Cork outclassed by Kerry in third Munster championship loss in a row

Kerry 1-16 Cork 0-8

Another defeat for Cork as they lost out to Kerry in their TG4 Munster round robin game at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday.

Despite winning the league a month or so ago, Cork didn’t win a game in the Munster championship, which sees them finish in fourth place after the round-robin series.

This means they will be a bottom seed for the All-Ireland series, starting in June.

The loss sees them having to take on the Ulster champions – not yet decided – and the runners-up in Munster.

Katie Quirke had Cork’s first chance with her effort going narrowly wide.

From the restart Kerry worked the ball up the pitch, with Leah McMahon’s effort being well saved by Caoimhe Richmond in the Cork goal.

With four minutes gone Kerry took the lead when McMahon pointed before Cork had a goal chance of their own.

Emma Cleary was put through by Abbie O’Mahony, but time Kerry had their keeper, Mary Ellen Bolger, to thank as she denied her a green flag.

With six minutes gone Cork were back on level terms when Cleary scored, before Niamh Carmody put the Kingdom back in front, to make it 0-2 to 0-1.

Aishling O’Connell set up Anna Galvin for Kerry’s third point as they were making use of the wind in their favour.

Quirke got Cork’s second score, with Niamh Ni Chonchúir replying for Kerry.

Cleary put a point between the sides, before Quirke scored her second to level it, 0-4 each.

Cork took the lead for the first time after 19 minutes when Rosie Corkery burst forward to score and when Quirke got her third, they went two to the good, 0-6 to 0-4.

With 23 minutes gone Kerry had another goal chance as Richmond denied McMahon for the second time.

Kerry finished the half strongly as they hit the final three points to go back in front by the break.

Jadyn Lucey made it a one-point game, before Ni Chonchúir had the sides level at 0-6 each.

With the last shot of the half Galvin put the Kingdom back in front, to make it 0-7 to 0-6 in the home side’s favour at half time.

Ni Chonchúir pointed just 30 seconds into the second half to increase Kerry’s lead, before Emma Costello adding another, to make it 0-9 to 0-6 after 33 minutes.

Two in a row from Siofra O’Shea increased Kerry’s lead as they were dominating play at this stage.

Danielle O’Leary added another for Kerry as they went six points in front, 0-12 to 0-6.

Any chance of a Cork comeback were gone after 45 minutes when O’Shea burst through their defence to find the back of the net to make it 1-12 to 0-6.

O’Leary added another point a minute later as with Cork yet to register a score in the second half.

Mary O’Connell scored Kerry’s 14th point as they were in total control and Cork were finding it hard to get out of their own half.

O’Shea and McMahon were among the scorers for Kerry as they ran out comprehensive winners to advance to the Munster final against Waterford.

Quirke did get two late scores for Cork but they were not more than consolation points as the Rebels had gone 36 minutes without scoring.

Scorers for Kerry: S O’Shea 1-3 (1f), D O’Leary, N Ni Chonchúir 0-3 each, L McMahon, A Galvin 0-2 each, N Carmody, J Lucey, E Costello 0-1 each.

Cork: K Quirke 0-5 (4f), E Cleary 0-2, R Corkey 0-1.

KERRY: ME Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, A Dillane; A Galvin, M O’Connell; N Carmody, N Ni Chonchúir, C Evans; J Lucey, L McMahon, S O’Shea.

Subs: E Ni Laighin for R Rahilly, D O’Leary for J Lucey (both ht), L Boyle for E Costello (53), M O’Connor for N Carmody, N Quinn for C Evans (both 58).

CORK: C Richmond; M Duggan, S Callanan, S Kelly; A Corcoran, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; R Leahy, K Redmond, E Cleary; L Hallihan, K Quirke, Á O’Sullivan.

Subs: G Murphy for M O’Callaghan (38), R O’Regan for E Cleary (46), A Ring for R Leahy (50), K O’Driscoll for K Redmond (52), E Hurley for L Hallihan (58).

Referee: David Grogan, Tipperary.