Tipp kill off another Kerry upset

GAA: Coop Superstores Munster Hurling League Group A Round 3

Kerry 1-7

Tipperary 1-16

Report: Shane Brophy at Austin Stack Park, Tralee

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Eoghan Connolly (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Kerry: Ronan Walsh 0-4 frees; Michael Slattery 1-1; Jordan Conway, Luke Rochford 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-4 frees; Oisin O’Donoghue 1-1; Jack Leamy 0-3 (2 frees); Jake Morris, Conor Stakelum 0-2 each; Sam O’Farrell, Andrew Ormond, Josh Keller, Paddy McCormack 0-1 each.

Tipperary’s Munster Hurling League campaign ended on Sunday as their nine point victory over Kerry wasn’t enough to progress to the final.

After Waterford routed the Kingdom 6-25 to 0-6 last Wednesday, Tipperary needed a 37 point victory to usurp the Deise but that was never realistic once they arrived in Tralee where the heavens were open with the game played in heavy rain throughout and a strengthening wind throughout.

Tipp also came up against a spirited Kerry side who made nine changes from the Waterford game, and were keen to show their best against the All-Ireland champions who started with nine of the side that featured against Cork last July.

It was a strong Tipperary side, but many of whom were playing their first competitive game of the campaign as they look to blow away the cobwebs, one of those in Jake Morris was lively in the early going as they eased into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes as it appeared they would have a go at chasing the large margin of victory they needed.

However, they would only score once more in the remainder of the half, going in at half time trailing 1-4 to 0-6, Michael Slattery getting the Kerry goal on 23 minutes, intercepting a Willie Connors handpass on the 45 yard line and with no Tipp defender between there and the goal, gave Rhys Shelly no chance.

Tipp also hit seven first half wides, including three Darragh McCarthy frees, very scoreable by his standard, and he also had a penalty well saved on the cusp of half time by Conor Bohane.

The Kingdom were relishing testing themselves against the All-Ireland champions and going into the final quarter, still only trailed by one point, 0-10 to 1-6 but Oisin O’Donoghue’s 47th minute goal, created by the impactful Conor Stakelum, ended their ambition of recording another victory over Tipperary to back up their 2022 win in the same competition.

Tipp eased to a nine point victory after that with sub Jack Leamy adding three points, as he both he and O’Donoghue also missed goal chances, to go with Sam O’Farrell whose thirteenth minute effort came back off the post.

O’Farrell’s Nenagh Eire Og clubmate Josh Keller turned in another hard running display, getting on the ball and linking the play well, adding a good point in the second half.

Away from the patchy performance where Eoghan Connolly and sub Seamus Kennedy were the leading lights, the only low point of the game was centre back Brian McGrath limping out after just twelve minutes with an ankle injury.

TEAMS – Kerry: Conor Bohane (8); Kyle O’Connor (7), Sean McGrath (6), Eric Leen (6); James O’Connor (Capt 7), Jason Diggins (8), Michael Leane (6); Adam Segal (6), Kevin Goulding (7); Tom Doyle (6), Colin Walsh (7), Ronan Walsh (7); Michael Slattery (7), Liam Og O’Connor (6), Jordan Conway (6).

Subs: Dara Kearney (6) for Leen (HT); Ivan Conway (6) for O’Connor (HT); Daniel Casey (6) for J Conway (44); Cillian Litchfield (6) for R Walsh (53); Luke Rochford (7) for Slattery (55); Hugh Lenihan (6) for Segal (55); Jack Sheehan (NR) for C Walsh (59).

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris 6); Conor Martin (Cappawhite 6), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers 7); Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), Brian McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 6), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs 8); Willie Connors (Kiladangan 6), Josh Keller (Nenagh Eire Og 7); Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og, Capt 8), Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens 7), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og 7); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara 5), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs 7), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh 6).

Subs: Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s 7) for McGrath (12 inj); Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 8) for Connors (HT); Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 6) for O’Farrell (HT); Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle 7) for McCarthy (45); Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore nr) for Ormond (60).

Referee: Niall Malone (Kerry).