MUNSTER UNDER-21 FC FINAL: Kerry 0-15 Tipperary 2-7:FAVOURITES KERRY deservedly won their first Munster Under-21 title since 2002 but they had to fight all the way against a spirited Tipperary at Ardfinnan on Saturday.

Any notions Tipperary were going to be lambs to the slaughter were quickly dispelled as they dominated the early exchanges and led 1-2 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Left-half back Brian Fox scored a brilliant goal in the 10th minute and with the wind in their favour they troubled the Kingdom for the remainder of the period.

Kerry were greatly relieved to witness Paul O'Connor convert a 31st-minute point from a free to leave the sides level at the interval, 1-4 to 0-7. But Kerry paved the way for their victory by scoring four unanswered points from Paddy Curran, sub Kieran Brennan, Alan O'Sullivan and Paul O'Connor within four minutes of the restart.

Tipperary trailed by five points at the three-quarter stage but Seán Carey's spectacular 48th-minute goal reignited their challenge leaving only two points in arrears. Paul O'Connor, Tommy Walsh, Paddy Curran and Alan O'Sullivan were outstanding for Kerry while Tipperary had spirited performers in Fox, Brian Jones, Kieran McGrath and Carey.

KERRY:T Mac anTsaoir; C O'Mahoney, M Maloney, S Enright; A O'Sullivan, K Young, E. Murphy; D Moran, A O'Sullivan (0-2); K O'Leary (0-1), M Donoghue (0-2), B Looney; P Curran (0-3), T Walsh (0-1), P O'Connor (0-5), Subs; K Brennan (0-1) for Looney, J Doolan for Curran.

TIPPERARY:M O'Donnell (0-1); J Coughlan, C McDonald, D Buckley; C. Aylward, P Codd, B Fox (1-1); G Hannigan, P Donnellan; C Dillon, B Jones (0-1), K McGrath (0-1), R Ryan, S Carey (1-2), D Darcy (0-1). Subs: D Keogh for Ryan, T Dalton for Dillon.

Referee:M Condon, Waterford.