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Gavin O’Connor reports from Austin Stack Park on the EirGrid U21 Munster Championship quarter-final between Kerry and Tipperary on Wednesday night…
Kerry 0-11
Tipperary 1-7
Jack Savage of Kerry is watched by Tipperary’s Colm O’Shaughnessy. Photo by Dermot Crean
A 14 man Kerry beat Tipperary to win their first game in three years at U21 level at a nippy Austin Stack Park tonight.
Jack Savage played a captain’s role by kicking eight points, two from play, to put Kerry through against a Tipperary side who did not make the most of the extra man.
Midfielder, Matthew O’Sullivan, received his marching orders 20 minutes in after picking up a yellow, then a black for two high tackles.
Tom O’Sullivan of Kerry about too be challenged by Tipperary’s Jimmy Feehan. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kerry will face Limerick next week again at home in Austin Stack Park, while on the other side of the draw Cork will head to Dungarvin to play Waterford.
A flurry of scores at the end of the second half from substitute, Barry O’Sullivan, Jack Savage and Michael Burns, put Kerry three points in front with five minutes left.
But points from Tipp men, Jack Kennedy and Josh Keane in added time, set up a nervy final few moments which Kerry just about negotiated their way out of.
Andrew Barry of Kerry in action. Photo by Dermot Crean
From the start, Tipperary played with a lot of men behind the ball making it hard for Kerry to eke out scores throughout. The Premier county’s tactics made the match a difficult spectacle for the healthy crowd of 2,636 who paid through the gates.
Just prior to the sending off, the scores were 0-3 to 0-1 to Kerry.
Tipp wasted no time making use of their numerical advantage; only two minutes after the sending off, they hit the net courtesy of midfielder, Paul Shanahan who found space inside the square and slotted the ball home neatly.
Brandon Barrett about to shoot at goal in the second-half (he was injured in the process). Photo by Dermot Crean
Things were looking dodgy for Kerry, but two superb free kicks off the hand from Jack Savage settled the ship, bringing the sides level 0-6 to 1-3 at the short whistle.
Jack O’Connor, rang the changes during the break, opting to bring in Dingle’s, Barry O’Sullivan for Greg Horan and Cillian Spillane for Tony Brosnan.
Cillian Spillane makes a break on the wing. Photo by Dermot Crean
Barry O’Sullivan, made an instant impact around the middle bringing great purpose to Kerry attacks, but a man up, Tippeary were proving tough to crack.
The sides would stay level for 15 minutes in the second half. Jack Savage, the man to end the drought and put Kerry a point in front with ten minutes left, but Ross Mulcahy instantly responded for Tipp.
Darragh Roche has a shot on goal for Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean
With eight minutes remaining, Barry O’Sullivan set Kerry on their way with a commanding point from deep. Two more points from the Kingdom followed which, despite two late points from the Premier, was enough to get them over the line.
Other good performers for Kerry were Dingle’s, Tom O’Sullivan and Micheal Burns from Dr Crokes. Both players causing the Tipp defence worry, breaking their disciplined defensive line on a number of occasions.
Jack Savage is grounded by Tipperary players. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jack O’Connor will be glad his latest tenure as U21 manager got off to winning start. Despite injuries, Jack still has a healthy squad of young talent to pick from who will no doubt be looking to improve on tonight’s performance.
Darragh Roche and Micheal Burns embrace at the final whistle. Photo by Dermot Crean
Scorers
Kerry: Jack Savage (0-8, 6f), Micheal Burns (0-2), Barry O’Sullivan (0-1)
Tipperary: Liam Casey (1-1), Jack Kennedy (0-2), Josh Keane (0-2f), Ross Mulcahy (0-1), Stephen Quirke (0-1)
Teams
Kerry
1. Eoghan O’Brien (Churchill) 2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht) 3. Cathal Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht) 4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle) 5. Brian Sugrue (Renard) 6. Andrew Barry (Na Gael) 7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes) 8. Matthew O’Sullivan (St Michaels-Foilmore) 9. Greg Horan (Austin Stacks) 10. Brandon Barrett (Ardfert) 11. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes) 12. Brian Ó Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue) 13. Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes) 14. Eanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht) 15. Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys)
Subs:
18. Killian Spillane (Templenoe) for E O Conchuir (HT)
20. Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle) for G Horan (HT)
17. Dara Roche (Glenflesk) for T Brosnan (40)
24. David Foran (St Senans) for B Barrett (41, inj)
19. Dan O’Donoghue (Spa) for B Sugrue (58)
Kerry goalkeeper Eoghan O’Brien sizes up a 45 in the second half. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tipperary
1. Jake McDonald (Clonmel Commercials) 2. Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan) 3. Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule) 4. Danny Owens (Moyle Rovers) 5. Ross Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers) 6. Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials) 7. Shane O’Connell (Golden-Kilfeacle) 8. Paul Shanahan (Upperchurch-Drombane) 9. Liam Casey (Cahir) 10. Emmet Moloney (Drom-Inch) 11. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) 12. Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle) 13. Paul Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) 14. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers) 15. Tommy Nolan (Drom-Inch)
Subs:
17. Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers) for P Shanahan (55)
18. Brendan Martin (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for T Nolan (57)
Referee: Kevin Murphy (Cork)
Jack Savage about to score a free in the second half. Photo by Dermot Crean
