September 24, 2017 at 2:02 pm

REPORT/PHOTOS: Kerins O’Rahillys Firepower Blows East Kerry Out Of Championship

Kerins O’Rahillys 3-12

East Kerry 1-6

Gavin O’Brien turns away after scoring Kerins O’Rahillys third goal. Photo by Dermot Crean

ANOTHER fine championship performance then from Kerins O’Rahillys, but they’ll know tougher tests are ahead after their victory over East Kerry yesterday.

The Tralee side were dominant throughout this Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SFC quarter-final, but it was remarkable that the half-time scoreline was just 1-7 to 1-4 to the Blues.

The post and the crossbar saved East Kerry from being hammered by the short whistle as O’Rahillys had chance after chance to kill off the game. They made up for it in the second half.

Continued below…

Dr Crokes are obviously the team to beat again this year, but Kerins O’Rahillys — both on paper and in practice lately — can match them in terms of firepower from midfield up.

The weather was dismal at the start of the game but it didn’t matter to the Tralee side who hit the ground running scoring three points without reply from the boots of their inter-county stars Barry John Keane (2f) and Jack Savage.

They should have been further ahead on ten minutes but David Moran’s penalty hit the post and East Kerry breathed a sigh of relief.

David Moran’s penalty hits the post. Photo by Dermot Crean

This reprieve was shortlived as the Blues applied the pressure and Moran blasted a shot to the net on 19 minutes to give them a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

Paudie Clifford replied immediately with point and when Jack Sherwood scored a fine goal a minute later, East Kerry were just a point behind against the run of play.

Jack Sherwood (No.10) scores East Kerry’s goal. Photo by Dermot Crean

John Ferguson, Gavin O’Brien and Barry John Keane hit three points before half-time, while Ronan Buckley’s injury time score ensured they were within a score of the Blues going in at the break.

That was as good as it got for East Kerry as they only managed two points in the second half, with O’Rahillys hitting 2-5.

Within 10 minutes of the restart they were out of sight. After Barry John Keane and David Clifford exchanged points, Tommy Walsh showed his power to shoot to the net as he was being challenged to put his side six up after as many minutes of the half.

Tommy Walsh celebrates his second half goal. Photo by Dermot Crean

A Barry John Keane pointed free a minute later was followed by a well taken goal by Gavin O’Brien on ten minutes — 3-9 to 1-5, game over.

East Kerry attempted a comeback but the O’Rahillys defence stood firm and David Moran and Jack Savage pointed on 21 minutes and 28 minutes increased the lead.

Jeff O’Donoghue had a consolation score for East Kerry on 29 minutes only for Barry John Keane to complete the scoring in injury time.

There was a lot of interest in seeing Kerry minor sensation, David Clifford, but had a quiet game due to lack of supply and great work by the Blues defence.

David Moran was in imperious form. Photo by Dermot Crean

The Tralee side are looking very sharp and why wouldn’t they considering the wealth of talent they have.

Tommy Walsh and David Moran were both excellent, but all the Tralee players had a good day at the office on Saturday. They’re serious contenders now. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS

Scorers: Kerins O’Rahillys: Barry John Keane 0-6 (4 frees), Tommy Walsh, David Moran and Gavin O’Brien 1-1 each, Jack Savage 0-2, John Ferguson 0-1.

East Kerry: Jack Sherwood 1-0, Dara Roche 0-2 (0-1 free), Jeff O’Donoghue, Paudie Clifford, Ronan Buckley and Davis Clifford (Free) 0-1 each.

Kerins O’Rahillys team: Gary Kissane, Danny O’Sullivan, Ross O’Callaghan, Tommy Begley, Ryan Carroll, Cormac Coffey, Karl Mullins, David Moran ( 1-01), Con Barrett, Padraig Griffin, Tommy Walsh (1-01), Gavin O’Brien ( 1-01), Jack Savage ( 0-02), Barry John Keane ( 0-06), John Ferguson ( 0-01) .

Subs: Cian Sayers, Tom Hoare, David Murphy, Gearoid Savage, Shane Brosnan & Rory Molloy.