18/06/01: Kerry supporters at Fitzgerald Stadium yesterday could not have felt more indebted to Michael Francis Russell.
The silken skills of the Laune Rangers raider and more specifically his superbly taken second-half goal, ultimately proved the major difference in a slick-moving Munster Senior football semi-final that did not quite turn out to be the formality that had been anticipated for the All-Ireland champions.
Russell, already with three classical points under his belt, came to Kerry's rescue during moments of real crisis midway through the second half to beat Limerick goalkeeper Alan Kitson with a searing left-footed shot drilled inside the near post. The score was the one that finally crushed the exuberance of a brave and technically sound Limerick side.
Willy Kirby, one of three Kerry substitutes to be sprung from the bench as the alarm bells rang in Paudi � S�'s ears, laid on the chance for Russell with a deftlyplaced ball down the left flank.
The competitive nature of the battle was reflected in the fact that Kerry had only a mere three points to spare midway through the second half
Maurice Fitzerald was called ashore in � S�'s second-half reshuffling. The Kerry manager explained afterwards: "Maurice was after spending a week in bed with tonsillitis and he hadn't done that much training last week but the thing about it is that the game today is more than a 15man game."
"It was a great, great goal, one of those days when Mike Frank was really on fire. He was on fire from the very beginning. It was a fantastic score and up to then it was touch and go," said � S�.
Both teams carved out goal chances in the first half, during which Limerick manager Liam Kearns felt his side were losing the game. Colm Hickey must have stopped Kerry hearts when his goal-worthy shot was somehow saved by Declan O'Keeffe.
Apart from Sheehy, the entire Limerick half-back line figured in the scoring. But there was never any denying the superior skills and precision of the Kerry side when they were given the space to operate.
Seamus Moynihan, as always, produced high levels of anticipation and drive from the full-back position. Thomas � S�, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Tom O'Sullivan got many moves off the ground from the half-back line while Darragh � S� got through lots of good work in midfield. Russell, � Cinn�ide and John Crowley were never less than a consistent threat to the Limerick rearguard and Fitzgerald had three beautiful points before being replaced.
But Kerry were too often unsure of themselves, during the first half especially, in the last third of the pitch.
"The Munster final is the last thing on our minds at the minute. We first have to get back and organise ourselves and take it from there," the Kerry manager said afterwards.
KERRY: - 1 D O'Keeffe; 2 M McCarthy, 3 S Moynihan, 4 M Lyons; 5 T � S�, 6 E Fitzmaurice, 7 T O'Sullivan; 8 D � S�, 9 D Daly; 10 A MacGearailt, 11 M Firzgerald, 12 N Kennelly; 13 MF Russell, 14 D � Cinn�ide, 15 J Crowley.
LIMERICK: - 1 A Kitson; 2 T Stack, 3 D Sheedy, 4 M O'Riordan; 5 C Mullane, 6 S Lucey, 7 D Reidy; 8 J Quane, 9 J Stokes; 10 S Kelly, 11 J Murphy, 12 M Reidy; 13 M Gavin, 14 P Ahern, 15 C H ickey.
SUBSTITUTES: Kerry - D O'Dwyer for M Fitzgerald (46 mins), W Kirby for D Daly (49 mins), E Brosnan for MacGearailt (60 mins). Limerick - O Keating for Murphy (25 mins), S Lavin for O'Riordan (27 mins), N Hunt for S Kelly (62 mins), C Fitzgerald for Hickey (64 mins).
SUBS NOT USED: Kerry - D Murphy, D Quill, T Griffin, K Burns, J McGlynn, J Cahalane. Limerick - S O'Donnell, D Reidy, N O'Riordan, T McLoughlin, P Lonergan.
SCORERS: Kerry - M F Russell (1-4); J Crowley (0-3); M Fitzgerald (0-3 one free); D O'Cinn�ide (0-2), N Kennelly (0-1); W Kirby (0-1); D O'S� (01). Limerick - M Reidy (0-3, 3 frees); N Hunt (0-1); M Gavin (0-1); C Mullane (0-1); S Lucey (0-1); C Hickey (0-1); J Quane (0-1); D Sheehy (0-1).
Kerry 3-17 Tipperary 1-4
14/05/01: Tipp were beaten, pulped, destroyed, wiped out. Hard to know if it's a consolation that they can train again this week.
The stern intent of the Kerrymen was evident early on when having taken the lead through Denis O'Dwyer, they saw Tipp have the impudence to equalise through Kevin Mulryan. Majestically, Kerry swept downfield, stringing passes together like the Harlem Globetrotters. The move finished with � Cinn�ide, O'Dwyer and Crowley combining, the last named slipping the ball home with the finality of an amen.
After that it was never really in doubt and if the crowd had any sense they would have slipped home and gotten into something dry. Kerry scored the next six points as their forwards mesmerised. The bald look was taken off the scoreboard when Tipp managed two scores in the final five minutes of the half.
The opening of the second half made us sit up in our seats. Damien O'Brien, Tipp's quicksilver corner forward shook his marker free for a point. Donal Daly won a fine ball and ran with it before delivering a better one to Dara � Cinn�ide, who scored Kerry's second goal. Tipp were winded and slightly disoriented. Kerry went to work on them. Maurice Fitzgerald, elegant as ever, had the next three points as Kerry began a run of seven without reply.
As a demonstration of power it was awesome. Kerry didn't use any of the top gears, had the luxury of introducing Noel Kennelly for a couple of scores, brought Declan Quill about whom they are excited to our attention to and generally played tippy tap as they pleased for the last half hour. All the old parts were working fine.
Midfield did the work without losing concentration; Moynihan although scarcely troubled at full back still managed to be monumental, one gallop downfield making us long for his restoration to the half back line. Tom�s � S� was superb and as for the forwards, if the GAA ever launches a transfer market Kerry have them to spare.
Kerry ran in three points in injury time when Tipp could barely raise their heads off the canvas.
"But," said P�id�, "we'll have to be careful against Limerick," trying compulsively to play things down.
Kerry 3-17 D � Cinn�ide 1-2, two frees; J Crowley 1-2; M Fitzgerald 0-4, two frees; N Kennelly 1-1; MF Russell 0-3; D O Dwyer 0-2; A Mac Gearailt, D Quill, E Brosnan 0-1 each
Tipperary 1-4 S Maher 1-0; D O'Brien 0-2; K Mulryan, P Lambert 0-1 each.
Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).