Keane assures safe passage for Kilkee

Munster Club Championship SF Semi-final / St Senan's 0-14 Cahir 0-10: Kilkee booked their place in the Munster football final when they saw off the challenge of the Tipperary title holders on their home ground yesterday.

The Clare champions took the game to their opponents from the very start, with midfielder Denis Russell and wing forward Michael Keane scoring to put them two points clear after just five minutes of play.

Cahir equalised with a brace of points from corner forward Pádraig Whelan after 13 minutes and then went ahead with a point from Ger Leahy at the end of the first quarter.

Benny Hickey edged Cahir into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead after 23 minutes, but Denis Russell restored Kilkee's lead with two pointed frees coming up to half-time.

Playing the better football, the west Clare side surged into a convincing lead with points from Brendan Smith, Michael O'Shea and Michael Keane within eight minutes of the restart.

Corner forward Ger Keane then widened the gap before Benny Hickey had Cahir's first score of the second half on 43 minutes, leaving it 0-9 to 0-5.

Cahir rallied with scores from Liam Kiely and Peter Frazer, but the strong-finishing Kilkee side tightened their grip on the game with rapid scores from Michael Keane, Jimmy Larkin and substitute Derek de Loughery to lead 0-13 to 0-7 with five minutes remaining.

Cahir's fiery finish produced points from Hickey, James McGrath and Paddy O'Flaherty, but Ger Keane responded for Kilkee. They now face the Kerry champions, An Ghaeltacht, in the provincial final.

Cahir finished the game with 14 men when corner back Gavin Berry was red-carded for a foul on Michael O'Shea in the last minute.

ST SENAN'S: K Harte; B Smith (0-1), G Crotty, C Kirwan; D Garvey, D Kelly, J Enright; Denis Russell (0-3, all frees), David Russell (0-1); J Larkin (0-1), M O'Shea (0-1), M Keane (0-4, two frees); N O'Shea, B Harte, G Keane (0-2). Subs: D de Loughery (0-1) for B Harte; B McNamara for D Garvey; J Garvey for N O'Shea; K Larkin for J Larkin.

CAHIR: B Enright; D Lonergan, D O'Gorman, G Berry; R Costigan, P Frazer (0-1), P O'Flaherty (0-1); M Tarrant, G Morrison; R Hally, M Costigan, J McGrath (0-1); P Whelan (0-2, one free), B Hickey (0-3, one free), G Leahy (0-1). Subs: L Kiely (0-1) for G Morrison; J Hyland for G Leahy; J O'Gorman for R Hally; E Hally for P Frazer.

Referee: M Collins (Cork).