Kerry SFC: Mid Kerry in statement win over a poor St Brendan’s

All-Ireland winner Mike Breen was among the standout players for Mid Kerry in their Kerry SFC round 1 victory over St Brendan's. Pic: Don MacMonagle

Kerry SFC round 1: Mid Kerry 2-18 St Brendan’s 0-10 

Mid Kerry served notice that they could be a force in this year's county championship after a facile victory over a very below par St Brendan's side in the curtain raiser at Austin Stack Park. 

After a brief revival by St Brendan's for a ten minute spell in the third quarter, the winners cruised to a 14 point win with 11 different scorers.

Mid Kerry had built up a sizeable half-time lead that would have been far bigger except St Brendan’s keeper Sean Broderick made three point blank saves in the opening quarter to deny Mid Kerry certain goals.

Mid Kerry, powered by All-Ireland medal winners Mike Breen and Sean O’Brien, along with Kerry panellist Keith Evans, dominated proceedings in the opening quarter.

Darragh O’Connor opened the St Brendan's account while the influential Eoin Clifford and Ciaran Kennedy scored points that saw Mid Kerry move 0-3 to 0-2 in front after ten minutes. Once Mid Kerry upped the tempo, St Brendan's had no answers, and after Sean Broderick had denied Mid Kerry twice, Gearóid Hassett slipped the ball to the St Brendan's net in the 17th minute.

Keith Evans and Liam Carey added minors before Mid Kerry struck for a second goal in the 26th minute with Hassett slipping the ball across the square for Laune Rangers clubmate Seán Cleary to finish to the net.

Jake Foley, from corner back, along with Paudie White scored a brace of points each but Mid Kerry held a comfortable 2-7 to 0-5 half-time lead.

St Brendan's closed the gap to 2-9 to 0-8 by the 40th minute with thanks to points from O’Connor (2) and White but for the final 20 minutes, St Brendan's added just a single two-pointer from Tomás Kennedy while Mid Kerry added nine points from seven different scorers.

Mid Kerry, who have contested three of the last five county finals, now advance to championship proper while St Brendan's have one last chance next weekend against South Kerry.

Scorers for Mid Kerry: C Kennedy (0-5, 2tp), S Cleary and G Hassett (1-0 each), D O’Connor and K Evans (0-3 each), E Clifford (0-2), J O’Connor (f), L Carey, D Cleary, C Teehan, D Houlihan (0-1 each) 

Scorers for St Brendan’s: D O’Connor (0-3, 2f), T Kennedy, J Foley and P White (0-2 each), B Hanafin (0-1) 

ST BRENDAN'S: S Broderick (John Mitchels); J Foley (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), C White (John Mitchels) , J Myers (John Mitchels); E Ferris (Ardfert), S Donnellan (Churchill), P White (John Mitchels); L O’Donnell (Churchill), J Lenihan (Churchill); B Hanafin (Kerins O’Rahillys), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), J Carmody (John Mitchels); B J Keane (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), N O’Driscoll (Ardfert), D O’Connor (Kerins O’Rahilly’s).

Subs: K O’Connor (Churchill) for C White (h/t), M Kelliher (John Mitchels) for J Carmody (h/t), C Holden (John Mitchels) for N O’Driscoll (h/t), O Ferris (Ardfert) for B J Keane (40), G Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys) for B Hanafin (43) 

MID KERRY: J Browne (Laune Rangers); S Cleary (Laune Rangers), L Evans (Keel), E Coffey (Beaufort); E Clifford (Laune Rangers), M Breen (Beaufort), N Breen (Beaufort); S O’Brien (Beaufort), R Murphy; D O’Connor (Beaufort), G Hassett (Laune Rangers), K Evans (Keel): J O’Connor (Beaufort), C Kennedy (Beaufort), L Carey (Beaufort).

Subs: S Clifford (Laune Rangers) for L Evans (inj 39), L Smith (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for R Murphy (40), D Cleary (Laune Rangers) for L Carey (40), D Houlihan (Cromane) for J O’Connor (47), C Teahan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for D O’Connor (50) 

Referee: P Curtin (Brosna)