PHOTOS/REPORT: Kerry Minors Secure Four In A Row All-Ireland Titles

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Mike O’Halloran was at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Saturday to see the Kerry minor hurlers win an incredible four in a row of B titles…

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The Kerry minor team who won the All-Ireland B title on Saturday. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Kerry 6-17

Roscommon 1-7

One of the best Kerry minor hurling teams ever to wear the Kerry jersey, blew away the challenge presented by Roscommon in about fifteen minutes in Limerick on Saturday afternoon.

This minor team went into this final confident in their ability to overcome Roscommon, that confidence was further enhanced when Fionan MacKessy bore down on goal and slapped the sliotar to the net.

Four minutes later Kerry had a second goal from Eric Leen, from then on it was only a matter of by how much would this wonderfully balanced team win by.

Kerry minors

Tenacious defending from Kerry. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

By half time Kerry led by two goals and seven points on a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-5. Shane Conway had four points, Fionan MacKessey a goal and a point, John Buckley three points with David Egan and Colin Sheehy adding two each.

It is interesting that the scoring contribution from the Lixnaw boys was to be enough to equal Roscommon’s total for the whole hour. In fact Shane Conway would out score Roscommon by two goals.

Kerry were on top in all positions and looked comfortable from start to finish. They were clinical up front, tenacious at the back and they backed all that with pure skill and able to manage the game themselves.

Kerry minors 4

Team and supporters celebrate. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

The second half was more of the same with Shane Conway adding three goals and three points his club team mates John Buckley adding a goal and a point with Jeremy McKenna added one, (there is a debate as to whether John Buckleys shot went straight to the net or whether Ronan O Donovan got a touch to on it).

The team came to Limerick in confidence and when the game ended the celebrations were muted, with a ‘job done’ attitude to the victory.

What a pity that a team of this quality that only comes along every few years didn’t have a chance to pit their skills in the Munster championship.

Kerry:
David Sills, Billy Lyons, Michael Leen (Liam Mullins) Gerard Stackpoole (Tom Foley), Eoin Ross, Jason Diggins, Robert Collins (Jack Linehan) John Buckley 1g 4pts, Tomas O Connor, Shane Conway 3gls 7 pts, Jeremy McKenna 1pt, David Egan 2pts ( Colin Browne) Eric Leen 1gl,(Ronan Donovan) Fionan MacKessy 1gl 1 pt (Kieran O Regan) Colin Sheehy 2pts

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