Kerry 2-20 Sligo 0-10
EVEN though he set Kerry on their way to victory when he pointed the first score of the game, Thomas Hickey of Castleisland Desmonds was forced to leave the field injured in a relatively one-sided All-Ireland Junior Football Championship semi-final in Ennis on Saturday afternoon.
Hickey, widely acknowledged as one of the best young prospects in the game in Kerry, captained the Kerry side from his traditional corner forward berth and opened their account before having to retire in the first quarter.
In his absence, Gavan O’Grady took the scoring responsibilities and he did so with a vengeance, booting over an impressive personal tally of nine points, with just three from frees.
With Spa’s Andrew Garnett lording it around the middle, and Cordal’s Philip O’Connor winning a great deal of possession, Kerry were showing good form but Sligo had a never-day-die spirit and they were level at 0-8 each at half time.
Kerry resumed in determined mood and quickly put the game out of Sligo’s control when they clocked up 1-7 without reply during the third quarter, the goal coming from impressive substitute Dara Roche from glenflesk.
O’Grady, Roche, Jeff O’Donoghue and Knocknagoshel’s Edmund Walsh added further points before Denis Daly sealed the issue with a great goal.
Kerry will now go on to play Cavan after the latter defeated Scotland in the other semi-final in Edinburgh yesterday evening. The game is fixed for two week’s time at a venue not yet named.
