REIGNING ALL-IRELAND MFC champions Tipperary defeated Kerry, 2-9 to 0-8, in the first round of this season’s Munster championship on Saturday in Tralee.

“The first half we created 13 scoring chances and only scored two so we did not have to say too much in the dressingroom at half-time because the players knew where they were going wrong,” said Tipp manager David Power.

“We had only one survivor from last year and they had something like 10 that played in the All-Ireland so I would suggest that we are a work in progress and Tipperary is near enough the finished article,” said Kerry boss Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.

However, Tipperary’s reward for winning in Kerry against Kerry is a semi-final in Cork against Cork – who overpowered Limerick 3-13 to 0-6 at the Gaelic Grounds.

Kerry can still reach the provincial decider. They face Waterford – who lost to Clare in Ennis, 2-20 to 0-6 – in Dungarvan tomorrow (7pm), with the winners meeting Limerick next week. Clare then await in the Munster semi-final.

In Leinster, the shock of the first round was achieved by the minor footballers of Wicklow, who beat a fancied Laois side by two points, 2-5 to 1-6, at Aughrim on Saturday night.

In Newbridge, Kildare defeated Wexford 3-19 to 0-10; Louth accounted for Westmeath, 2-10 to 0-6, at Haggardstown; Meath beat Longford 1-11 to 0-11 at Pearse Park; and Dublin hammered Carlow 2-21 to 0-4 at Dr Cullen Park. On Friday, Offaly put 8-30 past Kilkenny (who replied with just a single score, a goal).

All six first round losers are still in the championship, however, with Kilkenny and Longford scheduled to meet next week, as are Wexford and Carlow.

In the second qualifying round, the winner of the Kilkenny versus Longford game will meet Laois, while Westmeath face the winners of Wexford and Carlow.