Tipperary 2-8

Kerry 2-14

“Job done” read the end of a tweet from the Kerry GAA Twitter account on the full time whistle in Thurles. That pretty much sums up today’s exercise.

Kerry did enough to get past an ultimately disappointing Tipperary side whose challenge was snuffed out early in the second half in this Munster SFC semi-final clash in Thurles.

A crowd of over 11,000 paid in to see the All-Ireland champions set up a meeting with the old enemy in early July in Killarney – Cork put paid to Clare’s challenge winning 1-20 to 1-8 in Páirc Uí Rinn today.

Kerry did the real damage early in the second half when – after going in at the break just two points ahead – they picked off five scores without reply to put seven points between the teams by the 46th minute.

Tipp never recovered from this and poor shooting (13 wides in all), coupled with Kerry’s guile and determination, especially in their defence – ensured the home side’s exit to the qualifiers.

It had all started so well for the premier county when they struck 1-1 without reply in the first three minutes, the goal coming from full forward Michael Quinlivan.

They looked sharp and they had the beating of the Kerry men in those open exchanges prompting the home crowd to really get behind their team.

However, Kerry hit back with a fine point from Bryan Sheehan on four minutes and after trading scores, Kerry struck for a goal on 17 minutes with Barry John Keane sliding the ball past Evan Comerford in the Tipp goal.

Bryan Sheehan and Colm Cooper added two more points and when Paul Geaney scored Kerry’s second on 29 minutes to put Kerry 2-5 to 1-2 up, it looked like it would be all over by half time.

But Tipperary replied with a goal of their own a minute later, Michael Quinlivan getting a second. They added two more points before the break – to Kerry’s one – and the home crowd sensed it was all to play for with the scores 2-6 to 2-4.

Kerry though were the sharper at the start of the second half. Points from Paul Geaney and Stephen O’Brien in the first two minutes set out Kerry’s stall and further scores from Barry John Keane, Bryan Sheehan and Paul Geaney again killed the game off.

Tipp eventually got a score on 51 minutes but Kerry responded with two more and the game was up, ensuring a dead atmosphere in Semple Stadium for the final quarter.

The home side hit some awful wides but in truth, Kerry were the better side and didn’t look in danger, even before half-time.

Colm Cooper had a busy day scoring three points and James O’Donoghue came on for the last 25 minutes to cause more headaches for the Tipperary defence.

A good run out for Kerry then, but Cork are sure to provide a sterner test on July 5.

Teams and scorers:

TIPPERARY: E Comerford; P Codd, C McDonald, R Kiely; S Kennedy, P Acheson, A Campbell; S O’Brien, G Hannigan; C O’Riordan (0-1), P Austin, G Mulhaire (0-1); C Sweeney (0-2f), M Quinlivan (2-0), B Fox (0-1). Subs: J Lonergan (0-1) for Kiely (31), B Grogan (0-1f) for Hannigan (h.t.), K O’Halloran (0-1 ’45’) for Austin (54), L Casey for Fox (65), B Mulvihill for Sweeney (65), A Morrissey for Kennedy (70).

KERRY: B Kealy; M Ó’Sé, M Griffin, S Enright; J Lyne, P Crowley, K Young; A Maher (0-1), B Sheehan (0-5 3f); M Geaney (0-1), C Cooper (0-3 1f), J Buckley; P Geaney (1-2), K Donaghy, B.J. Keane (1-1). Subs: S O’Brien (0-1) for Buckley (33), J O’Donoghue for Keane (48), A O’Mahony for Crowley (49), D O’Sullivan for M Geaney (53), D Walsh for Sheehan (62), T Walsh for Maher (67).