Kerry romped to back-to-back All-Ireland minor football crowns in a most one-sided curtain-raiser at Croke Park this afternoon.

The county's 13th minor title was safe and secure long before the final whistle, Kerry’s first-half display providing the platform for this 20-point hammering.

In front by 10-points at the break, the game was ended as a contest when Michel Foley fisted to the net Kerry’s third goal on 39 minutes. Matters went from very bad to much worse for Tipperary on 43 minutes, Conor Geaney nailing his second penalty.

The final quarter was nothing more than a procession, Geaney and subs James Duggan and Stephen O’Sullivan swelling the winners tally.

In truth, Kerry had one hand on the Tom Markham Cup by half-time - ahead by 2-8 to 0-4. The first of Kerry’s two green flags arrived on 19 minutes, Seán O’Shea instigating the score when breaking onto Mark O’Connor’s delivery. The centre-forward threw possession inside to the onrushing Conor Geaney and the corner-forward drilled the ball beyond ‘keeper Charlie Manton.

The opening goal of this minor final moved the reigning champions 1-5 to 0-2 in front and the gap was further stretched when Kerry struck 1-1 in the ensuing four minutes.

Brandon Barrett split the posts in finishing yet another sweeping Kerry attack and referee David Gough was left with no option but to award a Kerry penalty when Tommy Lowry pushed Geaney to the floor on 23 minutes. The Dingle forward dusted himself down to dispatch the spot kick; 2-6 to 0-2 now read the scoreline.

Jack O’Connor’s side finished the half with six different scores, Mark O’Connor’s dominance at midfield providing the platform for their dominance. Tipperary, on the other hand, went the first 14 minutes without opening their account and finished the half with just two scorers, centre-forward Alan Tynan hitting three of their four points. Tynan would finish the final as Tipperary's sole forward to find the target over the hour.

Scorers for Kerry: C Geaney (3-4, 2-0 pen, 0-1 free); M Foley (1-0); S O’Shea (0-1 free), J Duggan (0-2 each), B Ó Seanacháin, M O’Connor, JM Foley, S O’Sullivan, B Barrett, B Sweeney (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: A Tynan (0-3); T Nolan (0-2); J Kennedy (0-1 ’45).

Kerry: B Courtney (Dr Crokes); D Brosnan (Gneeveguilla), J Foley (Ballydonoghue), T O’Sullivan (Dingle); G White (Dr Crokes), A Barry (Na Gaeil), J Morgan (Austin Stacks); M O’Connor (Dingle), JM Foley (Kilgarvan); B Ó Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue), S O’Shea (Kenmare), B Barrett (Ardfert); M Foley (Spa), B Sweeney (Listowel Emmets), C Geaney (Dingle).

Subs: S O’Sullivan (Templenoe) for Barrett (40 mins), J Duggan (John Mitchels) for M Foley (46), M Breen (Beaufort) for JM Foley (46), D O’Brien (Glenflesk) for O’Sullivan (46), Dara O Shea (Kenmare) for Brosnan (52), G O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) for Morgan (52).

Tipperary: C Manton (Fethard); T Lowry (Arravale Rovers), J Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill), T Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers); E Moloney (Drom & Inch), L Fahy (Rockewell Rovers), D Owens (Moyle Rovers); J Kennedy (Clonmel Commericals), T Nolan (Drom & Inch); A Buckley (St Patrick’s), A Tynan (Inane Rovers), C English (Fr Sheehy’s); B McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney), S Quirke (Moyle Rovers), B Martin (Kilsheelan Kilcash).

Subs: R Peters (Clonmel Commericals) for English (HT), J Bergin (Drom & Inch) for Buckley (HT), M Irwin (Moyle Rovers) for Fitzgerald (44, bc), M Kehoe (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for McGrath (45), G Whelan (Ardfinnan) for Moloney (52), C Cashman (Cahir) for Martin (56).

Referee: D Gough (Meath).