Kerry eased to their first competitive win of 2016 with this six-point victory away to Tipperary.

With 11 of last year’s All-Ireland match-day squad lining out in this McGrath Cup dead-rubber, the visitors simply carried too much panache for the home outfit – even if their football was disrupted by the unforgivingly poor playing conditions.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s charges enjoyed the backing of a strong wind in the opening half and despite holding a 0-9 to 0-3 interval advantage, the gap could have been substantially bigger but for five first-half wides.

David Moran and Tommy Walsh exerted considerable influence at midfield, keeping the supply lines open to the inside line where Barry John Keane and Alan Fitzgerald thrived; the pair kicked five first-half points between them.

Peter Acheson and Liam Casey slotted two points in quick succession at the beginning of the second-half to suggest a comeback effort was on the cards, but the likes of Paul Murphy, Keane again and sub Conor Cox ensured Tipperary never came closer than within four points of their opponents.

Scorers for Kerry: BJ Keane (0-5 0-4 frees); A Fitzgerald (0-3); C Cox (0-1 free), D Moran (0-2 ‘45’s), Philip O’Connor (0-2 each); P Murphy, J O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: B Hewitt (0-2 frees), L Casey (0-3 each); R Kiely, P Acheson, D Butler, B Fox (0-1 each).

Kerry: B Kealy; B Ó Beaglaoich, M Griffin, F Fitzgerald; P Murphy, K Young, Padraig O’Connor; D Moran, T Walsh; Philip O’Connor, J Buckley, J O’Sullivan; BJ Keane, A Fitzgerald, S O’Brien.

Subs: B Kelly for Kealy (HT), J Lyne for Walsh (45), W Guthrie for Padraig O’Connor (52), C Cox for Keane (55) T O’Sullivan for Buckley (55), P O’Sullivan for Murphy (55).

Tipperary: C Kendrick; C O’Shaughnessy, J Feehan, C McDonald; J O’Callaghan, R Kiely, S Leahy; A Maloney, N O’Donovan; B Fox, M Dunne, J Keane; P Acheson, L Casey, B Hewitt.

Subs: D Bargerie for McDonald (42 mins), D Butler for O’Callaghan (55), D Leahy for Kiely (60), S Quirke for L Casey (65).

Referee: K Murphy (Cork).

Waterford v Limerick

Meanwhile, Waterford signed off their McGrath Cup campaign with an impressive victory today over Limerick in a wet and windy Rathkeale.

Goals from Donie Breathnach and Paul Whyte were decisive in a 2-7 to 0-7 win.