McGrath Cup final: Chris Óg Jones kicks winner as Cork defeat Kerry in Killarney

Cork: 0-16 (0-2-12) 

Kerry: 0-15 (0-2-11) 

Cork finished strongly to prevail against old rivals Kerry in an entertaining McGrath Cup final at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney on Saturday afternoon.

A sizeable crowd turned up for this decider, and they had plenty to get their teeth into.

The Rebels had a strong team out and will take a huge amount of positives from this against the reigning All-Ireland winners, who also fielded a strong side.

Cork got the last two scores late on to win the game with Chris Óg Jones getting the winner as the Rebels win in Killarney at senior level for the first time since 1995. They also claim the pre-season title for the third time on the trot.

The introduction of Brian Hurley possibly changed the game with the forward scoring 0-5, including two orange flags.

Wayward shooting did leave John Cleary’s side down in the first half as they trailed by four points at the interval. 

Cork though were the better side in the second half and on the balance of play, were probably deserving of their victory.

Attention will now turn to the start of the Allianz Division 2 Football League next weekend. Cork face Cavan on Sunday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

It was a promising start to the game from the Rebels with a Luke Fahy point after three minutes following a neat pass by Conor Cahalane.

Kerry then put two points together through Seán O’Shea (45) and an Adrian Heinrich effort before a Mark Cronin close range free drew Cork level after eight minutes.

Tony Brosnan nudged Kerry back ahead, but the Leesiders were comfortable in their surroundings and could have got a goal after 12 minutes, but Seán McDonnell’s goal-bound effort was smartly saved by Kerry netminder Shane Ryan.

O’Shea tapped over an easy free for the Kingdom before Cork spurned another goal chance after 17 minutes after Cronin failed to convert the opportunity after he pounced on a poor kick-out from Ryan.

On the other hand, Kerry were patient and clinical in their approach, O’Shea slotted over an effort and also a two-point free to give his side a 0-7 to 0-2 advantage with eight minutes to the break.

A first Cork score in 18 minutes was badly needed when Steven Sherlock pointed from a free.

The sides traded the last four scores of the first half with Cronin (free) and a beauty from Colm O’Callaghan registering Cork’s scores, 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time.

Jones reduced the deficit down to a goal three minutes into the new half. It was a slow-burner in the second half, perhaps no surprise with so many changes on both sides during the short break.

O’Callaghan tacked on his second white flag for Cork. The teams then traded points with McDonnell’s effort could have easily ended in the back of the net, 0-10 to 0-8 after 41 minutes.

A two-point free from sub Hurley drew the Rebels level in what was an encouraging period.

It was short-lived though when Brosnan raised an orange flag from long distance. The sides swapped points before the lively McDonnell left Cork just one point adrift after 55 minutes, 0-13 to 0-12.

A Hurley two-point free gave Cork the lead for the first time since the very early stages.

Kerry replied with two quick-fire points to lead 0-15 to 0-14 going into added time.

A Hurley free drew parity until Jones pointed to claim another McGrath Cup title for Cork.

Scorers for Cork: B Hurley 0-5 (2 2pt f, 0-1 f), M Cronin (0-2 f), S McDonnell, C Óg Jones, C O’Callaghan 0-2 each, S Sherlock (f), L Fahy, M Taylor 0-1 each.

Kerry: S O’Shea (0-1 f, 1 2pt f, 0-1 45) T Brosnan (1 2pt) 0-5 each, D Casey, A Heinrich, R Murphy, K Spillane, D Clifford (f) 0-1 each.

CORK: P Doyle; S Brady, J O’Driscoll, D O’Mahony (capt); B O’Driscoll, R Maguire, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, S Walsh; R Deane, S McDonnell, C Cahalane; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.

Subs: M A Martin for P Doyle, B Hurley for S Sherlock, T Walsh for J O’Driscoll, M Shanley for S Brady, P Walsh for R Deane, M Taylor for L Fahy (all h-t), S Meehan for B O’Driscoll (42), D Sheedy for C Cahalane, C Daly for M Cronin (both 43), M McSweeney for S Walsh (51).

KERRY: S Ryan; E Looney, J Foley, D Casey; A Heinrich, M Breen, T Morley (capt); J O'Connor, C Trant; D O'Sullivan, S O'Shea, D Lyne; T Brosnan, T Kennedy, D Clifford.

Subs: M Burns for D O’Sullivan, S O’Brien for C Trant, R Murphy for D Lyne, S Broderick for S Ryan (all h-t), L Smith for J O’Connor, T O’Donnell for S O’Shea, C Keating for M Breen (all 43), K Spillane for D Clifford (48), P O’Leary for S O’Brien (49-51, temp), K Evans for T Kennedy, E O’Connor for E Looney (both 54), P O’Leary for T Morley (56).

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).