Cork and Kerry dodge a bullet to set-up Munster U20 showdown

CORK and Kerry duly went about their business of setting up an old firm Munster U20 football final in Tralee on Monday next at 7.30.

The Rebels were comfortable 2-15 to 0-5 winners over Limerick at a blustery Ballyagran on Easter Monday while the Kingdom defeated Clare by 1-11 to 0-8 on the fringes of the Atlantic in Milltown Malbay.

Both games were moved from the established county venues of the Gaelic Grounds and Cusack Park in Ennis respectively to protect the pitches for pending hurling fixtures.

Cork rocked up to Ballyagran to find the local club’s new pitch in perfect order even if the result didn’t go Limerick’s way on the occasion of the first game on the splendid surface.

Both games were similar in that Cork and Kerry played against strong winds from the start and dominated the second periods to run out deserving winners.

“We were very happy at half-time, leading 0-6 to 0-4, after playing into a very strong wind and that was due to the work rate of the players without the ball,” said manager Bobbie O’Dwyer.

Cork then killed the tie with two goals inside six minutes on the resumption, Hugh Murphy tucking away the first inside 60 seconds before the outstanding Ryan O’Donovan converted a penalty.

“Goals win games and getting those two so early in the second-half really finished off the game.” 

Colin Walsh, one of three survivors from last year’s final success against Tipperary, was instrumental in the creation of both after switching to full-forward from the ’40 for the second-half.

“He’s a big man and hard to manage so if we can get the right ball into him, Colin will trouble most defences.” 

The Kanturk player, whose brother Alan was a big influence in the middle of the pitch, is one of those rare breeds these days…an inter-county dual player.

“He’s hurling on Wednesday and that’s why we took him off near the end.

“Colin is keen to play both and in fairness to Donal O’Mahony, the hurling manager, it’s all about minding him.

“He’s a great young fellow and we’ll do the best we can with him.

“We’re pleased to have the game behind us at this stage now and to have the benefit of a championship match.

“I was happy with the way it went generally though we could have been a bit more clinical, but overall very happy.” 

One of the interesting aspects of the 24 players on duty that none were from a city club, but O’Dwyer had a simple explanation.

“We trialled over 200 lads and I didn’t even know there were no city players involved until I was asked by a number of reporters.

“We pick the best footballers in Cork and wherever they are from I don’t care.

“The Nemo lads are either injured or not available and there are at least three Douglas players who would have been playing out there, but they are all injured.

“I don’t care where a fellow is from because if the 15 were all from the city I wouldn’t care once we have the best footballers on the field.” 

It was the same half-time score line in west Clare, the Banner holding a slender 0-6 to 0-4 advantage, hardly enough of a buffer to cushion themselves against the anticipated onslaught on the resumption.

And Kerry, managed by former player Declan O’Sullivan, went on a scoring spree of 1-6 without reply to take a stranglehold of proceedings.

The all-important goal came after 42 minutes, when Cillian Burke obliged as part of his 1-2 contribution while Dingle’s Dylan Geaney helped himself to 0-4, all bar one from play.

It should be an intriguing final. Three years ago Kerry defeated Cork twice en route to the Munster minor title, but Cork re-grouped to capture the All-Ireland after defeating Galway, who had pipped Kerry in the semi-final, in extra-time.

The counties also met at the start of the season with Kerry coming out on top in the opening game in the John Kerins Cup, which the Kingdom went on to win, overcoming Dublin in the final.

The Dubs meet Meath in the Leinster semi-final tomorrow with All-Ireland champions Offaly taking on Kildare in the other.