‘Massive for Cork football’ — Maurice Moore hails minors after Munster final win

Cork football received a significant lift on Monday as the county’s minors captured the Electric Ireland Munster MFC title for the first time since 2022, edging Kerry 1-13 to 0-14 at Páirc Uí Rinn.

The victory, after extra time, earned through grit, composure and a surge of late courage, was hailed by coach Maurice Moore as a moment that can energise the entire football community in Cork.

The scenes at the final whistle — supporters flooding the pitch, families embracing players, and The Banks ringing around the ground — underlined the wider meaning of the win. 

For Moore, it was about far more than a trophy. 

“It’s hard to sum it up, such a creative performance by our boys,” he said post-match. 

“I suppose going into it everybody was probably saying we’d be very much favourites. We knew Kerry would come down here and absolutely give everything. 

“We did miss chances and all that and I don’t mind that because they’re taking a risk and they’re missing opportunities. But they’re putting themselves in places to go for scores and we would never change that.” 

What followed was a display of resilience that defined the game. Cork clawed their way back, forced extra time, and then found the decisive scores when the game was at its most frantic. 

“You see the crowd that was on the pitch there afterwards and what it means to Cork football, it’s massive and hopefully the seniors will have the same backing on Saturday," Moore says.

"Pure passion out there, absolute courage from our players, but the passion from the supporters was massive as well. Hopefully going forward Cork football will benefit from that.

“We were going into this not worrying about Kerry. It’s just another performance and trying to get ourselves going. Kerry hit us hard in the first 15 minutes or so but our boys responded really, really positively. 

"So I don’t think it mattered whether it was Kerry or Dublin or Tyrone, whoever it was, just as long as the boys were able to get a performance out like that.” 

Still, the Carbery Rangers clubman acknowledged the wider context in terms of Cork football. 

“There’s an awful lot of people doing an awful lot of great work inside in the county. To see all the people that were on the pitch that really care about Cork football is so, so important.

“They’ll give their left arm for anything to do with Cork football. And the support we got — if we can get that now on Saturday as well for the seniors — it would be fantastic to see a full house here for the senior game against Meath.” 

Moore also emphasised the depth of the panel, with Cork using plenty of players during the Munster campaign, which bodes well for the future.

“We’re confident in the players coming on that they’ll do the same job as the players going off," he states.

"I really do mean that, because at training, they’re hitting off each other as if it’s a championship match in the A vs B games, which is fantastic for us.” 

When the final whistle sounded, the overriding emotion was relief.

“It was relief. Look, it’s about the players. It’s about what it means to them to see all their family out there. It’s fantastic to see that. You just kind of sit back and watch it. It’s great to see it. 

"It’s a special moment for a lot of those players who have never experienced anything like that. It’s in their blood now.

“We’ve an All-Ireland quarter-final in two weeks’ time, so we’ll be looking forward to that now.” 

Moore also spoke warmly about his long-standing partnership with Cork minor manager Keith Ricken.

“We are working together now for about ten years, so he’s probably sick of me as much as I am of him. But listen, Keith and myself work very well together. 

"I know when to walk away from him, he knows when to walk away from me. And I think that’s probably the trick.

“Look, it's all about the players. The camaraderie of the players is absolutely incredible. Joe Miskella’s speech there was kind of special, wasn’t it? It was special to see that and The Banks being sung here and the crowd. To see everybody so happy on the pitch is just unreal really.”

Next is an All-Ireland quarter-final against the losers of this Friday’s Kildare and Meath Leinster final.