one apiece, centre-forward Colm O’Shea with his second, and dangerous full-forward Barry-John Walsh with a beauty.