Kerry 2-14 Tipperary 2-8
In the end all that’s left is a similar tale: Tipperary troubled Kerry for just over half the game and could summon up little more thereafter.
It bore similarities to their 2010 Thurles meeting but there were signs of advance, between the intensity Kerry were forced to summon and the crowd of 11,248 that forced a delay to the game’s start.
The hosts caused Kerry problems in defence, with Michael Quinlivan striking a pair of first-half goals. But Kerry still led by 2-6 to 2-4 at the break, with Barry John Keane and Paul Geaney hitting the net.
Kerry struck the first five points of the second half and the remaining 20 minutes had a processional nature to it.
Tipperary’s attacking threat was well-flagged for the Kingdom but they had no recourse early on. Colin O’Riordan’s abrasive opener was immediately followed by a Tipperary major; Michael Quinlivan’s searing support line cutting Kerry open, with the young full-forward coolly slipping the ball under Brendan Kealy.
Bryan Sheehan hit back immediately but Kerry were being outfought in all sectors. Still, Tipperary were failing to capilatise on their advantage, striking four wides inside eight minutes.
Kerry had 15 men posted inside their own 65-metre line as early as the 10th minute and they began to stifle Tipperary’s early intensity.
The key difference was that Kerry’s kicking was without a blemish until injury time. The crowning jewels came from the boot of Barry John Keane, whose 18th minute goal was assisted by the excellent Sheehan, and Colm Cooper, whose first Championship point in 21 months lifted the roof with a boisterous cheer.
Sheehan added his third point, kicking over the Tipperary blanket, before Kieran Donaghy broke a seemingly safe ball for Paul Geaney, who scored his second championship goal for Kerry; 2-5 to 1-2 after half-an-hour.
However Steven O’Brien fielded the next kick-out and the ball went through the hands to Quinlivan, who palmed in another goal.
The sides traded frees but Tipperary had the final say of the half, as substitute Jason Lonergan fisted over the final score, cutting the deficit to two.
Kerry were the sharper on the restart, stamping their authority over the breaking-ball contests. Paul Geaney’s early goal chance flew over, but it blazed a trail for four more scores, bookended by another Geaney point.
In the meantime Tipperary clocked up five wides, with Brian Fox eventually ending their scoring drought.
Kerry kept strengthening, from James O’Donoghue to Aidan O’Mahony, and Darran O’Sullivan too, their All-Star depth ensured their foot rarely left the accelerator.
Anthony Maher and Sheehan’s increasing midfield dominance was embellished by further points, while the goal Tipperary pushed for never came, although Ger Mulhaire did test Kealy with 13 minutes remaining.
Donnchadh and Tommy Walsh both got run-outs, while Cooper coaxed one final cheer from the Kerry faithful.
Teams and scorers:
Scorers for Kerry: P Geaney (1-2), B Sheehan (0-5, 2fs), BJ Keane (1-1), C Cooper (0-3, 1f), S O’Brien, M Geaney, A Maher (0-1 each).
Scorers for Tipperary: M Quinlivan (2-0), C Sweeney (0-2fs), G Mulhaire, C O’Riordan, J Lonergan, K O’Halloran (45), B Grogan (f), B Fox (0-1 each).
KERRY: B Kealy; M Ó Sé, M Griffin, S Enright; J Lyne, P Crowley, K Young; A Maher, B Sheehan; M Geaney, C Cooper, J Buckley; P Geaney, K Donaghy, BJ Keane.
Subs: A O’Mahony for Crowley (blood, 24-33), S O’Brien for Buckley (32), J O’Donoghue for Keane (47), O’Mahony for Crowley (49), D O’Sullivan for M Geaney (53), D Walsh for Sheehan (62), T Walsh for Maher (67).
TIPPERARY: E Comerford; P Codd, C McDonald, R Kiely; S Kennedy, P Acheson, A Campbell; S O’Brien, G Hannigan; C O’Riordan, P Austin, G Mulhaire; C Sweeney, M Quinlivan, B Fox.
Subs: L Casey for Hannigan (blood, 25-ht), J Lonergan for Kiely (31), B Grogan for Hannigan (ht), K O’Halloran for Austin (54), Casey for Fox and B Mulvihill for Sweeney (65), A Morrissey for Mulhaire (70).
Referee: C Branagan (Down).