KERRY TURN UP HEAT

Magnificent Clifford way too hot for Red Hands at sunny HQ

- BY MICHAEL SCULLY

DAVID Clifford hit 1-9 and was the coolest man in Croke Park as Kerry melted Tyrone's Championship hopes and scorched their way into a 63rd All-Ireland final.

The Kingdom's 14-point blitz in 15 minutes ended Armagh's Sam Maguire defence two weeks ago - in yesterday's semifinal, it was Clifford's breathtaking second quarter score surge of 1-5 that tamed the Red Hands.

Making hay in the hot conditions, the Fossa master delivered the first two-pointer and then the first goal of a last-four encounter that tailed off in the entertainment stakes as Tyrone's scoring prowess deserted them in the second half.

For Tyrone, it was the end of the road in their bid for a remarkable treble after their minor and Under-20 All-Ireland triumphs of recent weeks, the latter coming against Kerry last week.

Darragh Canavan was the Red Hands’ danger man and his 42nd-minute point moved his side to within one of their opponents.

But then Malachy O'Rourke's side dried up in front of the Kerry goal and they failed to score again until six minutes from time and they finished with 10 wides to their rivals’ four.