Juniors lose out to superior Kerry

Kerry  3-17

Clare  3-7

FOR 40 minutes of the Munster Junior Football final at Hennessy Park in Miltown on Wednesday, a Clare victory looked a distinct possibility.

Then, in a matter of a few minutes, it all changed. In a 10-minute spell from the 37th minute, Kerry hit 2-4 without reply to go 10 points clear. To make matters worse for the home side, they had Darren Hickey sent off as the end of the third quarter approached and matters went steadily downhill after that.
There were strong hopes in the lead-up to the tie that Clare could end an 87-year wait and bring the provincial title to the county for the first time since their only success in 1925.
These hopes were reinforced during the first half when Clare, despite wasting some good possession, outscored the visitors in front of an attendance of 1,913.
Bright sunshine and a light breeze greeted the attendance at the well-appointed Miltown venue, where there was a carnival atmosphere. The famed Tulla Pipe Band entertained the fans and led the teams in the pre-match parade.
Kerry made the livelier start and should have scored in the first minute but Conor Cox was wide from a 13m free. Mike O’Donoghue put them in front in the third minute and Niall O’Mahoney doubled their advantage five minutes later.
Clare got off the mark in the 10th minute when Killian Malone converted a 13m free, following a foul on Noel Downes, who levelled a minute later with a good finish. Downes struck again in the 12th minute when he found the net.
By the end of the first quarter, it was 1-4 to 0-3 in the home side’s favour. With Kerry winning a lot of ball around midfield, they pulled back two points, before a good Clare move ended with a Killian Malone-goal in the 21st minute.
Clare had chances to extend their lead in the next few minutes but failed to convert these and with half-time approaching, Kerry hit back. A Niall O’Shea break ended with a Paul O’Donoghue goal three minutes from half-time. Conor Cox from a free and Mike O’Donoghue followed with points and the teams were level with a minute of normal time remaining.
Clare did most of the attacking in the remaining time, forcing two 45s, one of which was converted by Paudge McMahon to leave his side ahead by the minimum at the break when the score was 2-5 to 1-7.
David O’Callaghan, who played some national league games with the Kerry senior side this year, proved a thorn in the Clare side’s defence all evening and he levelled matters early in the second half.
Clare hit back with a Paul Reidy point but Kerry were level again a minute later. Conor Cox put them back in front and from then on they never looked back.
Two more from Cox followed, putting the visitors three clear at 1-12 to 2-6. Hickey’s sending off followed and the Clare challenge petered out.
Two David O’Callaghan goals in the space of a minute left Clare 10 points adrift with 13 minutes still to play. The visitors’ lead could have been far greater but for good goalkeeping by Pierce De Loughrey and some poor finishing.
Clare had the final score of the game when David Ryan had their third goal a minute from the end of normal time. However, it came much too late to prevent the visitors from capturing yet another Munster title.
Paul O’Connor worked tirelessly for Clare at centre-back throughout on an evening when Pierce De Loughrey, Ogie Murphy and Paul Reidy got through some good work.
Incidentally, a member of the victorious Kerry team, wing-back Michael Brennan, is the son of former Sixmilebridge and Clare hurler John, who is a detective garda based in Tralee.

Kerry: Sean Óg O’Ciardubhain; Kieran Quirke, Pat Corridan, Kevin O’Dwyer; Michael Brennan, Jack Sherwood, Marcus Mangan; Andrew Garnett, Alan O’Sullivan; Niall O’Mahony, Niall O’Sé, Paul O’Donoghue; David O’Callaghan, Mike O’Donoghue, Conor Cox.
Subs: Jason Hickson for Cox, Brendan Poff for O’Mahony, Brendan O’Mahoney for Quirke, Niall Fitzgerald for Mangan and Edmund Walsh for Garnett.
Scorers: David O’Callaghan (2-2), Mike O’Donoghue (0-6), Conor Cox (0-5), Paul O’Donoghue (1-2), Niall O’Mahoney and Niall O’Sé (0-1 each).
Clare: Pierce De Loughrey (Cratloe); Enda Ralph (Ennistymon), Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane, capt), Darren Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy (Cratloe), Paul O’Connor (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Stephen Tierney (St Breckan’s); Keith King (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Conor Ryan (Cratloe); Ian McInerney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Paul Reidy (Kilmihil), Seanie Malone (Miltown St Joseph’s); Paudge McMahon (Clondegad), Noel Downes (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Killian Malone (Kilfenora).
Subs: Evan Talty (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for Ralph (half-time), Chris Dunning (Wolfe Tones) for S Malone (35 minutes), David Ryan (Kilmihil) for P McMahon (40 minutes) and Conor Cormican (St Breckan’s) for C Ryan (45 minutes).
Scorers: Killian Malone (1-2), Noel Downes (1-1), David Ryan (1-0), Paul Reidy (0-2), Seanie Malone and Paudge McMahon (0-1 each).
Referee: Brian Tyrell, Tipperary.