Walsh goals keep Kerry out of reach

Kerry 4-12 Offaly 0-9: A PERSONAL tally of 3-3 from Kerry captain Barry John Walsh eased Kerry into the semi-final in Newbridge on Saturday.

Walsh palmed home Cian Tobin's centre in the fourth minute, after Brian Connor had given Offaly an early lead from a free. Mike Tim O'Sullivan goaled three minutes later and when Barry John Keane pointed the sides were separated by eight.

Offaly staged a revival in the second quarter, with Connor hitting the target again and Robert Knight clipping over a free either side of a brace from Anton Sullivan. Walsh's 20th-minute rocket was spilled over the goalline by Shane Nally to make it 3-6 to 0-6 at the change of ends.

Walsh landed his third goal after good work from substitutes Paul Geaney and Niall O'Shea.

KERRY: B Kelly; P Reidy, B Shanahan, F Fitzgerald; P Crowley, J Lyne, M Hickey; J O'Sullivan, W Gutherie; MT O'Sullivan (1-1), D Casey, C O'Shea (0-2, frees); BJ Keane (0-4), BJ Walsh (3-3), C Tobin (0-2). Subs: P Geaney for Tobin (54 mins), J O'Mahony for Reidy (55 mins), N O'Shea for Keane (56 mins), D Wren for Hickey (56 mins), C Moriarty for J O'Sullivan (57 mins).

OFFALY: S Nally; D Carroll, J Moloney, L Dunning; D Ryan, B Geraghty, A Murphy; B Connor (0-2, one free), P Minnock, NA Graham (0-1, free), P Rigney, G Guilfoyle; R Allen (0-2), A Sullivan (0-2), R Knight (0-2, one). Subs: K Lawlor for Guilfoyle (half-time), B Allen for Minnock inj (35 mins), D Kelly for Carroll (57 mins).

Referee: C Branagan (Down).