Nothing Semple here, but Kerry class the difference
So, Kerry get the “dirty petrol” out of their system and look ahead to another joust with old foes Cork in Killarney next month.
By then the Rolls-Royce that is Kingdom football should be purring.
It took Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s charges just over 51 minutes to subdue an inexperienced but gallant Tipperary side in yesterday’s entertaining Munster SFC semi-final at Semple Stadium.
Kerry’s greater experience and footballing nous helped subdue their provincial rivals, and five successive points in a 12-minute spell after half time killed off the bite of the Tipperary underdog.
In fact, the confident gallop that marked Tipp’s opening 35 minutes slowly ailed to a stuttering stride in the Thurles sunlight as the home side looked caught in the headlights of Kerry’s second half onslaught.
And it didn’t have to end this way for Tipp.
Such is the growing attendance the old stand has had to be opened #tippvkerry #GAA2015 pic.twitter.com/eHOAkZUyZA
— Ray McManus (@Sportsfileray) June 14, 2015
Roared on by their enthusiastic followers as they made their way down the tunnel at half time, just two points in arrears having given as good as they got against the All Ireland champions in a rip-roaring first half, the signs of an equally competitive second half looked good for the neutral.
The momentum gained by an All Ireland minor title in 2013 and an All Ireland U21 final appearance in April this year has galvanised Tipperary football so much so that this game needed to be put back 15 minutes to allow an unexpected gate of 11,248 take their seats.
And, while Tipperary’s enthusiasm for battle and appetite for hard work cannot be faulted, their lack of experience in open play and composure in front of the posts (the Premier kicked 13 wides) cost them dearly.
But they’ll be back and playing in a higher division of the Allianz League will see Tipperary football further narrow the gap to the “big two” in the province.
For Kerry a summer of tantalising promise lies in store. Fitzmaurice picked just seven of the team that lifted Sam Maguire in September 2014, and with the game in their control in a one-sided second period, the manager could roll the likes of James O’Donoghue, Donncha Walsh, Tommy Walsh, Darran O’Sullivan and Aidan O’Mahony off his star-soaked bench.
Other Celtic Cross medal holders like Paul Galvin, David Moran and Paul Murphy are injured in the short term and suddenly Kerry have the kind of depth of which other All Ireland contenders (aside from Dublin) can only dream.
Bryan Sheehan stole the show with a majestic midfield performance, scoring five points – three from frees – but his scores from open play were gems and taken in times when the need was greatest during a frantic first half.
The Caherciveen man - whose free-taking touch has the imprint of his St. Mary’s clubmate Maurice Fitzgerald - may be third in the midfield pecking order, but he has certainly shot himself to the front of the queue now.
For sheer work-rate, kick-passing and scoring ability, midfield majesty and leadership it will take a brave manager to bench Sheehan for the Munster final.
If you're a @Kerry_Official fan, you never tire of seeing @colmcooper13 in county colours, great to have him back! pic.twitter.com/iHrJyKUSdm
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) June 14, 2015
As for Colm Cooper, well, was he ever away?
The Dr. Crokes legend last saw championship action in August 2013, but almost 23 months later he involved himself in everything that was positive in Kerry’s go-forward game.
For instance, he was central in four key plays between the 17th and 20th minutes when Kerry overhauled a three-point deficit to lead by two. Everything ‘Gooch’ touched seemed to turn to gold against Tipp, and Fitzmaurice was delighted to see his star player and playmaker back in the fold.
Marc Ó Sé, too, rolled back the years giving another lesson in the art of defending, shackling Tipp dangerman, Conor Sweeney, to just two points from frees, while U21 Footballer of the Year Colin O’Riordan - shadowed expertly by Jonathan Lyne - landed a solitary point.
In fairness to O’Riordan, the JK Brackens man picked up an ankle knock during the first half that seemed to hamper his movement, but he landed a delightful point after 90 seconds that kick-started 15 minutes of dominance for the Tipp men.
The roar that greeted Michael Quinlivan’s 4th minute goal had echoes of past hurling feats in this famous stadium, and all the pre-match hype surrounding Tipperary’s football renaissance seemed encapsulated in that moment.
Led by Steven O’Brien in midfield and Paddy Codd in defence, Tipp steamed forward at will and were full of energy and wit in attack and full value for their 1-2 to 0-1 lead after eleven minutes.
Sheehan gradually grasped the nettle around the park, and his coolness in delivery coupled with quiet leadership brought Kerry right back into contention.
The impressive Michael Geaney and Sheehan narrowed the margin before a goal manufactured outfield by Johnny Buckley, Cooper and Sheehan was stroked home by the lively Barry John Keane. Then Cooper stepped forward to kick his first point in the 20th minute, and greeted with a huge roar of approval.
The omnipresent Sheehan added a mammoth 45m effort from play in the 26th minute before Geaney took advantage of an effective long diagonal ball from Lyne to fire to the top right corner.
Tipp responded impressively: O’Brien gathered the kick out, laid off to Philip Austin whose piercing run through the heart of the Kerry defence saw him lift a pass to Quinlivan, who coolly palmed to the net. Sweeney added a free and Tipp’s belief was rekindled.
Four minutes of stoppage time saw Cooper and the hugely effective substitute Jason Lonergan land points to leave it stand 2-6 to 2-4 in Kerry’s favour at half-time.
However, five successive points after the interval sucked the life from Tipp’s challenge. Ger Mulhaire had a goal-bound effort brilliantly saved by Brendan Kealy in the 57th minute but Tipperary’s Achilles heel all afternoon proved to be their inefficiency in front of the posts, shooting flaws that evoked only groans from their followers.
M Quinlivan (2-0); C Sweeney (0-2, frees); C O’Riordan, J Lonergan, G Mulhaire, B Fox, K O’Halloran (‘45’) and B Grogan (free) (0-1 each).
P Geaney (1-2); B Sheehan (0-5, 3 frees); B.J. Keane (1-1); C Cooper (0-3, 1 free); M Geaney, S O’Brien and A Maher (0-1 each).
E Comerford; P Codd, C McDonald, R Kiely; S Kennedy, P Acheson, A Campbell; S O’Brien, G Hannigan; C O’Riordan, P Austin, G Mulhaire; C Sweeney, M Quinlivan, B Fox.
L Casey for Hannigan (temp, 25-ht); J Lonergan for Kiely (30); B Grogan for Hannigan (ht); K O’Halloran for Austin (54); B Mulvihill for Sweeney and L Casey for Fox (both 64); A Morrissey for Mulhaire (69).
B Kealy; M Ó Sé, M Griffin, S Enright; J Lyne, P Crowley, K Young; A Maher, B Sheehan; M Geaney, C Cooper, J Buckley; P Geaney, K Donaghy, BJ Keane.
A O’Mahony for Crowley (temp. 24-33mins); S O’Brien for Buckley (32); J O’Donoghue for Keane (47); A O’Mahony for Crowley (49); D O’Sullivan for M Geaney (53); D Walsh for Sheehan (63); T Walsh for Maher (66).
C Branagan (Down)
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