ALL-IRELAND UNDER-21 FC SEMI-FINALS/Kerry 1-9 Mayo 1-7:KERRY MANAGER Seán Geaney has insisted his side should not be tagged as favourites to lift the Clarke Cup despite emerging victorious over a dogged Mayo side in Nenagh on Saturday afternoon.
The Munster champions staved off a strong second-half Mayo rally in an absorbing game but Geaney believes his side will go in as underdogs against Kildare in their first decider since 1998.
"If Kildare or Down win in the other semi-final one of those teams will start as favourites, and rightly so because we haven't put our 60 minutes together this year. I just wish to God we could and we have one more game to try and do that," Geaney said.
Kerry took a four-point lead into the break after dominating the opening half, with two early points from Paddy Curran and Paul O'Connor providing them with a tonic start.
Kerry lost defender Eoin Murphy to a knee injury after nine minutes but they regrouped and, despite allowing Mayo to restore parity midway through the half, they finished it on the up.
Mayo's only points of the half came from corner-forward Pádraic O'Connor who was on target from play and from a close-range free. Kerry's Johnny Buckley rattled the net in the 25th minute and Mike O'Donoghue added a point to leave Kerry 1-3 to 0-2 ahead at the break.
Mayo faced into a strong wind for the second half but took the game right to Kerry, with Tom Parsons bisecting the uprights straight from the throw-in.
Despite Kerry responding with three unanswered points the Connacht champions, spurred on by Tom Cunniffe at centre back and midfielders Séamus O'Shea and Parsons, clawed their way back into contention, registering 1-3 in an eight-minute spell after Mikey Sweeney kick-started their resurgence with a well-taken goal in the 39th minute.
Mikey Sweeney edged Mayo in front for the first time with six minutes remaining but points from Paul O'Connor and David Moran, coupled with a fine point-saving effort from goalkeeper Tomás Mac an tSaoir, served to break Mayo hearts while full-forward Tommy Walsh sealed victory.
KERRY: T Mac an tSaoir; C O'Mahoney, M Moloney, E Murphy; A O'Sullivan, K Young (C), S Enright; D Moran (0-1), A O'Sullivan; J Buckley (1-0), M O'Donoghue (0-1), K O'Leary; P Curran (0-1), T Walsh (0-2), P O'Connor (0-4, two frees). Subs: G. Duffy for Murphy (9 mins), B Looney for O'Donoghue (48 mins), K. Brennan for Buckley (50 mins), J Doolan for O'Leary (61).
MAYO: S Nallen; D Vaughan, G Cafferkey, C English; C Barrett (C), T Cunniffe (0-1), J Burke; S O'Shea (0-1), T Parsons (0-1); T Gavin, B Gallagher, J Doherty; M Sweeney (1-1), K Sweeney, P O'Connor (0-3, one free). Subs: A Campbell for Gavin (26 mins); K. McLoughlin for English (h/t); N. Douglas for Gallagher (36 mins);
Referee: T Quigley (Dublin).
