Kerry South turn on style
Kerry South were easy winners of the Jim Power Cup as they hammered Tipperary B by 17 points on Saturday evening at Fraher Field.
Their margin of victory would have been greater only for the heroics of Tipperary goalkeeper Callum Scully who produced a string of fine second half saves.
The Kingdom enjoyed wins over Rebel Óg East, Limerick and Clare to make the final.
Tipperary, who defeated Kerry North, Waterford and Rebel Óg West on their journey, led briefly when Joe Dwan’s effort crept inside the left hand post.
Four points in as many minutes eased Kerry South ahead before full-forward Michael Lenihan goaled in the ninth minute. Shane Doona finished another flowing attack to the roof of the net on the stroke of half time as the Kerry side held a 10-point interval lead (2-5 to 0-1).
Tipperary’s prospects of a fightback perished after Cian O’Leary smashed a shot off the crossbar immediately after the resumption of play. Kerry captain David Dineen hit 1-2 in that second period including a coolly taken third goal on 25 minutes. Scully made an astonishing double save in the closing stages to deny both Darragh Rahilly and Rowan Moriarty.
Cork’s Rebel Óg East won the Plate final hammering Kerry North (4-6 to 0-2). St Michael’s representative Peter Leneghan netted a hat-trick with Niall O’Connor also among the goals. Francis Cronin from Duarigle Gaels captained the team. The host county bowed out in the group stages earlier in the afternoon. The Déise lost by 3-8 to 2-2 against Kerry North and then suffered a one-point defeat to the eventual runners-up Tipperary B (2-3 to 2-2).
The tournament, sponsored by Bord na nÓg Port Lairge and the Power family, has been held for the past 24 years and attracted nine teams from across the province.
S Doona 1-3; D Dineen 1-2 (1f); M Linehan 1-1; P Darcy 0-2 (1f); P O’Shea 0-1.
J Dwan 0-1.
M Kelleher; D Mangan, D O’Sullivan, E Fitzgerald; D McCarthy, J Donnelly, G O’Connor; P O’Shea, D Lyne; D Murphy, S Doona, P Darcy; D Dineen, M Linehan, G Murphy.
J Curran, D Rahilly, R Moriarty, D Leane, D Murphy, M Cooper.
C Scully; T McDonagh, K Hogan, O Brennan; K Hayes, E Daly, J Ryan; D Flood, J Morrissey; C Maher, D Farrelly, J Dwan; D Ryan, C O’Leary, S Low.
J Dillon, C Nesbitt, J Lyons, G English.
J Condon (Waterford)
