ALL-IRELAND MFC SEMI-FINAL REPLAY Mayo 3-13 Kerry 1-9: SELDOM HAS a Kerry team been so outclassed and rarely has a psychologically strong Mayo team performed with such diligence and maturity than in this All-Ireland minor football semi-final replay at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, on Saturday.
Judging by this performance, manager Ray Dempsey has a strong team with a healthy appetite for work and application.
Kerry had no complaints. They were comprehensively beaten by a much hungrier Mayo who knew they had the beating of the Munster champions in the drawn game had they availed of even half their chances.
On Saturday five of the six starting forwards were on the mark and by half-time Mayo were leading 2-8 to 1-2, the Kerry goal coming six minutes before half-time, a score they desperately needed to sustain any hope of staying in the game.
The first of Mayo's three goals was superbly finished by Aidan Walsh, who picked up an inch-perfect pass inside the cover and coolly fired to the net after just four minutes.
Colm O'Shea steadied Kerry with a point immediately afterwards to add to the opening score of the game from Mike Tim O'Sullivan but Mayo were winning the breaks and adapting better to the slippery conditions.
Points in a purple patch from Raymond Geraghty, Shane Nally, Cathal Freeman (two), Aidan O'Shea (two) and Walsh (free) put Mayo seven clear before Alex Corduff pounced to score their second goal after Geraghty's attempt for a point came back off the post.
Kerry were thrown something of a lifeline when James Donoghue's sideline ball was bundled to the net by Barry John Walsh but another point from his namesake on the Mayo side had Kerry facing a nine-point deficit at the break.
Mayo's defensive qualities came to the fore in the second half.
Kerry reduced the deficit to seven at one stage but Mayo were back on top just before Kerry corner back Pádraig Reidy was dismissed on a straight red for an off-the-ball incident.
Mayo substitute Dean Gavin cracked home Mayo's third goal five minutes from time to put the issue beyond doubt.
MAYO: R Hennelly; D Dolan, K Keane, J Broderick; S McHale, E Reilly, S Nally (0-1); J Cafferty, G McDonagh; C Freeman (0-2), A O'Shea (0-1), R Geraghty (0-3), J Carney, A Walsh (1-6, five frees), A Corduff (1-0). Subs: D Gavin (1-0)for J Carney (45mins), D O'Hara for A Corduff (57 mins), B Fahey for G McDonagh (59 mins).
KERRY: B Kelly; P Reidy, B Shanahan, F Fitzgerald (0-1); J Lyne, J O'Sullivan (0-1), M Hickey; C Moriarity, W Gutherie; MT Sullivan, D Casey (0-1), C O'Shea (0-2); J. O'Donoghue, BJ Walsh (1-3), C Tobin (0-1). Subs:P Crowley for J O'Sullivan (15 mins), J Sherwood for MT O'Sullivan (24 mins), P Geaney for Sherwood (48 mins).
Referee: E Kinsella(Laois).
