All-Ireland SFC: Cork fail to make wind count in first half as Kerry ease to 11-point win

Cork: 0-20 (0-3-14) 

Kerry: 1-28 (1-7-14) 

A valiant performance from Cork, but it wasn’t enough as they once again suffered another loss to Kerry.

John Cleary’s side gave it as good as they got in this All-Ireland SFC Group 2 Round 2 encounter at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening, but they just came up against a better opponent. It’s now the Leesiders 13th loss on the trot to the Kingdom at all grades.

Cork did lead by three points at the interval albeit wind assisted, but Kerry were able to show their quality in the second half with their ability to kick two-pointers going a long way to securing the win. They were deadly accurate. 

The Rebels discipline did leave them down at important junctures too and missed goal chances including a penalty miss. 

This defeat now means that it’s make or break for Cork against Roscommon in two weeks in the final group encounter with the Rebels after losing their two group games. Only a win will extend their campaign. 

Cork were aided by a strong wind in the first half in front of an attendance of 13,072, but Kerry were composed in possession early on as they dominated the ball with Paul Geaney pointing after two minutes. A Mark Cronin close-range free did draw parity, but Kerry were the better team early on as they scored 1-1 in the space of 20 seconds, both from David Clifford. 

One which was a free and then the goal was so avoidable from Cork’s point of view as the star forward pounced on a short kickout that went wrong for the home team, 1-2 to 0-1 after six minutes.

The sides traded the next four white flags as the Leesiders were starting to get a grip on proceedings though.

A Paul Walsh two-pointer and a Brian Hurley effort left one point in it, but Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan made two brilliant saves to deny first Cronin and then Matty Taylor a goal in the space of a minute, 1-4 to 0-6.

Two of the next three points were kicked by Cork with Colm O’Callaghan’s effort the pick of the scores as the teams were deadlocked after 21 enjoyable minutes, 1-5 to 0-8.

Cork netminder Micheál Aodh Martin then denied Kerry what looked like a clear-cut goal when he spread himself well to deny Brian Ó Beaglaoich.

The Rebels went ahead for the first time after 27 minutes, a Hurley free from an acute angle curling over the bar. Kerry did briefly draw parity through Paudie Clifford, but with the wind at their backs, Cleary’s charges hit two of the next three points, 0-11 to 1-7.

A Hurley two-pointer was timely just after the hooter went as the Rebels led 0-13 to 1-7 at half-time.

Kerry were now wind assisted in this new half as both teams started it with 14 players for 10 minutes after black cards to Paul Walsh and Joe O’Connor after an altercation after the referee had blown for the break.

A Cronin free was the perfect start for Cork, but a David Clifford two-pointer and a Seán O’Shea two-point free drew the teams level after 41 minutes, 0-14 to 1-11. Kerry sub Killian Spillane did nudge his team ahead, but a Hurley two-point free gave his side the upper-hand again.

Spillane drew Kerry level before a David Clifford two-point free and then an outstanding effort from the latter gave Kerry a 1-16 to 0-16 lead after 47 minutes.

The Kingdom’s ability to kick two-pointers with the wind was crucial and an O’Shea two-point free opened up a five-point buffer for his team.

Cork discipline was leaving them down as they struggled to create chances, that man O’Shea kicking over a free and then a two-point free, 1-21 to 0-16 with 17 minutes to go.

A Cronin free was needed, the Rebels first score in 17 minutes. It was followed by a Ruairí Deane effort as his direct running caused Kerry problems when introduced.

The Kingdom did slot over two points before the Rebels were awarded a penalty after 62 minutes after O’Callaghan was fouled in the square. Cronin stepped up, but his effort was saved by Ryan in the Kerry goal and two follow up shots were blocked.

Cronin did point a free, but Kerry saw out the game in style. Tony Brosnan kicked over a two-pointer as they led 1-25 to 0-19 with three minutes remaining.

Cronin did kick his first point from play, but Kerry finished with a flourish. Tom O’Sullivan getting a two-pointer and then Dylan Geaney slotting over as they eased to an 11-point victory.

Scorers for Cork: B Hurley 0-7 (0-2 f, 1 2pt, 1 2pt f), M Cronin 0-6 (0-5 f), P Walsh 0-3 (1 2pt), C O’Callaghan 0-2, C Óg Jones, R Deane 0-1 each.

Kerry: D Clifford 1-8 (0-2 f, 1 2pt, 1 2pt f), S O’Shea 0-9 (3 2pt f, 0-3 f), P Geaney, T O’Sullivan (1 2pt), T Brosnan (1 2pt), K Spillane 0-2 each, P Clifford, D Geaney, G O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

CORK: M A Martin; S Brady, S Meehan, D O’Mahony; B O’Driscoll, M Shanley, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, S Walsh, S McDonnell; M Cronin, B Hurley (c), C Óg Jones.

Subs: S Powter for S Meehan (43), R Deane for S McDonnell (50), C O’Mahony for B Hurley (60), L Fahy for M Taylor (65), E McSweeney for P Walsh (66).

KERRY: S Ryan; D Casey, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; B Ó Beaglaoich, M Breen, G White (c); J O’Connor, B D O’Sullivan; G O’Sullivan, P Clifford, S O’Shea; D Clifford, P Geaney, M Burns.

Subs: M O’Shea for B D O’Sullivan (22, inj), D Geaney for P Clifford (31), K Spillane for P Geaney (h-t), T Brosnan for M Burns (59), T Morley for B Ó Beaglaoich (65).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).