Kerry edged their McGrath Cup Group A clash against Clare 0-16 to 0-14 on Tuesday night, holding off a strong second-half showing from the Banner in Clarecastle.
Jack O’Connor started three of last summer’s All-Ireland final-winning team: Jason Foley, Mike Breen and Seán O’Brien.
They were 0-12 to 0-05 ahead by half-time thanks to scores from Tomás Kennedy (0-04), Cian O’Grady (0-03), Thomas O’Donnell (0-02), Gearóid Hassett, Daniel Kirby and Charlie Keating (0-01 each).
However led by Cian O’Grady and Eoin Cleary, Clare started to eat into the deficit. They got back to within three points before Sean Broderick (’45’) and Darragh O’Connor gave Kerry a bit more breathing space, and they were able to see it out even after Dermot Coughlan nailed a late two-pointer.
Seán McDonnell of Cork goes on the attack at Cappawhite GAA club
In Group B Cork hammered Tipperary 1-26 to 0-10 in Cappawhite.
The Rebels made a lightning start, Ruairí Deane fisting to the net to finish off a sweeping move just three minutes in. That put Cork 1-03 to no score ahead and they didn’t let up.
By half-time they led 1-11 to 0-04, the points continuing to rain in during a lopsided contest.
Sean McDonnell (0-06), Deane (1-01), Mark Cronin (0-04), Colm O’Callaghan (0-03), Cathail O’Mahony, Rory Maguire, Brian Jurley (0-02 each), Seán Walsh, Luke Murphy, Steven Sherlock, Matthew Taylor, Denis O’Connor and Conor Cahalane (0-01 each) did the scoring for Cork.