Kerry rout Royals in eventful Christy Ring Cup clash

The Kingdom can now look towards a final.

Kerry manager John Griffin. File pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Kerry 3-17 Meath 0-12 

Kerry recorded a second win against Meath in a three-week spell, when they cruised to a 14-point victory in this opening round of the Christy Ring Cup played at a windy Trim on Sunday afternoon. 

It means in effect that Kerry are now odds on to reach the final at a minimum, as they face three teams from a lower division and will be expected to dispose of their challenge.

It was a game that had everything, brilliant sunshine, a strong wind and a heavy shower of hailstones that resulted in referee Brian Keon taking the players off the pitch for six minutes early in the second half. 

Regular Meath keeper Gavin King received a black card in the 43rd minute, but his replacement Philip O’Brien denied Ronan Walsh with a brilliant save from resultant penalty, but that did not end the drama.

The sliotar was crossed to Padraig Boyle who appeared to fire home to the Meath net, but when the Meath players protested that there was a large hole in the net, the umpires agreed, despite the fact that the sliotar was at least two feet inside the post and there wasn’t a supporter on either side who did not think it was a goal.

Then in the wet conditions, an umpire ended up on his back after slipping to wave the white flag later in the contest but at least the crowd was entertained on a bitterly cold afternoon.

It was Kerry that displayed the early intensity and with the wind they dominated in all sectors with their half back line of Jamesie O’Connor, Jason Diggins and Michael Leane hurling with purpose as Meath struggled to get any possession up front and when they did Eric Leen had a vice-like grip on Mikey Cole.

Kerry opened with points from Liam Óg O’Connor, Tom Doyle and Kevin Goulding before Tom Shine converted the first of four first-half frees. Kerry were driving home their advantage, however, scoring four unanswered points from Ronan Walsh, Evan Murphy, and Walsh with two frees, as they Kerry moved 0-7 to 0-2 ahead after the 15th minute.

The visitors, with new midfield pairing Kevin Goulding and Hugh Lenihan dominating, Kerry, 1-14 to 0-6 ahead by the interval.

Meath’s shortcomings up front were summed up by the fact that Tom Shine was their only scorer while Kerry had Jordan Brick and Tom Doyle in scoring form with Kevin Goulding scoring a brilliant solo goal in 31st minute.

Then came the snow shower and stoppage early in the second half, the missed penalty and goal that wasn’t. King from a free and Darragh Shine from play gave Meath some hope but two Ronan Walsh frees and the game was finished as a contest in the 62nd minute when Michael Slattery’s shot was finished to the net by Jordan Brick.

Meath could never get going despite two late Mikey Cole points and then in added time Michael Slattery scored a third goal that put a cherry on the Kerry cake.

Scorers: Kerry: R Walsh (0-8, 7fs), J Brick (1-3), K Goulding and M Slattery (1-0 each), T Doyle (0-2), J O’Connor, M Leane, E Murphy, L Óg O’Connor (0-1 each) 

Meath: T Shine (0-7, 6fs), M Cole (0-2), G King (f), D Shine and J Cole (0-1 each).

MEATH: G King; J Ennis, S Geraghty, L O’Connor; E Donegan, D Shine, N Conroy: S Ennis, J Cole; L Byrne, P O’Hanrahan, T Shine; M Cole, D O’Higgins, M O’Leary.

Subs: S Coloe for N Conroy, half-time, P O’Brien for M Leavy, 43, A Healy for S Ennis, 51, K Ennis for P O’Brien, 51, S Doyle for T Shine, 70(+6) Black card: G King, 43-53 

KERRY: C Bohane; E Leen, S McGrath, K O’Connor; J O’Connor, J Diggins, M Leane, K Goulding, E Murphy; J Brick, R Walsh, T Doyle; L Óg O’Connor, P Boyle, H Lenihan Subs: M Slattery for L Óg O’Connor, 46, G Dooley for P Boyle, 60, A Segal for K Goulding, 69, D Slattery for S McGrath, 70(+2), L Rochford for J Brick, 70(+5) 

Referee: B Keon (Galway)