A five-point salvo from young Dr Crokes sharpshooter Ben Kelliher gave Kerry the edge that led to a two-point victory over Cavan in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship quarter-final at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise this Saturday.
It wasn’t easy for Wayne Quillinan’s side who struggled to hit anything near top form but they had just about enough firepower to see off the stubborn Cavan side.
Despite having the advantage of a strong breeze, Kerry had just a solitary point surplus at half-time but they upped their game considerably on the restart to give them confidence, despite a Cavan goal from Matthew Duffy.
With Kelliher impressing at corner forward and Gearóid White making quite an impact, Kerry moved five points clear, 0-13 to 1-5, in the final 10 minutes but Cavan pounced for four unanswered points to set up a grandstand finish with Glenflesk’s Liam O’Brien sealing a 0-14 to 1-9 victory with a last gasp point.
Kerry scorers: B Kelliher 0-5, (0-2 frees), K Griffin 0-3, G White 0-2 (0-1 free), D Murphy 0-1, T O’Connell 0-1, P Ó Mainnín 0-1, L O’Brien 0-1.
Kerry: R Kennedy, R Sheridan, E Joy, T Ó Slatara, D Murphy, D Sargent, M Clifford, M Ó Sé, J Curtin, M O’Carroll, G White, A Tuohy, N Lacey, K Griffin, B Kelliher.
Subs: T O’Connell for Lacey; P Ó Mainnín for Griffin; L O’Brien for Kelliher; J Kissane for Tuohy; C McGibney for Clifford.
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