Kerry minors cut loose in second half to book Munster Final place
Kerry secured safe passage to the Munster MFC Final, after a controlled second-half showing got the better of Clare in Quilty on Monday evening. Gearóid White led the charge with two of three second-half goals.
Like in their tie with Cork, Kerry showed inaccuracy playing against the stiff wind in the first half, but the Kerry machine got going in the second and showcased their quality in front of the posts.
Kerry began brighter, with David Sargent and Tadhg O'Connell splitting the posts inside five minutes. Donncha O'Dwyer opened Clare's account with a powerful run and tidy finish in the fifth minute, while Kerry edged ahead again through Kevin Griffin.
Clare battled right back, Conor Burke raised the white flag, while Liam Casey soon levelled, and a brought-forward free allowed Burke to put Clare ahead for the first time after 20 minutes.
The turning point came on 22 minutes when Gareth Murphy rattled the net after a high ball in by Ruben Fallon. Scores from Gearóid White and Mark O'Carroll helped cut the gap, but further Kerry inaccuracy and a lovely score by Cathal McNamara left it 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.
Whatever was said at the break fired Kerry into gear. Within two minutes, White gathered a long ball inside, his fisted attempt at a point was collected by Ben Kelliher, who fisted it back to the John Mitchels man and he made no mistake to rattle the net.
It was all one-way traffic from here. Kevin Griffin fired the another goal in the 35th minute, just after he raised the white flag to put Kerry back into the lead. By the end of the third quarter Kerry moved 2-11 to 1-5 clear, with White, Kellier and Nick Lacey all adding points.
Clare ended their second-half drought in the 51st minute as Burke raced through to score a nice point. Kerry kept the board ticking at the other end, capped off by White grabbing his second goal with a finish to the top corner.
Scorers for Clare: G Murphy (1-0); C Burke (0-3, 1f); D O'Dwyer, L Casey, C McNamara (0-1 each)
Scorers for Kerry: G White (2-2, 2f); K Griffin (1-2); B Kelliher (3fs), N Lacey (tp) (0-3 each); P Ó Mainnín (0-2); D Sargent, T O'Connell, M O'Carroll, D Murphy (0-1 each)
CLARE: O Tierney (Corofin); C Corry (Cooraclare), A O'Connell (Éire Óg Inis), J Rafferty (St Joseph's Doora Barefield); E Murphy (Cooraclare), S Cahill (Kilmurry/Ibrickane), A Daly (Kilmurry/Ibrickane); D O'Dwyer (St Breckan's), R Fallon (Kilmurry/Ibrickane); R O'Neill (St Breckan's), C Burke (Kilmurry/Ibrickane), D Lyne (Éire Óg Inis); G Murphy (Cratloe), L Casey (Kildysart), C McNamara (St Breckan's)
Subs: A Kelly (Cratloe) for R O'Neill (42), L Keane (Lissycasey) for C McNamara (50), J O'Loughlin (Sr Breckan's) for A Daly (57), O Sherlock (Cratloe) for L Casey, S McMahon (St Joseph's Doora Barefield) for R Fallon (Both 60)
KERRY: R Kennedy (Kerins O'Rahillys); R Sheridan (Duagh), E Joy (Ballymacelligott), T Ó Slatara (Churchill) ; D Murphy (Listry), D Sargent (John Mitchels), M Clifford (Firies); M Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), J Curtin (Ballyduff); M O'Carroll (Dr Crokes), G White (John Mitchels), A Tuohy (Austin Stacks); B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), K Griffin (St Michael's Foilmore), T O'Connell (Tarbert).
Subs: N Lacey (Kerins O'Rahillys) for T O'Connell (40), P Ó Mainnín (Lispole) for K Griffin (48), L O'Brien (Glenflesk) for B Kelliher, J Kissane (Moyvane) for M Ó Sé (Both 54), T O'Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for A Tuohy (55)
Referee: C Murphy (Cork).
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