Rampant Rebels dethrone Kerry
Cork 3-16
Kerry 0-12
GER McCARTHY REPORTS
CORK taught Kerry a lesson with a resounding victory in the EirGrid Munster U20 football championship final at Páirc Uí Rinn on Thursday evening.
The Rebels were deserving winners as they dethroned Kerry in emphatic fashion with three second-half goals. It's the first ttime Cork have won the Munster U20 football title and they were captained to success by Ilen Rovers' Peter O'Driscoll.
Cork led 0-10 to 0-6 at half time with their full-forward line of Mark Cronin, Cathal O’Mahony and Damien Gore superb all night and well assisted by Colm Barrett and Blake Murphy.
After Kerry’s Eddie Horan opened the scoring Cork hit back with points from Cathal O’Mahony, Damien Gore and Colm Barrett. More Cork scores followed from O’Mahony and Mark Cronin as the Rebels took control. Kerry did gain a foothold but Cork held that four-point lead at the break.
The second half saw Cork run away with this. Blake Murphy got Cork up and running with their first goal. Cathal O’Mahony, Damien Gore and Colm Barrett added points and late goals from Fionn Herlihy and Cathal O’Mahony were icing on the cake of a terrific performance.
Cork: Josh O’Keeffe; Michael O’Mahony, Maurice Shanley, Paul Ring; Gearoid O’Donovan, Sean Meehan, Peter O’Driscoll (captain); Brian Hartnett, Daniel O’Connell; Colm Barrett (0-2), Colm O’Callaghan (0-1), Mark Hodnett; Mark Cronin (0-5), Cathal O’Mahony (1-5, 1f), Damien Gore (0-2).
Subs: Blake Murphy (1-1) for Hodnett (27), Jack Murphy for O’Connell (35), Daniel O’Connell for Murphy (36, blood), Fionn Herlihy (1-0) for O’Callaghan (48), Jack Murphy for Barrett (50), Jack McCarthy for O’Donovan (59), Shane Hickey for Meehan (60).
Kerry: Brian Lonergan; Dan McCarthy, Dylan Casey, Michael Potts; Cian Gammell (0-1), Patrick Warren, Sean O’Leary (captain) (0-1); Joseph O’Connor, Barry Mahony; Seán Horan, Eddie Horan (0-3), Adam Donoghue; Fiachra Clifford (0-1), Donal O’Sullivan (0-5, 4f), Killian Falvey.
Subs: Cathal Ferriter for Falvey (22), Niall Donohue for McCarthy (34), Brian Friel for Horan (40), Chris O’Donoghue for Casey (40), Paul O’Shea (0-1) for O’Connor (46), Paul Walsh for Clifford (53).
Referee: Alan Kissane (Waterford).
