Fast start for Kerry minors sets them on way to victory over Waterford
Kerry beat Waterford at Lemybrien in the Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 2. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Rough awakening for Waterford. A crushing defeat to open their Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 2 account was far from the ideal outcome, even if they were always going to be up against it facing Kerry.
Waterford’s start in Lemybrien on Monday evening began with the concession of a goal inside one minute. By the time Peter Murray kicked their first score from play after 25 minutes, they were trailing 2-6 to 0-3.
By the interval the Kerry lead had swelled to 11. By the end of the third quarter, it was 16 points. Waterford struggled to impose themselves – and that's because they were not allowed.
But to the hosts’ credit, they stayed in the fight. Although Kerry had done so well to knot up Dara Gough from play, the Waterford forward chipped in with what he could from placed balls, and they finally found reward for their efforts in the final quarter.
Tomas Walsh’s long ball in was picked up by Caolan Johnston, and he immediately offloaded to Anthony O’Donnell, who dispatched to the net. But less than a minute later, Kerry hit straight back.
Danny Lane – exceptional all evening – showed incredible control to convert a Kerry advantage into a green flag when he finished low in the 50th minute. That goal left Kerry 3-15 to 1-5 clear.
But Waterford found time for a 1-4 burst. Gough hit 0-4 from placed balls including a two-point free, and then in the final minute of stoppage time, Johnston forced his way through the centre of the Kerry defence and converted under pressure to drag the margin back to 11, as it was at the break.
Waterford fought brilliantly in the second period, but Kerry’s first-half dominance ensured they were playing for nothing but pride.
The first goal hit the Déise hard. Danny Murphy booted one in on top of the square and Fionn O’Dowd leapt up to fist it home. Kingdom scores were hard-earned in that first quarter but Waterford struggled to create anything themselves.
And, in the 13th minute, Kerry had their second major, this time as the exceptional Daragh Keane fed Murphy and he lashed it off the post and in.
From there they reeled off four more white flags. Four different scorers, three from play.
And when Murray finally got Waterford’s first from play, the Kingdom response was another 0-3 burst, including one from deep through Murphy, ensuring this was all but over at the break.
D Gough (0-6, 1 tpf, 0-4 f), C Johnston, A O’Donnell (1-0 each), P Murray (0-3).
D Lane (1-4, 0-1 f), F O’Dowd (1-3, 0-1 f), D Murphy (1-2, 1 tp), D Keane (0-4, 1 tpf, 0-2 f), L MacGearailt, S Scroope, J Collins, O Buckley (0-1 each).
J Sheehan (Kilgobinet); A McManus (Tramore), J Skehan (Rathgormack), S Healy (Geraldines); C Johnston (Gaultier), A O'Donnell (Brickey Rangers), L O'Grady (Gaultier); T Meagher (Portlaw), T Walsh (The Nire); E Bloomer (Gaultier), A McMaugh (The Nire), R Kirwan (Rathgormack); D Gough (Stradbally), C Smyth (Tramore) P Murray (Rathgormack).
C Power (Portlaw) for O’Grady (HT), C Kelly (Geraldines) for Bloomer, E Keane (Stradbally) for Meagher (both 45), F Murray (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty) for Walsh (51), D Hutchinson (Gaultier) for Kirwan (55).
C O’Donnell (Tarbert), E Mangan (Austin Stacks), J Breen (Listowel Emmets), C Clifford (Dr Crokes); D Murphy (Listry), S Clifford (Listry), M Corridon (Ardfert); M Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), T Slattery (Na Gaeil); L MacGearailt (An Ghaeltacht), S Scroope (Legion), J Collins (Ballymacelligott); D Lane (Austin Stacks), D Keane (Kilcummin), F O’Dowd (Dingle).
T Kennelly (Listowel Emmets) for Ó Sé, C Moynihan (Rathmore) for O’Dowd (both 46), O Buckley (Beale) for Scroope (49), D Laide (Finuge) for Corridon (51), C Ó Corduibh (An Ghaeltacht) for Slattery (54).
G Twomey (Clare)
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