Cliffords back with a bang as irresistible East Kerry cruise into semi-finals

Champions make light work of St Kieran's. It is difficult to see any side dethroning them in this kind of form

STROLLER: David Clifford finished with 1-5.

Kerry SFC quarter-final: East Kerry 4-19 St Kieran's 0-12.

THE scary thing about this East Kerry 19-point mauling of St Kieran’s in the Kerry SFC quarter-final is that they never had to get out of third gear at Austin Stack Park.

The Clifford brothers returned to the starting fifteen with David contributing 1-5 and Paudie adding 0-3 but both were also involved with a number of assists and turnovers. Darragh Roche continued his excellent form with another 1-5 so St Kieran’s never looked like they had a prayer of causing an upset.

It is impossible to see anyone dethroning the reigning champions this year in this kind of form considering the Cliffords are showing no signs of fatigue and when Jerry O’Sullivan can bring in Emmet O’Shea, Matt Rennie, Niall Donohue and Luke Crowley.

St Kieran’s did die with the boots on, with the Hickeys, Maurice and Thomas, trying to lift them in the forward line in the second half but they were swimming against a strong current that threatened to drown them.

At the break East Kerry led by six and using their bench only strengthened their arsenal, Emmet O’Shea with 1-1 having been held in reserve.

It was an energetic start with Paudie Clifford and Paul Walsh exchanging scores in the opening minute. Roche and a David Clifford free propelled East Kerry into a two point lead, however by the 18th minute St Kieran’s leveled matters for the second occasion.

East Kerry enjoyed a purple patch for the final 12 minutes of the half - the Clifford brothers doubled their tallies off the back of a Kieran Murphy point to move three clear. David Clifford got a vital block to turn over a Kieran’s kickout, Paudie Clifford gathered possession and passed for Roche to fire to the net.

Ronan Buckley increased the lead before Maurice Hickey ended a ten-minute spell without a score for Kieran’s leaving the score 1-7 to 0-4 at the break. By the end of the third quarter in the second half the score read 2-14 to 0-9, David Clifford supplying a sensational pass for Patrick Darcy to net the second goal.

In the final ten minutes, two further goals followed. Dara Roche with a crossfield diagonal pass found David Clifford to shoot high to the net, before the Fossa connection betweem Paudie and Emmet O’Shea saw the latter find the net again.

Scorers for East Kerry: D Clifford (1-5, 3f), D Roche (1-5, 2f), E O’Shea (1-1), P Darcy (1-0), P Clifford (0-3, 1 45’), D O’Sullivan (0-3), K Murphy, R Buckley (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Kieran’s: M Hickey (0-3), A Barry (0-3fs), P Walsh (0-2, 1f), A Donoghue (1f), S Horan, E Horan and T Hickey (0-1 each).

EAST KERRY: B Kelly (Legion); C Lynch (Glenflesk), C O’Leary (Kilcummin), D Callaghan (Kilcummin); C Gammell (Legion), J Sherwood (Firies), D O’Brien (Glenflesk); K Murphy (Kilcummin) R Buckley (Listry); D Lyne (Legion), P Clifford (Fossa), P Darcy (Glenflesk); D Clifford (Fossa), D Roche (Glenflesk), D O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan).

Subs: M Rennie (Fossa) for K Murphy (44), E O’Shea (Fossa) for D Lynne, L Crowley (Glenflesk) for P Darcy (Both 49), N Donohue (Firies) for D Callaghan (52), F Murphy (Legion) for D O’Sullivan (53).

ST KIERAN’S: S Óg Ó Ciardubháin (Cordal); J McElligott (Knocknagoshel), L Brosnan (Desmonds), B Leonard (Desmonds); M Hickey (Desmonds), T Brick (Ballymacelligott), S Horan (Scartaglin); A O’Donoghue (Desmonds), E Horan (Scartaglin); P O’Connor (Cordal), D Keane (Ballymacelligott), N Collins (Ballymacelligott); P Walsh (Brosna), A Barry (Brosna), T Lynch (Desmonds).

 Subs: C Brosnan (Currow) for N Collins, T Hickey (Desmonds) for D Keane (H/T), C McElligott (Knocknagoshel) for P O’Connor (47), T Fitzgerald (Brosna) for J McElligott, S O’Connell (Cordal) for A Barry (both 51).

Referee: J Griffin (Glenbeigh/Glencar)