A Kerry team without an injured David Clifford secured their 83rd Munster SFC title and their ninth provincial title in 10 years at ease after crushing Limerick at in Killarney on Saturday afternoon.
The Kingdom overcame a spirited and battling Billy Lee’s side with 23 points to spare, but in truth the difference in class really shone through at a sun-drenched Fitzgerald Stadium in a game that was over at an early juncture with Kerry leading by nine points at half-time.
Sharper, stronger and more composed, the Kingdom took their opponents apart ruthlessly and posted the joint biggest winning margin in a Munster final — matching the 1919 provisional final when Kerry overcame Clare with 23 points to spare in Cusack Park.
A total of 11 different scores pointed for Jack O’Connor’s side who ran out eventual 23-point winners after leading by 0-12 to 0-3 at the break.
The result means Limerick’s 126-year wait for a Munster SFC title has been extended as a Kerry team entertained the 14,587 in attendance to what they hope is a sign of things to come as all six Kerry forwards scored from play within the opening 42 minutes.
The only goal of the game came in the 48th minute when Kerry worked a kick-out up the field and Paul Geaney found Adrian Spillane one-on-one with Limerick goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan.
Limerick, who were making their first Munster final appearance since 2010 and their 15th final appearance, scored just five points from play throughout a difficult afternoon for Billy Lee’s side.
Played in the shadows of the MacGillycuddy Reeks, Limerick really had a mountain to climb against far superior opposition before a ball was even kicked on Saturday afternoon and when Killian Spillane slotted over with just a minute on the clock.
Limerick had a superb chance to level terms in the fifth minute — Darragh Treacy bore down on goal after meeting an excellent defence-splitting pass from Peter Nash, but the St Kieran’s man could only watch on as the ball went wide.
Josh Ryan levelled terms three minutes later with a well-taken ‘45, but Kerry scored six of the next seven points with Iain Corbett slotting over Limerick’s only point from play in the opening 35 minutes with 20 minutes on the clock.
With the exception of a Ryan free on the half-hour mark, Jack O’Connor’s home side got eight of the next nine points to extend their lead to nine by half-time.
Limerick, who were clearly set up to try to hit Kerry on the counterattack, created a number of outside goal chances but with Josh Ryan isolated in the full-forward position, Billy Lee’s charges only managed one point from play in the opening 35 minutes. At the break both Kerry led by nine — 0-12 to 0-3 — after what can only be described as an incredibly poor and lacklustre display of football from both sides. Both sides were level on just one occasion in the opening 35 minutes when Ryan kicked over a well-taken ‘45 in the eighth minute.
After the restart, Paul Geaney further added to Kerry’s winning margin with a superb point off his left foot after just 23 seconds of play.
Kerry put the result beyond any doubt in the 48th minute when Killian Spillane slotted the ball past Donal O’Sullivan to put 17 points between the two sides.
The Kingdom extended their lead to 23 points by the final whistle with Iain Corbett, and Cian Sheehan (three points) adding to Limerick’s tally.
Kerry march on into the All-Ireland quarter-finals in four weeks’ time while Limerick await the round 2 qualifier draw with their next Championship game to take place on the weekend ending June 12th.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan (0-03); Brian Ó Beaglaoich (0-02), Tadhg Morley, Gavin White (0-01); Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Barry; Paudie Clifford (0-02), Seán O’Shea (0-6, one ‘45, one free) (capt.), Stephen O’Brien (0-01); Tony Brosnan (0-03), Paul Geaney (0-04, one mark), Killian Spillane (1-03)
Subs: David Moran for O’Connor (temp 26-28); Adrian Spillane (0-01) for O’Brien, Dylan Casey for Foley, Moran for O’Connor (all 51 mins); Micheál Burns (0-02) for Killian Spillane (53 minis); Paul Murphy for Morley (56 mins); Gavin Crowley for Ó Beaglaoich (temp 57-full time).
Limerick: Donal Ó Sullivan (joint captain); Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning, Michael Donovan, Cian Sheehan (0-03), Iain Corbett (joint captain) (0-02), Paul Maher, Darragh Treacy, Cillian Fahy, Adrian Enright, Brian Donovan, James Naughton, Peter Nash, Josh Ryan (0-02, one ‘45, one free), Hugh Bourke.
Subs: Robbie Bourke for Hugh Bourke (half time), Colm McSweeney for Nash (47), Gordon Brown (0-01) for Maher (47), Tommy Griffin for Adrian Enright (47), Robert Childs for Fanning (61)
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
