EirGrid Munster U-20 Football Championship
Courtesy of GAA.ie
KERRY 1-20
CLARE 4-9
Kerry survived a huge scare against Clare to hold out for a 1-20 to 4-9 Munster U20 football semi-final victory in extra-time at Austin Stack Park.
Tomás Ó Sé’s side will meet Cork in the final after the Rebels sealed their place in a 13th consecutive Munster final at this grade with a 2-14 to 0-6 win over Limerick.
A 74th-minute goal from Keith Evans sealed Kerry’s route to the final after a slick move from one end of the field to the other.
The Kingdom won the extra-time period by 1-4 to 1-2, with Brian McNamara’s high fetch and finish in stoppage time coming too late for a final Clare comeback.
Kerry were reduced to 14 players for the final moments of normal time, with Rob Monahan, scorer of 0-5, receiving a straight red card.
It was followed by Tom Curran’s free to level the game, Clare’s third point on the trot, with Paudie O’Leary’s late block crucial in preventing a possible Banner winner.
Clare only scored twice in the first half but both were goals, from Odhrán Cunningham and Joe Rafferty, the second from another high ball in.
They led by 2-0 to 0-2 but Kerry, led by the accuracy of William Shine (0-10) and Monahan, kicked the final six points to lead by two at the break.
They moved five clear before Cunningham’s second goal set the scene for Clare’s late charge to leave it 0-16 to 3-7 at the end of normal time.
By kerrygaaeditor Mon 17th Apr
