Much-improved Kerry hamper Tipp’s Munster league progress as Cahill takes positives

Liam Cahill game time to some of the the Premier's All-Ireland final heroes.

SATISFIED: Liam Cahill manager of Tipperary explained the result was key. Pic: INPHO/James Lawlor

Munster Senior Hurling League: Tipperary 1-16 Kerry 1-7

Tipperary picked up a nine-point win over a much-improved Kerry in Tralee on Sunday, but fell well short of the 38-point swing needed to earn a Munster league final spot ahead of Waterford next weekend, in a contest heavily affected by wintry conditions in Austin Stack Park.

When Liam Cahill’s starting 15 was announced on Friday evening, including eight that featured from the off in the All-Ireland final, it seemed like the objective was to reach the decider. After Sunday's match however, the Tipperary manager noted his selection was more to factor in giving players game time.

“It was never really part of our mindset coming down," he says. "Our mindset was to get game time into guys who have been on extended rests and been back in training for three weeks or maybe more. 

"It just happened that seven of eight of them happened to be on the All-Ireland match day team, and it showed that today some of them needed it. The key was to get the result today, but the performance left a little bit to be desired.” 

Kerry took the lead through Michael Slattery in the first minute, but Tipp would respond with five unanswered. Jake Morris twice from play, Darragh McCarthy twice from frees and Sam O’Farrell had the Premier men four up after five minutes and on target.

A stretch of sloppy shooting with four wides on the bounce alongside Jordan Conway pointing from play and Ronan Walsh twice from frees saw the lead reduced to one at the 20-minute mark.

Tipperary’s rather remarkable spell of 14 minutes without a score ended when Andrew Ormond pointed from play, but just two minutes later Kerry took their second lead of the tie as Tom Doyle’s pass to Michael Slattery found the Abbeydorney man barreling down on goal and making no mistake, as Kerry took a one-point lead into the break.

The All-Ireland champions picked up four of the first five scores of the second half. Conor Stakelum and Josh Keller from play alongside two more Darragh McCarthy frees gave Tipp a two-point lead after 40 minutes.

Ronan Walsh’s free brought Kerry to within one, but Oisin O’Donoghue’s goal 13 minutes from time put daylight between the sides for the first time from a Tipp perspective.

Oisin O’Donoghue, Paddy McCormack, and Conor Stakelum all scored from play, and three points, including two from the dead ball from substitute Jack Leamy, pushed the score out to secure a nine-point win.

Scorers for Kerry: R Walsh 0-4 (0-4 f), M Slattery 1-1, J Conway 0-1, L Rochford 0-1 

Scorers for Tipperary: D McCarthy 0-4 (0-4 f), J Morris 0-2, J Leamy 0-3 (0-2 f), O O’Donoghue 1-1, C Stakelum 0-2, S O’Farrell 0-1, P McCormack 0-1, J Keller 0-1, A Ormond 0-1 

KERRY: C Bohane; E Leen, S McGrath, K O’Connor; J O’Connor, J Diggins, M Leane; A Segal, K Goulding; T Doyle, C Walsh, R Walsh; M Slattery, L Óg O’Connor, J Conway Subs: D Kearney for Leen, I Conway for Óg O’Connor (Both H/T), D Casey for Conway (44), C Litchfield for Walsh (52), H Lenihan for Segal, L Rochford for Slattery (Both 54), J Sheehan for Walsh (59) 

TIPPERARY: R Shelly; C Martin, B O’Mara, J Ryan; J Caesar, B McGrath, E Connolly; W Connors, J Keller; J Morris, A Ormond, S O’Farrell, D McCarthy, O O’Donoghue, P McCormack Subs: S Kennedy for McGrath (12), C Stakelum for Connors, D Stakelum for O’Farrell (Both H/T), J Leahy for McCarthy (45), R Doyle for Morris (60) 

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)