Mike O’Halloran watched Kerry in action against Clare yesterday in Austin Stack Park…
Kerry 1-15
Clare 2-24
Kerry hurlers proved yesterday that they are almost a match for any team in the country, with a gritty display against a Clare team full of senior and under 21 All-Ireland medal holders.
There was a fear prior to the game that Clare would come and put Kerry to sword, I’m sure that was their plan, but that plan was well and truly scuttled in the first half by a great display of tenacious defending by the Kerry backs.
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Kerry lined out without Michael O’Leary, he was replaced by Padraig Boyle.
Clare were ahead within a minute with a point from Aaron Cunningham but Kerry could have crept in for a goal at the other end if Shane Nolan had expected the ball to break kindly for him.
Clare led by three points after sixteen minutes 0-7 to 0-4, the fourth Kerry point coming from Padraig Boyle from distance.
A minute later Martin Stackpoole pulled off the first of two great saves during the game.
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On thirty minutes Paddy Kelly levelled the game on ten points all with a huge point – he must have been inspired by a monster of a free from Shane Nolan previous to his point.
Clare did strike for goal when Kevin Hehir batted to the net. Jordan Conway had the final point of the half for Kerry, leaving the halftime score, Clare 1-12 Kerry 0-11.
Thomas Casey was rewarded with a point for his very hard work, the Kerry backs hassled and harried the Clare forwards presenting them with very few easy scoring chances, the backs were now being augmented by Daniel Collins.
One of the points of the game was scored by Seadna Morey who waltzed up from corner back to split the posts.
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On 22 minutes Podge Collins took advantage of a mixup in the Kerry defence and gave Martin Stackpoole no chance with a stroke to the net- Clare 2-16 Kerry 0-14 at this stage.
Almost immediately Michael Boyle drove at the Clare defence sold a few dummies and blasted to the Clare net without catching the ball.
The final score came from Shane Nolan from a free.
Kerry now travel to Limerick next Sunday to take on a Treaty county side that suffered a 21 point defeat to Cork. Given that Kerry were not that far away against Cork last Sunday, could we have a surprise on the cards in the Gaelic Grounds with Kerry making history in the Munster Hurling League?
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Clare: Andrew Fahy; Eoin Quirke, David Fitzgerald, Seadna Morey; Jason Mc Carthy, Conor Cleary, Brendan Bugler; Colm Galvin, Kevin Hehir; Cathal Malone, Padraic Collins, Aaron Cunninghan; David Reidy, Aron Shanagher, Cathal Mc Inerney. Subs: Peter Duggan for Cathal Mc Inerney, Shane Golden for Kevin Hehir, Cathal O’Connell for Cathal Malone, Shane Mc Namara for Eoin Quirke, Cian Dillon for Brendan Bugler.
Scorers: David Reidy (0-11 10F), Padraic Collins (1-03), Kevin Hehir (1-01), Cathal Mc Inerney (0-02), Aron Shangaher(0-1), Jason McCarthy (0-1), Cathal Malone (0-1) Seadna Morey (0-1), Peter Duggan ((0-2).Aaron Cunningham (0-1)
Kerry: Martin Stackpoole; Sean Weir, Rory Hogan (Billy Lyons), Bryan Murphy; John Buckley (James O’Connor), Pa Kelly, Darren Dineen; Paudie O’Connor, Thomas Casey (Fionan Horgan) Padraigh Boyle (Philip Lucid), Daniel Collins, Michael Boyle; John Egan (John Griffin), Shane Nolan, Jordan Conway.
Scorers: Shane Nolan (0-7 7F), Michael Boyle (1-1), Jordan Conway (0-1) Paudie O’Connor (0-2), Thomas Casey (0-1), Patrick Kelly (0-1) Padraig Boyle (0-1) John Egan (0-1)