Boyle points Kerry to facile win over Mayo

[team1]Kerry[/team1][score1]3-18[/score1][team2]Mayo[/team2][score2]0-9[/score2][/score]

Kerry had far too much firepower for a disappointing Mayo side in this one-sided Allianz Hurling League Division 2A tie at Austin Stack Park yesterday.

The hosts, who rested UCC Fitzgibbon Cup star Shane Conway, dominated every sector and led 2-12 to 0-3 at the interval

Jason Diggins produced a man-of-the-match display at centre-back and was well-supported by Bryan Murphy, Sean Weir along with Paud Costello with Brandon Barrett and former captain Daniel Collins bossing midfield.

Kerry led 0-6 to 0-2 after the opening quarter with points from Daniel O’Carroll, Jordan Conway, Brandon Barrett, and Padraig Boyle (3).

Midfielder Cathal Freeman opened Mayo’s account from play in the seventh minute and their only forward who posed any threat, Shane Boland, then took advantage of a poor puck-out to land a second.

Kerry added points from Boyle and Michael Slattery before Daniel O’Carroll goaled in the 27th minute and when Jack Goulding finished a Slattery pass to the net in the 35h minute, Kerry held a 15 points interval lead.

The second half fare deteriorated as Kerry strolled to victory with Padraig Boyle adding four more points while Mayo were overly reliant on Shane Boland who scored five of their six second-half points. Kerry completed the rout with a late Daniel Collins.

A good day for the Kingdom was completed with news of Westmeath’s win over Antrim which means wins against London (away) and Meath in Killarney on March 3 will see Kerry in the league final.

Scorers for Kerry: P Boyle (0-9, 6 frees), D O’Carroll (1-2), M Slattery (0- 4), D Collins and J Goulding (1-0 each), B Barrett, J Conway and M Boyle (0-1 each).

Scorers for Mayo: S Boland (0-6, 4 frees), C Freeman (0-2, 1 ’65), S Regan (0-1).

KERRY: JB O’Halloran; J O’Connor, B Murphy, S Weir; P Costello, J Diggins, N O’Mahony; D Collins, B Barrett; P Boyle, J Goulding, D O’Carroll; J Conway, M Boyle, M Slattery.

Subs: D Goggin for M Boyle (52), E Murphy for P Costello (56), T O’Connor for J Goulding (63), D O’Donoghue for J Conway (68), G Dooley for M Slattery (68).

MAYO: G Hogan; C Murray, C Daly, S Mulroy; C Scahill, S Coyne, D Kenny; B Hunt, C Freeman; A Phillips, S Regan, P Kiely; S Boland, B Morley, S Kenny.

Subs: E Ryan for A Phillips (h/t), D Huane for B Hunt (h-t), C Henry for S Mulroy (h-t), L Hurley for B Morley (50), C Higgins for S Kenny (59)

Referee: T Walsh (Waterford).