It was deemed as a potential David v Goliath match-up, but Cork gave All-Ireland finalists Kerry a right scare in a sun-drenched Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney on Saturday afternoon before a late flurry of scores set up the Kingdom's 109th Munster final appearance in two weeks’ time.
In what was the first Munster championship game between Cork and Kerry in Killarney without capacity restrictions in seven years, 17,568 watched on as Cork held a one-point lead at half-time – 0-9 to 1-7 – thanks to a Paul Walsh goal after just three minutes.
Kerry, however, were given a mid-Spring boost, when, after leading for the first time with 20 minutes to go, a much-changed Kingdom side scored five of the last eight points to run out three-point winners.
The 122nd Championship meeting between the two sides, Brian Hurley top-scored for the visitors with 0-8 as Kerry’s full forward line scored 0-12 of the Kingdom’s 0-18 to ensure three-point win.
Taking full advantage of plenty of space in front of the Kerry half-back line, Cork got off to the much better of starts and were four points up - 1-1 to 0-0 – inside the opening three minutes when Walsh raised the green flag after the Kanturk man linked up with Ian Maguire and Brian O’Driscoll.
By the 10th minute Kerry were back on level terms with four points without response from Seán O’Shea, Dara Moynihan, Cillian Burke, and Tom O’Sullivan. The hosts had almost immediately responded to Cork's early goal, but Paudie Clifford could only watch on as his effort towards an open goal edged wide of the post.
However, three Brian Hurley scores in-a-row put Cork 1-4 to 0-4 ahead with 15 minutes on the clock, a lead Kerry brought back to just one by the half-time break thanks to two David Clifford scores and an effort from O’Shea without response from the Rebels.
A sign that Kerry were beginning to get a foothold on proceedings as the game went on, 1-6 of Cork’s first half return of 1-7 came in the first quarter with a 25th Matthew Taylor effort proving to be the Leesiders’ only score in the latter stages of the opening 35 minutes.
Cork had made one change to the defeat of Limerick two weeks ago as Maurice Shanley came into the full back line instead of Seán Meehan, while Kerry made seven changes to the side that overcame Galway in their final Division 1 game a month ago.
Just shy of the 45th minute mark, both sides were level for only the second time when O’Shea slotted over his fourth score of the afternoon.
Kerry took the lead for the first time in the 50th minute when none other than David Clifford himself kicked over to give Jack O’Connor’s charges a much-needed confidence boost.
From here, O’Connor’s men never really looked back and outscored Cork by five points to three in the remaining 20 minutes to secure their 76th ever Championship win over their closest rivals.
Kerry will now face the winner of Clare and Waterford in the Munster SFC on the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Tom O’Sullivan (0-03); Graham O’Sullivan (0-01), Gavin White, Seán O’Brien; Diarmuid O’Connor, Joe O’Connor; Adrian Spillane, Paudie Clifford (c), Cillian Burke (0-01); David Clifford (0-04, 1f), Seán O’Shea (0-06, 3f), Dara Moynihan (0-02)
Subs: Paul Geaney (0-1) for Burke (h-t), Stephen O’Brien for Adrian Spillane (47), Mike Breen for Seán O’Brien (63), Tony Brosnan for Moynihan (65), Barry Dan O’Sullivan for O’Connor
Cork: Christopher Kelly; Kevin Flahive, Daniel O’Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Luke Fahy, Tommy Walsh, Matty Taylor (0-01); Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Paul Walsh (1-00) Seán Powter, Brian O’Driscoll; Chris Óg Jones (0-01), Conor Corbett (0-02, 1f), Brian Hurley (c) (0-08, 4f)
Subs: Seán Meehan for Shanley (35), Ruairí Deane for Powter (45), Steven Sherlock for Jones (54), Mark Cronin for Walsh (57), Kevin O’Donovan for Walsh (61)
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
