Dominant Kerry cruise into Munster U20FC final with nineteen point win over Clare

Kerry cruised to a 19-point victory over a disappointing Clare side at Austin Stack Park to set up a Munster final with Cork. Pic: Eddie O'Hare.

Kerry 2-20 Clare 0-7

Kerry cruised to a 19-point victory over a disappointing Clare side at Austin Stack Park to set up a Munster final with Cork next Thursday night in Tralee.

The game was never a contest and while Kerry led by only two points at the interval, that was more about the hosts playing against the wind rather than any threat from the Banner.

The second half was one way traffic as Kerry outscored the Banner by 2-12 to 0-1, with the visitors only managing to raise a single white flag in the sixty minutes.

Kerry, with Daniel Kirby and Evan Boyle outstanding in midfield, cut loose in the second period and goals from Evan Boyle and substitute Jack Joy put the cherry on the cake.

However, the Kerry management will worry about 13 wides and a sixty percent conversion rate even though overall it was a much-improved performance from their defeat at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Kerry began much brighter than their meeting with Cork the previous week and had early scores from Gearoid White and Evan Boyle as Clare found it difficult to get any purchase around the middle third of the pitch.

Both Daniel Kirby and Evan Boyle were on top and with the hard-working Jack O’ Sullivan and Mairtin McKivergan providing quality ball to the inside line to ensure Kerry controlled the opening quarter.

White made it 0-3 to no score before Clare, in their first real attack, saw Daire Culligan kicking a two-point free.

Kerry can thank their keeper Kacper Robak for a superb save in the tenth minute when he denied Clare wing back Michael Kelly with a point blank save.

Paddy Lane from a free after sideline dissent from Clare doubled Kerry’s lead 0-4 to 0-2 but within minutes Clare centre forward Colm Breen kicked a massive two-pointer to level the contest.

Daniel Kirby finished off a move involving McKivergan and White to give the Kingdom a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Breen responded for Clare with a monstrous two-pointer to put the Banner in front for the first time, but Kerry dominated the final ten minutes against the wind and added three points from Paddy Lane, Ronan Carroll and Jack O’ Sullivan, although they also kicked four wides in that period.

Clare had only one chance in that period when a two-point attempt from a free by Culligan came back off the post and was cleared by a vigilant Kerry defence. Kerry were content to retire to the dressing at half time leading 0-8 to 0-6 considering they would have the strong wind to their backs in the second half.

Scorers for Kerry: P Lane 0-7 (2pf, 1f), E Boyle 1-1, D Kirby 0-4 (1tp), J Joy 1-0, M McKivergan (’45), G White and T Kennedy (1m) 0-2 each, J O’Sullivan and R Carroll 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: C Breen 0-4 (1tp, I tpf), D Culligan 0-3 (1tpf, 1f).

KERRY: K Robak (Dr Crokes); M Lynch (Milltown/Castlemaine), G Evans (Keel), I Brosnan (Castleisland Desmonds); S Ó Cúinn (An Ghaeltacht), A Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), P Walsh (Listowel Emmets); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), E Boyle (Ballyduff); J O’Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks), G White (John Mitchels), M McKivergan (Ballymacelligott); P Lane (Austin Stacks), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), R Carroll (Austin Stacks).

Subs: E O’Flaherty ( Ardfert) for S Ó Cúinn( 9, inj), J Joy (Ballymacelligott) for J O’Sullivan (46), D Stack (Kilcummin ) for P Walsh (48), J Curtin ( Ballyduff) for R Carroll (52), M O’Carroll ( Dr Crokes) for G White ( 55), R Sheridan (Duagh ) for E Boyle (temp 58-ft).

CLARE: H O’Gorman (Cooraclare); L Griffin (Ennistymon), S Murphy (St Joseph’s Milltown), A Killeen (Lissycasey); C Hill (Lissycasey), D Boyle (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), M Kelly (Lissycasey); E Cahill (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), S Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks); D Townsend (Cooraclare), C Breen (Corofin), D O’Dwyer (St Breckan’s); D McMahon (Lissycasey), D Culligan (Lissycasey), R Fallon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane).

Subs: S Culligan (Cooraclare) for D McMahon (50), A Weaver (Lissycasey) for A Killeen ( 60), C Darcy St Breckan’s) for C Breen (60), R Whelehan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for R Fallon (60).

Referee: D Murnane (Cork).