All White on the night as Kerry U20s over-power Déise

The John Mitchels’ attacker was simply sublime in the first half.

STEPPING UP: Kerry's Gearóid White underlined his class against Waterford. File pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

KERRY 2-27 WATERFORD 0-10 

Gearóid White showcased his undoubted potential once again with a starring role for Kerry in this hugely comfortable triumph over an outclassed Waterford in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U-20 FC (Phase 2 Round 1) clash in Lemybrien.

The precocious John Mitchels’ attacker, in his maiden appearance at this age grade after two seasons with the Kingdom minors, was simply sublime in the first half as the winners surged into an emphatic lead with wind advantage.

White probably didn’t touch the ball in the opening 10 minutes but, with the visitors already pushing five points clear (0-6 to 0-1), the stylish left-footed starlet launched over a booming two-point special to begin his tour-de-force in the 13th minute.

By half-time, he had kicked three further orange flag specials, all from open play, which allowed Tomás Ó Sé’s charges to be out of sight by the half-time whistle, with captain Paddy Lane and Ronan Carroll also dove-tailing well in the inside line.

Waterford competed manfully around the middle, through Diarmuid Mackle and Daithí Colleran against a Kerry pairing of Evan Boyle and Daniel Kirby but, even with the ill Killian Dennehy a late cry-off, Kerry moved effortlessly through the gears.

The opening goal arrived in the 28th minute when Carroll played a one-two with wing-forward Jack O’Sullivan before tapping home from close range, as Waterford were restricted to placed balls from Joe Brennan by the interval (1-16 to 0-4).

With the elements at their backs on the resumption, the Déise youngsters would have been determined to give a better account of themselves, but the outstanding White had different ideas as he slalomed his way through the defence to bury Kerry’s second goal in the 34th minute.

With David Mulvihill, Gearoid Evans and Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich always in command in the Kingdom defence, Waterford didn’t score from play until Brennan’s magnificent two-pointer in the 53rd minute, with Callum Royle adding a late, late white flag.

Kerry were able to rest Lane, White and Ó Beaglaoich long before the finish. Dennehy and senior panellist Tomás Kennedy may well return for next Thursday’s trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Scorers for Kerry: G White 1-9 (4tp), R Carroll 1-5 (0-2fs), P Lane 0-4 (0-1mk, 1tp), D Kirby(tp), M McKivergan, B Kelliher 0-2 each, J O’Sullivan, E Boyle, D Stack 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: J Brennan 0-6 (0-2fs, 1tpf, 1tp), P McCarthy 0-3 (0-1f, 1tpf), C Royle 0-1.

KERRY: K Robak (Dr Crokes); M Lynch (Milltown/Castlemaine), G Evans (Keel), D Mulvihill (Tarbert); S Ó Cuinn (An Ghaeltacht), A Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), P Walsh (Listowel Emmets); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), E Boyle (Ballyduff); M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes), M McKivergan (Ballymacelligott), J O’Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks); G White (John Mitchels), P Lane (Austin Stacks), R Carroll (Austin Stacks).

Subs: B Kelliher (Dr Crokes) for Lane (39), P Finucane (Tarbert) for White (42), D Stack (Kilcummin) for Ó Beaglaoich (46), R Sheridan (Duagh) for Evans (50), E O’Flaherty (Ardfert) for Walsh (50).

WATERFORD: C Drohan (Rathgormack); A Ryan (The Nire), B Boland (St Saviours), C Lyons (Dungarvan); D Nyhan (Brickey Rangers), F O’Brien (Gaultier), D Jacob (St Saviours); D Mackle (Ballinacourty), D Colleran (Brickey Rangers); B Qualter (An Rinn), C Power (Rathgormack), A Curran (Stradbally); J Brennan (Tramore), P McCarthy (Brickey Rangers), C Royle (Brickey Rangers).

Subs: C Cotter (Geraldines) for Jacob, inj (30), P Bagnall (Tramore) for Qualter (ht), J Hickey (Modeligo) for Power (46), D Murphy (Fenor) for McCarthy (46), N Fahey (Rathgormack) for Boland (50).

REFEREE: J Ryan (Cork).