Luke Crowley helps steer Kerry to 11-point win over Clare in Munster U20 football championship

The introduction of Luke Crowley at the interval, added to wind advantage on the resumption, allowed Kerry to pull away to record a comfortable eleven-point victory over Clare in this Munster U-20 FC (Phase 2) opener at an extremely blustery Quilty.

Despite four unanswered points in an improved second quarter, the Banner could never quite recover from the concession of a seventh minute goal to Kingdom wing-forward Charlie Keating, only retiring on level terms at the half-time whistle (0-5 to 1-2).

Facing an uphill battle at that juncture, considering the elements, Clare went on to be held scoreless throughout the entire second-half as, aided considerably by Crowley’s presence on the ’40, the visitors upped it a gear or two, Cormac Dillon outstanding in the inside line.

The Duagh youngster had kicked Kerry’s two points in the opening 30 minutes, and he would add five more in an ultra-dominant second half for the winners.

With captain Rob Stack thundering into the picture at midfield, and Eddie Healy prominent at wing-back, Tomás Ó Sé’s side cruised to victory.

Wing-back, and vice-captain Joshua Moloney showed huge character in continuing to take the fight to Clare’s more illustrious opponents, but with Kerry able to introduce Mercy Mounthawk star Paddy Lane, as well as Crowley off the bench, the hosts simply hadn’t the firepower to compete.

Scorers – Kerry: C Dillon 0-7 (0-3fs), C Keating 1-0, R Stack, E Healy 0-2 each, L Crowley, P Lane 0-1 each. Clare: D Keane 0-2(fs), C Fennell, T Curran, D Culligan (f) 0-1 each.

Kerry: M Tansley; R Diggin, D O’Callaghan, G Evans; E Healy, D O’Connor, C Lynch; R Stack, D Kirby; E Boyle, O Ferris, C Keating; C Dillon, T Kennedy, A Crowley. Subs: L Crowley (Boyle ht), P Lane (Crowley 42), I O’Sullivan (Ferris 42), F Murphy (Kennedy 54), A Segal (O’Callaghan 58).

Clare: C Corry; A Kelly, S McAllister, C Kearney; J Moloney, O Cunningham, L Pyne; J Vaughan, E Rouine; P O’Dwyer, S McMahon, D Keane; C Fennell, D Culligan, T Curran. Subs: M Kelly (Pyne ht), E Cahill (O’Dwyer 49), C Talty (Fennell 52), C Meaney (McMahon 54), C O’Donovan (Culligan 58).

Referee: J Hayes (Limerick).

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