Peter Keane said that he hoped his side warmed Kerry hearts after a tragic week in the county.
With a routine 11-point victory over Tipperary, Kerry move into the Munster final against Cork in Killarney on July 25 and while welcoming the crowds back, with 3,500 present at Semple Stadium, the Kingdom boss referenced the deaths of Kerry natives Jimmy O’Connor, Vincent Harty and Thomas Healy in recent days.
He said: “Tonight, you could hear people shouting and roaring and it was absolutely wonderful to be back and having a crowd here. You’re half hoping that there may be an even bigger crowd for a Munster final.
“No question about it, it’s been a tough week in Kerry. We were leaving the field on Tuesday night when we heard about Jimmy O’Connor, the fatal accident off the motorbike at Listry Bridge.
“Then Vincent Harty, who was a great Kerry supporter, a former Kerryman of the Year in London, and he was laid to rest yesterday.
“The funeral of Thomas Healy this morning who died in the tragic accident on Wednesday night, that’s very difficult. A young 14-year-old playing with his club Beaufort, to die so tragically.
“It’s been a tough week in Kerry and I would hope that we would have brought some bit of entertainment tonight and some bit of joy to people who were able to watch on television or listen on radio or even the people that were here.
“Because at the end of the day, it’s all about community, it’s all about people coming together. That is ultimately what the GAA is about, looking out for each other.”
Despite his side’s Munster title defence not really getting off the ground, Tipperary manager David Power commended the efforts of his players, who were on the floor after being relegated to Division Four last month.
He said: “Compared with where we were at four weeks ago I’m very, very proud of this bunch. We could have put up the white flag four weeks ago and we certainly didn’t do that. We kept the ball really well and could have put up a couple of more scores.
“Overall though I’m very proud because we didn’t have a good League campaign. It was a disaster. There’s no point saying otherwise but we have to reset and get ready for next year.”
