Mayo minors ease past Kerry to get to final

Mayo 3-13 Kerry 1-9

Mayo hit spectacular form to romp to a 10-point win over Kerry in the All-Ireland MFC semi-final replay at the Athletic Grounds in Limerick today.

Having conceded a late equaliser last weekend, the Connacht champions made no mistake, dazzling their opponents with a confident display of controlled football.

They dominated a fast-moving gme to set up a meeting in the showpiece decider against either Tyrone or Meath.

A 1-6 tally from brilliant full forward Aidan Walsh inspired the westerners to a full deserved victory, which sparked a Gaelic Grounds pitch invasion.

Kerry had early scores from Jamie O’Sullivan and Colm O’Shea, but failed to add another point for the remainder of the first half.

It was Mayo, with Shane Nally, James Cafferty, Aidan O’Shea and Aidan Walsh leading their charge, who seized control, and took the game to the Kingdom with an almost arrogant assurance.

Walsh took Raymond Geraghty’s pass to drill home a fourth minute goal, and they never looked back.

Cathal Freeman and Walsh were among the marksmen as they cruised int a 1-6 to 0-2 lead by the 20th minute.

And the Connacht champions got in for a second goal when Alex Corduff netted after Geraghty’s attempt for a point had come back off a post.

Kerry pulled back a goal through Barry John Walsh five minutes before the break, but it was Mayo who held a commanding 2-8 to 1-2 lead at the interval.

Kerry threatened a revival after the break, but a tenacious Mayo defence, in which Kevin Keane and John Broderick were outstanding, gave little away.

Walsh brought his tally to 1-5 with his fiors creo from play, and had a hand in his side’s third goal, blasted in off the crossbar by substitute Dean Gavin five minutes from the end.

Kerry’s misery was compounded by a straight red card to corner back Padraig Reidy.

Mayo: R Hennelly, D Dolan, K Keane, J Broderick, S McHale, E Reilly, S Nally (0-1), J Cafferty, G McDonagh, C Freeman (0-2), A O’Shea (0-1), R Geraghty (0-3), J Carney, A Walsh (1-6, 5 frees), A Corduff. (1-0)

Subs: D Gavin (1-0) for Carney, D O’Hara for Corduff, B Fahy for McDonagh

Kerry: B Kelly, P Reidy, B Shanahan, F Fitzgerald (0-1), J Lyne, J O’Sullivan (0-1), M Hickey, C Moriarty, W Gutherie, MT O’Sullivan, D Casey (0-1), C O’Shea (0-2, 1 free), J O’Donoghue, BJ Walsh (1-2, 2 frees), C Tobin (0-1).

Subs: P Crowley for J O’Sullivan, J Sherwood for MT O’Sullivan, BJ Keane (0-1) for O’Donoghue, J O’Mahony for Hickey, P Geaney for Sherwood

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).