By Denis Hurley, Tralee

Kerry 1-14 Limerick 2-8

Kerry have advanced to a Munster U21 Football final with Cork, but not without a stiff test from Limerick at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.

While three points separated the sides at the end, it took injury-time points from Kerry’s Barry O’Sullivan and Jordan Kiely to break the Limerick resistance, when it seemed like late pressure from the Shannonsiders would yield an equaliser.

Having trailed by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time, Limerick forged in front as Killian Ryan goaled on the restart. Though Kerry responded with a Killian Spillane point and Tony Brosnan goal, Hugh Bourke’s fifth point was Limerick’s reply and then they hit the front again, Brian Fanning finishing to the net with a low shot from a tight angle.

Kerry were worried, but they held their composure. Captain Jack Savage levelled with a free and then two Spillane points eased them clear only for Bourke to ensure that Limerick couldn’t be shaken off.

Unfortunately for the Treatymen, though, decision-making was poor at times and the equaliser remained elusive.

In the first half, they had led 0-3 to 0-1 before a Kerry burst seemed to put them in control, 0-5 to 0-3. Kerry then endured 12 scoreless minutes as Bourke tied matters, but Savage and Spillane ensured a two-point half-time lead for the hosts and eventual victors.

Scorers for Kerry: J Savage (three frees), K Spillane 0-5 each, T Brosnan 1-1, J Kiely 0-2, B O’Sullivan 0-1.

Scorers for Limerick: H Bourke 0-6 (five frees), B Fanning 1-1, K Ryan 1-0, B Donovan 0-1.

KERRY: E O’Brien (Churchill); B Ó Beaglaíoch (An Ghaeltacht), C Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht), B Sugrue (Renard); T O’Sullivan (Dingle), A Barry (Na Gaeil), G White (Dr Crokes); B O’Sullivan (Dingle), M O’Sullivan (St Michael’s-Foilmore); B Ó Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue), M Burns (Dr Crokes), D Foran (St Senan’s); T Brosnan (Dr Crokes), K Spillane (Templenoe), J Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys).

Subs: É Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht) for Foran (42), J Foley (Ballydonoghue) for Ó Lúing (44), J Kiely (Dr Crokes) for Brosnan (45), G Horan for M O’Sullivan (51), D O’Donoghue for Sugrue (54, injured), C Geaney (Dingle) for Ó Seanacháin (58).

LIMERICK: A Ruddle (Newcastlewest); S Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), M O’Sullivan (Galtee Gaels), M Donovan (Galbally); G Brown (Na Piarsaigh), S O’Dea (Kilteely-Dromkeen), K Ryan (Mungret); T Childs (Galtee Gaels), S Murphy (Newcastlewest); B Fanning (Pallasgreen), S Cahill (Mountcollins), J English (Adare); B Donovan (Monaleen), C Sheehan (Newcastlewest), H Bourke (Adare).

Subs: S Brosnan (Newcastlewest) for English (17, injured), S Costello (Adare) for Childs (47), D Connolly (Adare) for O’Sullivan (50), K Daly (Na Piarsaigh) for Murphy (59), C Flanagan (Crecora) for S Flanagan (60).

Referee: A Kissane (Waterford).