Kingston’s second spell in charge starts with emphatic victory over Kerry 

Cork 1-27 Kerry 0-11

Kieran Kingston’s second coming as Cork hurling manager got off to a comfortable start as the Rebels enjoyed a routine victory over Kerry in the Co-Op SuperStores Munster HL at Mallow last night.

Cork did trail after Shane Conway opened the scoring for Kerry in the second minute but it was the only occasion that that happened and three points – two from Robbie O’Flynn and one by Shane Kingston – had them ahead.

Kerry did draw level through Shane Nolan and Conway, but from there Cork were on top, even allowing for a wastefulness that left them with 11 first-half wides. They led by 0-7 to 0-5 when Tim O’Mahony’s pass set Kingston away and he would have netted but for a superb Martin Stackpoole save to divert the ball over the bar.

From there though, Cork were in control, with Seán Twomey of Courcey Rovers sending over three superb points on the trot to open up a 0-12 to 0-6 lead. While Conway had his fourth in reply for Kerry, Cork finished the half with scores from Kingston, Ryan Walsh and O’Flynn to lead by 0-15 to 0-7 at the break.

Kerry’s Jordan Conway went close to a goal on the resumption, sending a low effort just wide, and Cork moved nine ahead through O’Flynn’s fourth before Walsh fired home a goal to leave 12 in it.

With Chris O’Leary adding three more to his tally and Damien Cahalane and Michael O’Halloran also on target, Cork eased clear and it could have been more but for a Stackpoole save from O’Halloran on 49 minutes.

Subs Darragh O’Donoghue and Michael Lenihan and Conway had late pints for Kerry to cut the gap, but Cork replacement Mark Coleman (two) and Brian Turnbull ensured they had 19 to spare by the end.

Next up for the Rebels is a trip to Dungarvan to face Waterford on Sunday, December 29.

Scorers for Cork: S Kingston 0-5 (0-1 free), R Walsh 1-2, S Twomey, C O’Leary (0-2 frees), R O’Flynn 0-4 each, M O’Halloran 0-3, B Turnbull, M Coleman (0-1 free) 0-2 each, D Cahalane 0-1.

Scorers for Kerry: S Conway 0-7 (0-4 frees), S Nolan, D Collins, G Dooley, D O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

CORK: P Collins; D Lowney, E Murphy, S O’Donoghue; C O’Leary, T O’Mahony, D Cahalane; B Hennessy, R Walsh; R O’Flynn, S Kingston, S Twomey; L Meade, M O’Halloran, B Turnbull.

Subs: M Coleman for Meade (half-time), S O’Regan for Kingston (46), C O’Callaghan for O’Donoghue (50), E Roche for O’Mahony (53), B Roche for O’Flynn (59).

KERRY: M Stackpoole; S Weir, B Murphy, E Murphy; D Shanahan, F Mackessy, T O’Connor; S Nolan, D Hunt; S Conway, D Collins, G Dooley; J Conway, M Leane, M Slattery.

Subs: P Lucid for Shanahan, M Lenihan for Nolan (both half-time), S McElligott for Slattery (52), D O'Donoghue for Conway (58), F O'Sullivan for Dooley (61).

Referee: J O’Halloran (Limerick).