Meyler relieved as Kerry edge to final

THEY were nigh-on unbackable favourites beforehand, but Kerry got the fright of their lives from a superbly drilled Wicklow in this Christy Ring Cup semi-final in Nenagh on Saturday.

A late scoring flurry – an emphatic ‘doubled’ goal from a long Mike Conway centre by giant full-forward Gerry O’Brien and a hat-trick of points from teenage free-taker Darragh O’Connell – was enough to see the Kingdom into the final against Westmeath on Saturday July 3 in Croke Park. But it was a close-run affair.

In truth, any other result would have been a travesty, as Kerry were certainly the better team, but an early straight red card for corner-back Andrew Keane for an off-the-ball incident saw them reduced to 14 players for most of the game and Wicklow used the extra man to superb advantage. Initially they had captain Willie Collins acting as sweeper, but soon Willie was sent back to his man-marking duties in the corner, and Geoffrey Bermingham was called on to take the free role and it was an inspired decision. Time and again, the long-striking wing-back sent superb ball forward to a dangerous full-forward trio, in which corner-forward Andy O’Brien excelled (finished with 2-2 from play). Credit to Wicklow, then, they made this a real contest from start to finish and emerged with real credit. But Kerry boss John Meyler could also take considerable satisfaction from the character shown by his side in those crucial final minutes.