Underwhelming Kerry beat Clare to win Munster title

Munster SFC final: Clare 1-13 Kerry 0-23

They prevailed, as expected. They wore the look of men not overly satisfied by how they prevailed. A Munster final where they didn’t saunter or produce any sword.

Kerry measure Munster finals differently to everyone else. That’s what happens when you win 11 of the last 12. It’s not a case of winning them, it’s the state of comfort and control in reaching the finish line.

There were a brief few moments here where discomfort sprang for Jack O’Connor’s men. For two of those, they had Shane Murphy to thank. Starting his first championship game since the 2018 Super 8 defeat to Galway, goalkeeper Murphy produced two crucial saves either side of the break.

The first, from Dermot Coughlan, would have seen the sides level. Nineteen seconds into the second half, he was again at full stretch to deny midfielder Brian McNamara and deny Clare a ticket onto Kerry’s coattails.

Ikem Ugweru of Clare shoots to score his side’s goal despite the efforts of Sean O’Shea of Kerry. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Ikem Ugweru of Clare shoots to score his side’s goal despite the efforts of Sean O’Shea of Kerry. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile

For a Division 3 outfit, Clare craved the oxygen such green flags would have provided. Instead, Kerry took out a mortgage on possession and proceeded to kick five of the final’s next six points to establish a 0-16 to 0-9 lead on 43 minutes.

The lively Tony Brosnan was among the scorers here to double his total. He ended as their top-scorer from play with 0-3. Two members of the full-back line, Tom O’Sullivan and the returning Jason Foley, drove forward unnoticed and untagged to see a stroke put beside their respective names.

Clare were beginning to puff. The two league tiers separating them began to proliferate. Dara Moynihan had time to make a cup of tea when swinging over on 52 minutes. It marked the first of a four-in-a-row Kerry burst – included in this was Brosnan’s third which came from a Seán O’Shea turnover deep in his own half – to stretch the visiting advantage to nine, 0-20 to 0-11.

An Ikem Ugwueru goal on 63 minutes ensured no final quarter procession. Jack will not be pleased with the number of goal chances the opposition created. Two more were engineered in extra-time.

Kerry failed to convert either of the openings they fashioned late on, sub Barry Dan O’Sullivan palming off the crossbar. They didn’t need it. An 85th Munster crown for the Kingdom. On they go to an All-Ireland series group, containing Monaghan, Meath, and the losers of Dublin-Louth, that they will be expected to navigate as they were this.

Where competitive fare was concerned, we worried early doors.

David Clifford was fouled in the second minute by Manus Doherty for the opening of five first-half Seán O’Shea points.

Clare did not cross the opposition 45-metre until the seventh minute. Their first shot on target was not for another two minutes. Their first point from play was not until the 13th minute.

Such infrequent forays into Kingdom territory and such infrequent shooting did not bode well for a meaningful Munster decider.

The Banner approach, aside from their long kick-out strategy, was safety first. You couldn’t blame them. The first half of the corresponding fixture 12 months ago had been one long 35-minute disaster. A disaster, at the end of which, they had conceded three goals and trailed by 12. And this Clare team was far more inexperienced than the 2023 class – one-third of the starting line-up were making their Munster final debut.

The first-half gap here never grew beyond four. The first occasion the gap did stretch to four was almost exclusively the gift of Paudie Clifford.

David Clifford of Kerry kicks a point despite the efforts of Ronan Lanigan of Clare. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

David Clifford of Kerry kicks a point despite the efforts of Ronan Lanigan of Clare. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Despite Ikem Ugwueru supergluing himself to the Kerry playmaker, Paudie pinched a pair of points on 19 and 21 minutes. In between, he found time and space to laser a perfect pass into the younger brother. They’d repeat said trick on 25 minutes, the lead once more widening to four, 0-8 to 0-4.

The hosts stayed the course. Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan produced a fine smothering block on Joe O’Connor seven minutes in. Dermot Coughlan broke lines and tackles, Gavin Murray was twice fouled for converted Emmet McMahon frees.

After a Ciarán Downes free brought the difference back to three, 0-10 to 0-7, for a fourth time on 33 minutes, Clare claimed Shane Murphy’s restart for the first time in this provincial final. Jack O’Connor, who had positioned himself in the stand from the throw-in, leapt down onto the sideline.

Dermot Coughlan, at the same time, leapt through the green and gold cover. He reached the edge of the Kerry 20-metre line. He went for the glory. Murphy was equal. The play finished with Brian Ó Beaglaíoch, starting his first championship game since the ‘22 All-Ireland final, pointing at the far end to leave the interval gap at 0-11 to 0-7.

Clare close, but just never quite close enough. Never allowed too close either.

Scorers for Kerry: S O’Shea (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 ‘45); D Clifford (0-4, 0-1 free, 0-1 mark); T Brosnan (0-3); P Clifford (0-2); J Foley, T O’Sullivan, B Ó Beaglaíoch, D Moynihan, P Geaney (0-1 each).

Scorers for Clare: E McMahon (0-5, 0-4 frees); I Ugwueru (1-0); C Downes (0-1 free, 0-1 ‘45), A Griffin (0-2 each); D Walsh, D Coughlan, G Murray, M McInerney (0-1 each).

Kerry: S Murphy; P Murphy, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; B Ó Beaglaíoch, G White, T Morley; D O’Connor, J O’Connor; T Brosnan, P Clifford, C Burke; D Clifford, S O’Shea, D Moynihan.

Subs: M Breen for White (50 mins, temporary); P Geaney for Moynihan, S O’Brien for Burke (57); BD O’Sullivan for J O’Connor (59); D Casey for Ó Beaglaíoch (62); K Spillane for Brosnan (67).

Clare: S Ryan; R Lanigan, C Brennan, M Doherty; A Sweeney, I Ugweuru, C Rouine; D Bohannon, B McNamara; G Murray, D Coughlan, D Walsh; A Griffin, E McMahon, C Downes.

Subs: J McGann for G Murray (15-16, temporary); J McGann for G Murray (54); M Garry for Sweeney (57); C Murray for Downes (60); M McInerney for Coughlan (67); D Nagle for Ugwueru (75).

Referee: F Kelly (Longford).

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