IT Tralee 4-12

Kerry 0-16

Conor Keane scored 2-5 as IT Tralee took Kerry's scalp in their McGrath Cup quarter-final meeting at Austin Stack Park.

Despite fielding not a single member of last September's All-Ireland winning team, 800 spectators turned up to see how an experimental Kingdom side - managed for the day by U21 boss Darragh O Se - would fare against the students, whose selection included no fewer than 13 Kerry men. Tommy Walsh failed to make an appearance for Kerry who faded out of the game in the final quarter after leading by 0-13 to 1-6 10 minutes into the second half.

Keane's first goal in the 15th minute gave IT Tralee the lead for the first time, but Kerry responded with points from Gavan O'Grady, James Crean, Kevin McCarthy and Colin McGillicuddy to move into a 0-8 to 1-4 lead.

But scores from Denis McElligott and Ciaran O'Connell gave Noel Kennelly's students a slender advantage, 1-6 to 0-8, at the interval.

The Kingdom looked set for victory when they surged four points clear early in the second half, but the game turned in IT Tralee's favour when Keane netted a 45th minute penalty. Sub Padraig O'Shea added a third goal four minutes later to make it 3-8 to 0-13 before Limerick's Peter Nash wrapped up the win with a fourth major late on.

IT Tralee - S Kenny; M Egan, G Crowley, J Lyne; D McElligott (0-1), C Horan, C Cromwell (0-1); A Duggan, G Bastible; C O'Connell (0-1), C Keane (2-5, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), P Quille; G O'Shea, P Nash (1-0), J Savage (0-3, 1f). Subs: P O'Shea (1-1) for P Quille, S Flynn for M Egan, A Moriarty for J Savage, J Brennan for D McElligott, C O'Brien for C O'Connell.

Kerry - S Murphy; S T Dillon, C O Beaglaoich, D Maher; P McMahon, T Morley, S O'Connor; C McGillycuddy (0-1), J Barry; A Barry (0-1), J Crean (0-2, 1f), G Sayers (0-2); K McCarthy (0-1), G O'Grady (0-3, 2f), T O'Sullivan (0-1). Subs: B O Beaglaoich for D Maher, P Kennelly (0-2) for J Crean, L Carey (0-1) for C O Beaglaoich, K Spillane (0-1f) for A Barry, M Burns (0-1) for K McCarthy, C Coffey for S O'Connor.

Referee - M Collins.

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