Jack Collins sparks Kerry surge to set up Cork rematch in Munster MFC final

Once Collins from Ballymacelligott entered the fray in the 34th minute, the game changed in Kerry’s favour

Kerry minor boss Marc Ó Sé made six changes to his starting team for the Munster Championship clash with Clare. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Munster MFC: Kerry 1-21 Clare 0-11

Following a ten-point defeat at the hands of Cork for the first time since 2023, Kerry minor boss Marc Ó Sé was forced into making sweeping changes to both his starting 15 and the squad itself for this meeting with Clare in Austin Stack Park. 

Kerry made six changes in personnel from the Cork game with Christian O’Donnell, Sean Clifford, Tom Slattery, Sam Scroope, Jack Collins and Odhran Buckley making way for Seán Sargent, Daithí Laide, Daniel Cronin, Cillian O’Donoghue, Fionn O’Dowd and Cillian Moynihan.

Clare had been buoyed by their Darcy Cup win over Waterford in Lemybrien so this was a must win game for both sides and a Munster MFC semi-final in all but name. Manager Joe Hayes made one change to their starting team with Jack Lavin replacing John Greene at right half back.

Clare had a strong breeze to their backs in the opening half and while the Banner retired on level terms at the break, they butchered two excellent goal chances that if taken, then it might well have placed a different reflection on what occurred in the second period.

Kerry were dominant at midfield with Maidhc Ó Sé ruling the aerial collisions while Daithí Laide was making some incisive incursions from wing back but the Kerry attack was being met by staunch defending by Caelum Killeen and Stephen O’Neill.

Fionn O’Dowd opened the Kingdom’s account with an early point and by the tenth minute Kerry had built a 0-4 to 0-0 lead thanks to points from Lúc Mac Gearailt, Conor Clifford and Daragh Keane (f) but then Clare struck for the first of their two-pointers from Thomas Dillon which was followed by a point from Rian Cotter and another monster two-pointer from Sean O’Callaghan.

Suddenly, Clare were back in the contest on 0-5 apiece but points from Cillian O’Donoghue and Mac Gearailt saw Kerry move two clear but Cotter and O’Callaghan with points ensured that the sides retired level on 0-8 apiece at the interval.

Clare had a goal chance straight after half-time when Sean O’Callaghan struck the post and the Kerry defence scrambled the ball clear.

But once Collins from Ballymac entered the fray in the 34th minute, the game changed in Kerry’s favour as he kicked two points and provided assists for two more from Danny Murphy and Danny Lane and suddenly Kerry were 0-12 to 0-8 in front and Clare just could not contain the Ballymac dynamo.

But Kerry did not enough to suggest they can overturn Cork in the final as they were only 0-15 to 0-10 clear with ten to go.

Clare lost Niall Burke to a black card and Kerry made hay in the evening sunshine, outscoring Clare 1-6 to 0-1 with Danny Lane rattling the Clare net in added time but despite the winning margin, Cork are unlikely to be quaking in their boots for now.

Scorers for Kerry: D Lane (1-3), D Keane (3f) and F O’Dowd (0-4 each). D Murphy (0-3), J Collins and L Mac Gearailt (0-2 each), C Stack, C Clifford and C O’Donoghue (0-1 each)

Scorers for Clare: S O’Callaghan ( 0-3,tp), R Cotter and T Dillon ( tp) ( 0-2 each) T Bane, S Cahill, L Keane and M Normoyle ( 0-1 each) 

KERRY: C O’Donnell (Churchill); E Mangan (Austin Stacks), J Breen (Listowel Emmets), C Clifford (Dr Crokes); D Murphy (Listry), M Corridon (Ardfert), D Laide (Finuge); M Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), D Cronin (Firies); Lúc Mac Gearailt (An Ghaeltacht), D Keane (Kilcummin), C O’Donoghue (Listry); D Lane (Austin Stacks), F O’Dowd (Dingle), C Moynihan (Rathmore).

Subs: J Collins (Ballymac) for D Cronin ( 35), C Stack (Kilcummin ) for M Corridon (40), T Slattery (Na Gaeil) for C O’Donoghue (42), T Kennelly (Listowel Emmets) for M Ó Sé (55), S Scroope (Legion) for L Mac Gearailt (55) 

CLARE: C Griffin (Ennistymon) , G Browne (Cooraclare), S Neenan (Kildysart), T O’Loughlin (St Brackens); J Lavin(Ennistymon ) , C Killeen (Lissycasey), S O’Neill (Eire Óg Ennis); T Bane (The Banner ), P Neylon (Shannon Gaels ); R Cotter (Kilrush Shamrocks ), S Cahill (Kilmurry-Ibrickane ), T Dillon (Doonbeg); R Kelly ( Kildysart), L Keane (Lissycasey), S O’Callaghan (St Josephs ( Doora Barefield).

Subs: M Normoyle (St Brackens) for T Bane (35), J Greene (Corofin ) for R Cotter (40), Z O’Shea (Doonbeg) for R Kelly (43), N Burke (Kilmurry—Ibrickane) (48), R Brady (Ennistymon ) for S O’Callaghan (53) 

Referee: B Crowley (Cork)