Kerry reeled in, but hold on for win

Kerry 1-14 IT Tralee 1-13:AN EXPERIMENTAL Kerry side led by five with six minutes to go, but IT Tralee closed the gap to one in injury-time in Tralee yesterday.

IT Tralee pointed in the 10th minute through Shane Carroll and struck for a 14th-minute goal by Michael Kiely. When Mikey Brennan added a point, Tralee led 1-2 to 0-0. Donnacha Walsh got Kerry going with a 16th-minute point and, with points from Kieran Donaghy, Niall O’Mahony and David Geaney, Kerry were level on 0-6 to 1-3, by the 27th minute.

In the 28th minute Kerry’s Paul Geaney scored a crucial goal and Kerry led 1-7 to 1-5 at half-time. When Donaghy punched them three clear, the writing looked on the wall for Tralee.

KERRY: B Kealy; P Reidy, M Moloney, S Enright; J Lyne, A O’Sullivan, Darran O’Sullivan; A Maher, D Moran; G Sayers, D Walsh (0-1), N O’Mahony (0-2); D Geaney (0-6, three frees), K Donaghy (0-2), P Geaney (1-1). Subs: S Scanlon for A OSullivan, B O’Grady (0-1) for G Sayers, M O’Donoghue (0-1) for P Geaney (all 55 mins); K Dwyer for P Reidy, C O’Mahony for Darran O’Sullivan (both 63 mins).

IT TRALEE: S Dee; E Murray, S Brosnan, M Shanahan; G O’Grady, K Hartnett, D Culloty (0-1); P O’Donoghue (0-1), G O’Driscoll (0-1); M Brennan (0-1), BJ Keane (0-3, two frees), B Poff (0-1); A O’Donoghue (0-2, one free), S Carroll, M Kiely (1-0). Subs: M Deegan for K Hartnett (34 mins); P Kelly for G O’Grady (45 mins); D Coleman (0-1) for M Kiely (47 mins); K Hartnett for E Murray (60 mins).

Referee: R Moloney (Limerick).