Kerry SFC: Mid Kerry seal statement win over outclassed Spa

The new favourites for the title moved into final four. 

COMFORTABLE: Mike Breen, who was part of a Mid Kerry side which accounted for Spa. File pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Kerry SFC Quarter-Final: Mid Kerry 1-28 Spa 2-9 

Mid Kerry moved to outright favourites for the Kerry SFC following the demise of East Kerry and they lived up to expectations as they completely outclassed club side Spa at the Austin Stack Park.

In fact, so superior were Mid Kerry that they were able to call the likes of Mike Breen, Liam Smith, Keith Evans and Ciaran Kennedy ashore early in the second stanza. 

It was a contest for only the opening quarter as Mid Kerry took over and while Spa never gave up, the second half was mere target practice Mid Kerry.

Spa made the best possible start when Shane Cronin made a surging run from wingback and landed inside in the Mid Kerry danger zone. Cronin tried to lob keeper Jason Browne but when the ball dropped in the square, Cian Tobin had the simple task of finishing to the Mid Kerry net.

But with Liam Smith and Mike Breen driving Mid Kerry forward, they rattled off six unanswered points from Keith Evans, Liam Carey, Jack O’Connor (two), Sean O’Brien and a free from Jack O’Connor.

With Gary Vaughan controlling matters at the back and Michael Foley and Shane Cronin making raids on the Mid Kerry half, Spa saw David Spillane kicking a point in the 15th minute as Mid Kerry led 0-7 to 1-1.

Eoin Clifford was denied a goal scoring chance thanks to some solid Spa defending in the 16th minute but Liam Carey and Ciaran Kennedy soon added to Mid Kerry’s tally.

Ciaran Kennedy, who was quiet by his standards, soon caught fire with a two pointer and he was involved in sending the ball across the Spa danger zone, allowing Daire Cleary to palm the ball to the net. 

O’Brien then fired over a booming two pointer to see Mid Kerry cruise to a 1-13 to 1-1 lead with just three minutes left in the half.

Shane Cronin scored a Spa goal but back came Mid Kerry and Kennedy kicked another two pointer while Liam Carey and Gary Vaughan swapped late points as Mid Kerry retired 1-16 to 2-2 at the interval.

Any chance of a Spa fightback was quelled on the resumption as Mike Breen kicked the opening point and then he set up Beaufort team mate Jack O’Connor to curl over a point with his left foot.

Spa will be disappointed and with Dara Moynihan never a factor, their race was well run long before Paul Hayes called a halt to proceedings.

Scorers : Mid Kerry; D Cleary (1-2), C Kennedy (0-5,2tps), S O’Brien (1tp) and L Carey (1f) 0-4 each), D O’Connor, K Evans and J O’Connor (1f) (0-3 each), M Breen, D Houlihan, S Gannon and C Teehan (0-1 each).

Spa: C Tobin (1-1, 1f), S Cronin (1-0), E Cronin (0-3,1tp), M Foley (0-2, tpf), G Vaughan, N McCarthy and D Spillane (0-1 each).

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

Subs: S Evans (Keel) for L Smith (36), D Houlihan (Cromane) for R Murphy (41), S Clifford (Laune Rangers) for M Breen (41), C Teahan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for C Kennedy (45), S Gannon (Laune Rangers) for K Evans (46).

SPA: S O’Meara; E O’Donoghue, M Moynihan, D Brosnan; S Cronin, G Vaughan, M Foley; N McCarthy, O O’Neill; D Moynihan, E Cronin, L O’Neill; D Spillane, M Horgan, C Tobin.

Subs: E Fitzgerald for D Brosnan (27), C Spillane for O O’Neill (39), J McCarthy for D Moynihan (39), R O’Neill for C Tobin (53) Referee: P Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys)