Ruthless Kerry maul Mayo to strengthen hurling league Division 2 final bid

When they retired at the interval with a 24-point cushion, it was only a matter of how much more the Kingdom would add to their advantage on the resumption.

SHOWING THE WAY: Kerry showed no mercy to Mayo with a 27-point pummelling at Austin Stack Park in Tralee. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Kerry 6-24 Mayo 0-15

With a place in the Allianz NHL Division 2 final almost certain to come down to scoring difference, a ruthless Kerry showed no mercy to an out-of-their-depth Mayo with a 27-point pummelling at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.

Three goals by the end of the first quarter had the hosts home and dry and, when they retired at the interval with a 24-point cushion (4-17 to 0-5), it was only a matter of how much more the Kingdom would add to their advantage on the resumption.

To be fair to the Connacht side, they started quite positively against the wind, and were only two points adrift, 0-5 to 0-3, after 13 minutes before John Griffin’s men struck for their first goal. Oisín Maunsell capitalised on a defensive error to rocket to the roof of the net.

Within a minute, a brilliant move involving the excellent Maunsell and early substitute Gavin Dooley culminated in Michael Slattery tapping home after rounding the ‘keeper, and the latter turned provider for the former to slot green flag number three in the 16th minute (3-8 to 0-3).

Midfielder Daniel Huane showed some resistance for Mayo with a brace of points from play but, with Michael Leane producing a strong display at half-back, Kerry ended up with nine different scorers by the half-time whistle.

Maunsell had 1-5 from play on the board before the changeover, and Kerry pounced for their fourth goal one minute from the end of the half, with Dooley and Ronan Walsh combining for Colin Walsh to put the final gloss on the hosts’ first half dominance.

With the elements in their favour in the second half, Mayo certainly improved, with the double act of Cormac Phillips and Shane Boland finishing with a combined total of 0-11, and Huane continuing to hurl effectively around the middle.

For Kerry, they will be concerned by the injuries to Jordan Conway and impressive replacement Dooley, who notched the winners’ fifth goal after 38 minutes. Top scorer Maunsell had the final say, with the sixth green flag, as the Kingdom travel to Trim for a vital clash with Meath in a fortnight.

Scorers for Kerry: O Maunsell (2-6, 1f), G Dooley (2-2), R Walsh (0-6, 6fs), C Walsh (1-2), M Slattery (1-1), T Doyle (0-2), J Conway, M Leane, K O’Connor, J Sheehan, D Casey (0-1 each).

Scorers for Mayo: C Phillips (0-6, 3fs, 0-1 ’65), S Boland (0-5, 3fs), D Huane (0-3), R Duffy (0-1).

KERRY: D Quirke; E Leen, S McGrath, S Foran; J O’Connor, K O’Connor, M Leane; K Goulding, R Walsh; T Doyle, C Walsh, J Brick; M Slattery, O Maunsell, J Conway.

Subs: G Dooley for Conway (10, inj), K Carmody for Goulding (ht), D Casey for Brick (41), A Segal for R Walsh (temp, 45-48), D Kearney for Leen (53), J Sheehan for Dooley (55, inj).

MAYO: B Douglas; M Gallagher, O Ivers, C Murray; S O’Brien, D Kenny, O Greally; S Kenny, D Huane; R Duffy, C Phillips, E Delaney; C Scahill, P Murphy, S Boland.

Subs: A Rowland for Gallagher (26), J Burke for Murray (ht), B Sheridan for Kenny (46), F Burke for Duffy (50), J Heraty for Murphy (60).

Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).