Shane Punch and Diarmuid Cahill fire Clare to victory over Kerry

Kerry outscored Clare 0-10 to 0-5 in an improved second-half performance

Diarmuid Cahill scored seven points for Clare. File photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Munster U20HC quarter-final: Kerry 0-15 Clare 2-20 

Clare had their expected victory over Kerry at Austin Stack Park last night but Kerry had the encouragement of an improved second-half performance to narrow the gap to 11 points.

Kerry outscored Clare 0-10 to 0-5 in a second period where players like Colin Walsh, Dáire Nolan, Sean Sheehan, Tomás Ó hAiniféin, and substitute Darragh Reen were more than a match for their more vaunted opponents.

Clare were on top from the very outset winning all the physical battles and in Shane Punch and Diarmuid Cahill, the Clare full-forward line were too hot for an overworked Kerry defence.

Clare raced 0-9 to 0-3 in front by the first-half water break with Punch scoring five points, while the elusive Cahill was tormenting Kerry with two points. Conor Hegarty and William Halpin added one apiece.

Kerry, who fielded basically an U19 side, were trying hard with Kevin Goulding, Walsh, Mikey Clifford, and Nathan Guerin doing their best but only Dylan Moriarty with two points and a superb Guerin point could find the target.

Clare struck for two goals in the second quarter from Oisin O’Donnell, after Shane Punch set him up, and then Punch saw his free ending up in the net via the inside of the post.

It could have been worse for Kerry but for keeper Dara Quinlan who made three point-blank saves from Cahill, Punch, and Hegarty.

Clare led 2-15 to 0-5 at half time but Kerry resumed a transformed side and dominated for long periods with Walsh outstanding. Clare only added three points in the third quarter as Moriarty added three for Kerry.

Kerry won the final quarter 0-7 to 0-2 with Reen firing over two super points. While Kerry will take pride in that second-half effort, Clare have work to do if they want to advance in the championship.

Scorers for Kerry: D Moriarty (0-6, 5 frees); R Walsh (0-5, 3 frees); D Reen (0-2), C Walsh, N Guerin (0-1 each).

Scorers for Clare: S Punch (1-8, 1-5 frees); D Cahill (0-7); O O’Donnell (1-1); A Mungovan, C O’Meara, W Halpin, C Hegarty (0-1 each).

KERRY: D Quinlan; M Clifford, S Sheehan, P O'Sullivan; D Nolan, K Goulding, L Barrett; D Slattery, T Ó hAiniféin; C Walsh, R Walsh, D Moriarty; N Guerin, M Kelliher, S Brosnan.

Subs: K O'Connor for O’Sullivan (33), D Reen for Brosnan (43), M Linehan for Moriarty (48), D O’Donoghue for Guerin (48), PJ Carroll for Kelliher (58). 

CLARE: C Broderick; M Gough, D Healy, A Hogan; A Mungovan, Moriarty, D McMahon; P Donnellan, C O’Meara; O O’Donnell, W Halpin, J Kirwan; C Hegarty, S Punch, D Cahill.

Subs: K Keane for Kirwan (h-t), C Leen for McMahon (33), J Maguire for Halpin (43), I McNamara for O’Donnell (48), J Collins for Hogan (51).

Referee: P Carroll (Tipperary).