Munster U20FC: Disappointing Cork fall to heavy defeat against Kerry

Kerry: 1-22 (1-3-16) 

Cork: 1-12 (1-2-8) 

Kerry proved too strong for Cork in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship at Austin Stack Park in Tralee on Monday evening.

The Kingdom were better set up and had more quality and composure than Cork to prevail in an error-strewn contest that never got going. The winners, despite being against the wind in the first half, led by five points at half-time.

Two Darragh Gough two-pointers did keep Cork just about in touch at the break, but they weren’t able to reel in their opposition in the second half.

Tomás Ó Sé’s outfit now have two wins from two games in the round-robin series.

The Rebels' chances were hampered by the absence of three key forwards, Dara Sheedy, Ed Myers and Bryan Hayes were all out injured. 

Ray O’Mahony’s side defeated Clare away from home last week and despite this defeat, Cork know if they beat Tipperary next Tuesday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm, it will be enough to book a Munster final spot.

Cork were aided by a relatively strong wind in the opening 30 minutes, but they were defensive early on. Kerry had the nous to create openings as Daniel Kirby set up Tomás Kennedy for a point after three minutes.

The Rebels did have a couple of decent attacks in the early stages, but they came to nothing before Kerry added points from Paddy Lane, Ciarán Collins and Kirby.

Cork’s first score did arrive after 10 minutes when Matthew Woods and Gough combined to lay the ball onto Danny Miskella who pointed.

The sides traded points before Ronan Carroll billowed the back of the Cork net after 16 minutes with a tidy finish. It was on the cards, 1-5 to 0-2.

Kerry kicked two of the next three points with the Rebels’ effort a beauty from corner-back Colm Clifford.

The Leesiders did cut the deficit down to a goal with a pair of two-pointers from Gough, one coming from a free, 1-7 to 0-7 with six minutes to the break. It didn’t spur on his team.

A pair of Lane points, one which was a free, gave the Kingdom a 1-9 to 0-7 lead at the interval.

Wind assisted Kerry started the new half on the front foot as they tacked on three successive points. It took Cork 10 minutes into the second half to get their first score of the half when Dylan O’Neill pointed.

Kirby landed Kerry’s first two-pointer after 42 minutes to lead 1-14 to 0-8. Lane kicked a free before adding another two-pointer as they were in cruise control.

The green and gold tacked on three points before Cork sub Luke Shorten did raise a white flag with six minutes to go, 1-20 to 0-9.

In fairness, the Rebels kept plugging away, scoring 1-3 without reply with Miskella netting a goal after 59 minutes.

Kerry sub Odhran Ferris landed Kerry’s third two-pointer to seal a 10-point victory.

The Kingdom's eight consecutive championship win over Cork at all grades. Worrying. 

Scorers for Kerry: P Lane 0-7 (0-2 f, 1 2pt), R Carroll 1-2, D Kirby 0-4 (1 2pt), E Healy 0-3, O Ferris 0-2 (1 2pt), C Collins, K Dennehy, L Evans, T Kennedy 0-1 each.

Cork: D Gough 0-5 (1 2pt, 1 2pt f), D Miskella 1-1, D O’Neill 0-3, L Shorten, G Daly, C Clifford 0-1 each.

KERRY: M Tansley (capt); M Lynch, D Stack, G Evans; A Ó Beaglaoich, D O’Connor, E Healy; E Boyle, L Evans; D Kirby, D O’Sullivan, C Collins; R Carroll, T Kennedy, P Lane.

Subs: K Dennehy for D O’Sullivan (41), J Murphy for D O’Connor (44), E Daly for C Collins (46), A Kennelly for E Healy, O Ferris for E Boyle (both 49).

CORK: B Curtin (Valley Rovers); N O’Shea (Urhan), C Molloy (Nemo Rangers, capt), C Clifford (Éire Óg); M Woods (Valley Rovers), G Daly (Mallow), S O’Leary (Kilmurry); T O’Keeffe (St Finbarr’s), C Gillespie (Aghabullogue); A O’Connell (Kilshannig), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue), B O’Connell (Ballincollig); D Gough (Clonakilty), D Miskella (Ballincollig), D O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).

Subs: D Clifford (Éire Óg) for T O’Keeffe, D Harrington (Clonakilty) for M Woods (both h-t), L Shorten (Tadhg MacCarthaigh) for A O’Connell (45), O Foley (Bishopstown) for B O’Connell (52), G Kearney (Kinsale) for D Gough (58).

Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare).