The Christy Ring Cup 2011 Final: Kerry defeat Wicklow...

Kerry 2-21
Wicklow 2-08

Kerry were on top tune after a Croke Park defeat of Wicklow.

Beaten by the minimum margin in the 2010 decider, the Kingdom left nothing to chance this time around as they answered manager John Meyler's rallying cry with a resounding performance.

Five points from Darragh O'Connell and an eleventh-minute John Egan goal put the winners into a commanding 1-10 to 0-6 half-time advantage. All Kerry's forwards scored in the first half.

Andy O'Brien won a 23rd-minute penalty for the Garden County but Kerry midfielder John Griffin saved Jonathan O'Neill's low shot.

O'Connell bagged the winners' second goal within two minutes of the restart and substitute Jonathan Quirke got a Wicklow three-pointer after seeing his penalty saved before O'Neill pegged back a second consolation goal for the losers.

Kerry: B Rochford; P O'Grady, J Godley, E Fitzgerald; C Harris, J Casey, A Keane; D Dineen, J Griffin (0-1); D O'Connell (1-9), G O'Brien (0-1), M Boyle (0-1); S Nolan (0-6), M Conway (0-1), J Egan (1-1). Subs: J Flaherty (0-1) for Conway (52); L Boyle for O'Brien (64); J Fitzgerald for E Fitzgerald (69); C Harty.

Wicklow: W O'Gorman; J Connors, G Keogh, B Cuddihy; G Bermingham, L Kennedy, S Kelly; E Kearns, R Keddy (0-1); L Glynn, J O'Neill (1-4), T Doyle; E Glynn, D Hyland, A O'Brien (0-2). Subs: J Quirke (1-1) for Doyle (ht); E O'Neill for Connors (42); W Collins for Bermingham (59); J Murphy for E Glynn (65); E Dunne for Kelly (69).

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