It was a good contest, despite the strong wind and uneven sod as Tralee raced 0-5 to -0-0 in front inside the first ten minutes.

The winners were on top at midfield where Cork's Eoghan O'Neill and Kerry's Andrew Keane provided plenty ammunition for their lively forwards.

Two points from Barry Moran and a point each from Sean Ormonde, Kieran Kelly and Keane had Tipperary in trouble.

However they rallied and three frees from Michael Hassett and their only effort from play, by Tipperary senior Seamus Butler, saw Tralee's lead cut.

Barry Moran with a free and a superb point from wing forward Kieran Kelly in the 20th minute gave Tralee a three point cushion and they held this until half time when they led 0-7 to 0-4.

Tralee's half back line of Aidan Healy, Mike Hally and Kieran O'Sullivan had kept them in command but their forwards were being well shackled by a tough Tipp rearguard.

The complexition of the game changed in the opening 10 minutes of the second half when Tipperary took over and were soon in front following a first minutel Hassett goal from a free and then he put his side in front with a '65'.

Big Eoghain O'Neill levelled for Tralee with a mighty free from his own half but the game was in the balance at 1-5 to 0-8.

Both sides were defending well with Abbeydorney's Aidan Healy excelling against Tipperary senior Seamus Butler.

But Tralee were not putting the scores on the board and their coach, Brian Neenan, was forced to make a change.

He introduced his trump card when Lixnaw and Kerry's precocious young marksman Micheal Conway joined the fray after being absent due to Sigerson committments.

Once he entered the fray, one sensed Tralee's players were a yard faster to the ball and were never going to lose.

In the 18th minute Tralee took a lead they were never going to relinquish easily when the towering O'Neill took a side line ball to Kieran Kelly and lofted overa fine long range effort. Hassett equalised from the puck out for Tipperary but Tralee were not to be denied.

Fitzgerald, Healy O'Sullivan and Hally refused to allow Hassett or Butler through for a goal and Barry Moran fired Tralee in front with free in the 49th minute.

Then Conway began to move with menace and when he was fouled in the 51st minute and O'Neill converted from long range.

Tipperary threatened to goal in the 57th minute but Fitzgerald somehow blocked O'Meara as he was about to pull ther trig-ger.

Tralee then attacked and Conway found Ormonde who fed Moran and he rifled the ball to the net.

Micheal Conway applied the coup the grace when he gathered the sliother near the side line 70 metres out and calmly split the uprights for a class score that closed the door on Tipperary's gallant efforts. IT Tralee: R Barry, K Hally, P Browne, E Fitzgerald, A Healy, M Hally, K O'Sullivan, E O'Neill, A Keane, J Costigan, S Ormonde, K Kelly, R O'Meara, D Walsh, B Moran. Sub: M Conway for D Walsh.

Scorers: IT Tralee: B Moran 1-4, K Kelly 0-3, E O'Neill 0-2, M Conway, S Ormonde and A Keane 0-1 each. Tipperary Institute: M Hassett 1-5, S Butler 0-1.

 

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