*Clare joint captain, Odhran Cunningham. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
There was no sign of any ambush in Quilty as holders Kerry eased to the opening points of the new Munster Under 20 Phase 2 round-robin series.
Kerry 1-13
Clare 0-5
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Having gathered momentum throughout their three opening ties, Michael Neylon’s side were ex-pected to make life uncomfortable for a Kingdom side making their championship bow. However, despite the blustery West Clare conditions, the Banner failed to put Kerry on the backfoot at any stage.
With a gale at their backs for the opening half, Clare were far too prudent and never went for broke at any stage, opting to pass through the lines instead of using Conor Fennell’s aerial prow-ess as a target at the edge of the square.
In a similar scenario against Tipperary at the same venue, such cautiousness would come back to haunt the home side and inevitably the dose would be replicated by a clincial Kerry.
The concession of an early goal after only seven minutes through Charlie Keating completely dis-rupted Clare’s plan as instead of building up a half-time cushion to face the wind, they ended up having to chase the visitors for the entire opening period.
At least, they did make up the ground as while Darren Keane’s opening free would be cancelled out by the electric Cormac Dillon at 1-2 to 0-1 by the end of the opening quarter, the Banner would finally push up on Kerry’s restarts and immediately got joy with three points in as many minutes for Keane, Conor Fennell and Tom Curran before Daire Culligan ensured parity by the break at 1-2 to 0-5.
The signs looked ominous and they were as Kerry flexed their attacking muscles superbly on the turnover, kicking eleven unanswered points through five different scorers. The return of Luke Crowley from injury was a welcome half-time boost, with the Glenflesk star opening Kerry’s sec-ond half account after a Cian Lynch goal chance was scrambled off the line.
It quickly became one way traffic as Cormac Dillon (4) and midfielders Eddie Healy and Rob Stack tacked on further points to build up an unassailable 1-9 to 0-5 cushion by the turn of the final quarter.
What that scoreline does mask was the tireless work of the hosts’ last line of Aaron Kelly, Sean McAllister and Conor Kearney while joint-captain Josh Moloney, Eanna Rouine and Darren Keane did their best to alleviate the pressure and get Clare on the frontfoot.
Home goalkeeper Cian Corry also made a point blank save to deny Ian O’Sullivan, fellow re-placement Paddy Lane cleared the crossbar soon afterwards before chief threats Cormac Dillon, Eddie Healy and captain Rob Stack closed out this bloodless contest to complete a command-ing opening victory.
With an away trip to Cork next Wednesday, Tomás Ó Sé’s side will have to up the ante even more, with Clare also needing to be more aggressive if they are to lower Tipperary in Fethard and potentially bring their Munster Final hopes to a final round showdown against the Rebels.
Scorers for Kerry: Cormac Dillon 0-7 (3f); Charlie Keating 1-0; Eddie Healy 0-2, Rob Stack 0-2, Luke Crowley 0-1 Paddy Lane 0-1
Scorers for Clare: Darren Keane 0-2 (2f), Conor Fennell 0-1, Tom Curran 0-1, Daire Culligan 0-1 (f)
Kerry
1: Michael Tansley (Austin Stacks)
2: Ryan Diggin (Laune Rangers)
3: Dara O’Callaghan (Kilcummin)
4: Gearoid Evans (Keel)
12: Charlie Keating (Dr. Crokes)
6: Darragh O’Connor (Kenmare Shamrocks)
7: Cian Lynch (Glenflesk)
5: Eddie Healy (Listowel Emmets)
8: Rob Stack (Beale)
10: Evan Boyle (Ballyduff)
11: Odhran Ferris (Ardfert)
9: Daniel Kirby (Austin Stacks)
13: Cormac Dillon (Duagh)
14: Tomás Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
15: Aidan Crowley (Templenoe)
Subs:
24: Luke Crowley (Glenflesk) for Boyle (HT)
17: Paddy Lane (Austin Stacks) for A. Crowley (40)
18: Ian O’Sullivan (St Michael’s Foilmore) for Ferris (40)
20: Fionn Murphy (Rathmore) for Kennedy (54)
19: Adam Segal (Ballyduff) for O’Callaghan (57)
Clare
1: Cian Corry (Killimer)
2: Aaron Kelly (Wolfe Tones)
3: Sean McAllister (Clondegad)
4: Conor Kearney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
7: Luke Pyne (Éire Óg)
6: Odhran Cunningham (Killimer)
5: Josh Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
8: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
9: Eanna Rouine (Ennistymon
10: Padraic O’Dwyer (St Breckan’s)
11: Sean McMahon (Banner)
12: Darren Keane (Lissycasey)
15: Tom Curran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
14: Daire Culligan (Lissycasey)
13: Conor Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks)
Subs
17: Michael Kelly (Lissycasey) for Pyne (HT, inj)
23: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for O’Dwyer (48)
20: Cathal Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Fennell (51)
24: Colm Meaney (Clondegad) for McMahon (54)
18: Caoimhin O’Donovan (Corofin) for Culligan (57)
Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick)
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