Strong second half sees Kerry overcome Tipperary in Munster MFC semi-final

The Kingdom reeled off the next 1-8 without reply in the second period and didn’t miss a shot until the last kick. By that time, they had racked up 2-13 from 15 efforts.

FINAL BOUND: Tom Corcoran of Tipperary, tightly holding possession against Gearoid White and Ronan Carroll of Kerry. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Munster MFC semi-final

Tipperary 2-5

Kerry 2-19

At half-time, this was very much game on. By the three-quarter mark, it was game over.

Tipperary had done everything to limit their opponents in the first half and found the sucker-punch goal to bring them within one at the change of ends.

They even levelled upon the restart but once Kerry penned them in, starved them of possession, and transformed this into an open contest, that was it.

The Kingdom reeled off the next 1-8 without reply and didn’t miss a shot until the last kick. By that time, they had racked up 2-13 from 15 efforts. Incredible accuracy and quite the gear shift from the first half.

As against Cork, Kerry had nine different scorers, led by Jack Joy (1-3), while Éanna Murphy netted off the bench. They will meet the Rebels again in next Monday’s Munster final.

Charlie Walsh kicked all but one point for Tipp. His eye-catching 2-4 tally was the home highlight. As the fourth-ranked team in Munster, they will now head into tier 3 of the new All-Ireland series.

The first half was the definition of a slow-burner. Ben Murphy’s gliding run unlocked the Tipp defence for Michael Horan to slot a fifth-minute opener before Ronan Carroll and Walsh traded frees.

The Premier’s pressure on the ball did slow Kerry’s progress but three overcarrying frees coughed up possession for the next three points.

Joy celebrated a lovely outside-of-the-boot point, Gearóid White added a routine placed ball, and Ben Murphy whistled a goal chance inches over after a quickly-taken free.

Tipp came with a late flurry. Gavin Neville’s rob turned a misplaced kick-out into an attacking opportunity which ended in a soaring Dylan Cotter point.

A flowing Kerry move produced a Joey McCarthy score in response but Tipp finished with a goal.

From a short dropped short, they countered down the right and a dangerous ball from Danny Morris was palmed to the net by Walsh.

Charlie Walsh, Tipperary scoring a goal against Kacper Robak, Kerry Goalkeeper in the Electric Ireland Munster GAA Football Minor Championship Semi Final in Semple Stadium

They almost broke through again on the whistle but full-forward Carroll tracked all the way back to dispossess. 0-6 to 1-2 at the break.

Walsh’s free levelled proceedings and Tipp could’ve even edged ahead before Kerry wrestled back control and stormed ahead.

A White free was followed by a Kacper Robak 45 which found its way to the net, only to be ruled out for a square ball. The next goal would stand.

Ruairí O’Connell’s sweet dinked pass with his first touch found Joy to execute a sidestepping finish. 1-7 to 1-3.

Scores streamed from there with seven points in the next eight minutes, including two from White and one each from the midfield pairing of Ben Murphy and Killian Dennehy, who scored with his final act before being called ashore.

With five minutes to go, they added a goal with a smart passing move across the 21 involving three subs and ending with Joy feeding Éanna Murphy.

Tipp hit right back with Jack Garrett’s perfect set-up play allowing Walsh to find the corner. 2-14 to 2-4.

Two stylish Horan scores were the standouts from there to the finish.

Scorers for Tipperary: C Walsh (2-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 mark); D Cotter (0-1).

Scorers for Kerry: J Joy (1-3); G White (3 frees), J McCarthy (2 frees, 1 mark) (0-4 each); É Murphy (1-0); M Horan (0-3); B Murphy (0-2); K Dennehy, R Carroll (free), C Mac Gearailt (free) (0-1 each).

TIPPERARY: M Conroy (Drom-Inch); N O’Flynn (Fethard), R Myles (Ardfinnan, j-capt), G Neville (Fethard); D Morris (Clonmel Commercials), T Corcoran (JK Brackens, j-capt), J McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers); D Cotter (Thurles Gaels), O Gahan (St Patrick’s); C Healy (Kilruane McDonaghs), P McDonagh (Cahir), S Griffin (Upperchurch-Drombane); J Garrett (Arravale Rovers), C Walsh (Fethard), C Collins (Galtee Rovers).

Subs: C Kelly (Arravale Rovers) for Collins (38), J Yousif (Clonmel Óg) for Healy (46), D Hogan (JK Brackens) for Griffin (52), A Coppinger (Dúrlas Óg) for McGonigle (53), D Pollard (Ballingarry) for O’Flynn (59).

KERRY: K Robak (Dr Crokes); R Donovan (Annascaul), M Lynch (Milltown-Castlemaine), F Ryan (Austin Stacks); S Ó Cuinn (An Ghaeltacht), A Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), G O’Keeffe (Finuge); B Murphy (Austin Stacks, capt), K Dennehy (Cordal); G White (John Mitchels), J McCarthy (Spa), J Joy (Ballymacelligott); O Fleming (Killarney Legion), R Carroll (Austin Stacks), M Horan (Scartaglen).

Subs: C Mac Gearailt (An Ghaeltacht) for Carroll (38), R O’Connell (St Senan’s) for Fleming (41), E O’Flaherty (Ardfert) for Ryan (48), É Murphy (Listry) for Dennehy (51), G Casey (Austin Stacks) for Ó Cuinn (53).

Referee: J Regan (Cork).