Tipp upset by Kerry in Munster Hurling League

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Kerry0-17

Tipperary0-14

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary suffered their first ever defeat to Kerry in senior hurling as the Colm Bonnar era started off in poor fashion following this defeat in the Munster League quarter final in Tralee.

If the defeat wasn’t bad enough, injuries to Paddy Cadell, Darragh Carey and particularly Willie Connors who was stretchered from the field summed up the day as Tipperary were sluggish right from the word go.

With just goalkeeper Barry Hogan, and Paddy Cadell and Dan McCormack established starters, Tipperary trailed 0-9 to 0-6 at half time having played with a strong wind at their backs. They hit ten first half wides and only managed two points from play from Conor Stakelum and Robert Byrne, with debutante Sean Ryan scoring the other four from play.

A far from full strength Kerry were more committed and used the ball better with their star forward Shane Conway scoring four points while new Limerick recruit Paudie Ahern was lively with two more.

Tipp did get back within one in the second half but didn’t score from play in the second period as Kerry could afford a saved penalty from Barry Hogan from Shane Conway as they recorded a famous win.

SCORERS – Kerry: Shane Conway 0-9 (6 frees); Paudie Ahern 0-3; Fionan MacKessy, Gavin Dooley, Michael Leane, Mark Heffernan (free), Shane Nolan (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Sean Ryan 0-8 frees, Dylan Walsh 0-4 frees; Conor Stakelum, Robert Byrne 0-1 each.

TEAMS – Kerry: Louis Dee; Sean Weir, Conor O’Keeffe, Eric Leen; Micheal Leane, Fionan MacKessy, Eoin Ross; Colin Walsh, Shane Nolan; Colum Harty, Paudie Ahern, Gavin Dooley; James Sheehan, Mark Heffernan, Shane Conway.

Subs: Brian Lonergan for Harty (47); Michael O’Leary for Sheehan (50); Sean Sheehan for Dooley (70+1).

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Darragh Carey, James Quigley, Craig Morgan; Eoghan Connolly, Robert Byrne, Paddy Cadell; Dan McCormack, Sean Curran; Ger Browne, Conor Stakelum, Riain Doody; Sean Ryan, Paul Flynn, Kian O’Kelly.

Subs: Cathal Barrett for Cadell (18 inj); Declan McGrath for Carey (25 inj); Willie Connors for Doody (HT); Seamus Kennedy for Curran (53); Dylan Walsh for O’Kelly (56); Kian O’Kelly for Connors (66).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)

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