Tyrone's hopes of landing an All-Ireland title in Malachy O'Rourke's first year in charge are ended by Kerry, who win Saturday's semi-final 1-20 to 0-17 at Croke Park.
Tyrone's hopes of landing an All-Ireland title in Malachy O'Rourke's first year in charge were ended by Kerry, who comfortably won Saturday's semi-final 1-20 to 0-17 in the Croke Park heat.
In the latest chapter of an intense and storied rivalry that has delivered numerous classics down the years, David Clifford's 1-9 helped the Kingdom see off the Red Hands and push the Munster heavyweights closer to their 39th Sam Maguire.
Darragh Canavan (0-7) shone for Tyrone, but overcoming Jack O'Connor's side proved too big an ask for the four-time champions, who trailed 1-9 to 0-9 at half-time before fading after the break.
It was another impressive display from Kerry, however, who again proved too strong for Ulster opposition after beating Armagh by eight points in the quarter-finals.
Kerry, who last won the title in 2022, will face the winners of Sunday's semi-final between Donegal and Meath (16:00 BST) in the showpiece game on 27 July.
Tyrone, who count a win over Donegal in Ballybofey and an All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Dublin in their 2025 highlights, had hoped to emulate their 2021 last-four success over Kerry.
But with Paudie Clifford reinstalled to the starting line-up alongside his in-form brother, this was always going to require a herculean effort from Tyrone.
They certainly give it a good go in the first half. Attacking Kerry keeper Shane Ryan's kick-outs effectively, the Ulster side scored four unanswered points through Ciaran Daly (two), Darragh Canavan and Kieran McGeary after Seanie O'Shea's early free.
Tyrone could have scored an early goal too, but Ryan was equal to Darren McCurry's shot. O'Rourke's side kept coming forward, and often profited, with youngster Eoin McElholm - a late inclusion prior to throw-in - scoring a lovely point from play before Seanie O'Donnell's score.
But while Tyrone did well to keep O'Shea and Paudie Clifford somewhat quiet in the opening half, they could not stop the younger Clifford sibling from lighting up a sun-baked Croke Park.
The five-time All-Star delivered the biggest moment of the first half when he side-stepped Niall Morgan and rolled the ball into the net for his eighth championship goal of the year.
While Kerry consolidated that three-pointer with a Graham O'Sullivan score, they could have been out of sight by half-time had they taken two other goal chances, with Morgan thwarting the Kingdom on both occasions.
More to follow.
Category: General Sports
