Kerry 1-13
Cork 1-9
Denis Hurley reports from Mallow
A GOOD KERRY start meant that they never looked like being overhauled in qualifying for the McGrath Cup final at Mallow on Sunday afternoon, with victory over Cork setting up a meeting with Kerry.
With both of these counties having beaten Tipperary, this was winner-takes-all, but a sparkling performance from the Kingdom’s full-forward Jack Savage underpinned a superior display from them.
While Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s side didn’t score in the final 12 minutes, their last point, from Barry John Keane, put them 1-13 to 0-8 in front.
Though Cork’s main scoring threat Niall Coakley would get a goal with ten minutes left – allied to five points – wastefulness in front of goal continued to be the Rebels’ undoing, as they finished with 13 wides.
The opening 15 minutes brought six unanswered Kerry points, Savage with four of them. Tadhg Morley and Jack Barry impressed at midfield for the visitors while early sub Brendan O’Sullivan also showed up well.
Though Coakley and Brian O’Driscoll got Cork off the mark, Kerry responded with a James O’Donoghue goal from a penalty after Ken O’Halloran had hauled Barry down.
Coakley did have a couple of Cork points in reply, but O’Donoghue’s third point left Kerry 1-8 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.
There was never much of an indication that the 1,505 crowd would see a comeback, though Cork did have a chance of engineering one when Kerry’s Brian Ó Beaglaioch’s foot-block on Mark Collins resulted in a penalty.
Coakley sent his shot wide and, while he did goal after that, Kerry weren’t to be denied.
Scorers for Kerry: Jack Savage 0-6 (0-1 free), James O’Donoghue 1-3 (1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Barry John Keane 0-2 (0-1 free), Tom O’Sullivan, Brendan O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Niall Coakley 1-5 (0-3 frees), Gary Murphy 0-3, Brian O’Driscoll 0-1.
Kerry
1. Brian Kelly (Legion)
2. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michael’s/Foilmore)
4. Killian Young (Renard)
5. Brian Ó Beaglaioch (An Ghaeltacht)
6. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
7. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
20. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil)
9. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
10. Jonathan Lyne (Legion)
11. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
13. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys)
14. Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys)
15. James O’Donoghue (Legion)
Subs
17. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia) for Walsh (14, injured)
18. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe) for Ó Beaglaioch (44)
21. Ronan Shanahan (Austin Stacks) for Foley (51)
23. Conor Geaney (Dingle) for O’Donoghue (61)
22. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe) for Tom O’Sullivan (62)
24. Denis Daly (St Mary’s) for Michael Geaney (69)
Cork
1. Ken O’Halloran (Bishopstown)
23. James Loughrey (Mallow)
17. Kieran Histon (Cobh)
4. John McLoughlin (Kanturk)
5. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)
6. Conor Dorman (Bishopstown)
7. Matthew Taylor (Mallow)
8. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)
9. Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues)
10. Seán Powter (Douglas)
12. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh)
11. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)
13. Niall Coakley (St Jude’s)
14. Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael)
15. Kevin Davis (O’Donovan Rossa)
Subs
21. Alan O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers) for Histon (21, injured)
24. Gary Murphy (Castletownbere) for Powter (half-time)
20. Ronan O’Toole (Éire Óg) for Maguire (49)
25. Eoin Lavers (Dohenys) for Loughrey (62)
18. Don O’Driscoll (Clann nan Gael) for Davis (60)
Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary)
******************
Elsewhere Limerick got the job done with a 0-9 to 0-6 success over Waterford at Lemybrien to ensure that they finished top of Group 2.
It was a low scoring affair with the teams tied at 0-3 apiece at the interval but Limerick upped the ante in the second half.
They were inspired by Danny Neville as he struck 0-5 after the break to push Limerick into the ascendancy and new manager Billy Lee saw his charges hold on to triumph.
The win followed up on Limerick’s success over Clare on Wednesday night and sees them top the group.
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Cooper behaving like a soccer player,what a rat,not a sending off
It was a booking, and as he was already booked, two yellows make a red!
it was a straight red,plus being pulled by the shirt would not make you roll over the floor for over 2 minutes
For clarification, it was a second yellow for the sending off and was a definite yellow.
I think you’ll find it was a second yellow. And he stayed down for treatment on his ankle, or were you watching a different game?!
Game was well up anyhow,castlehaven were poor,different story if they meet crossmaglen in the final!!!
Colm Cooper is the Messi of GAA. The most talented player to ever play the game and all the other players can do is foul him as they can’t stop him otherwise. And I am a Cork woman so even I can see he is a genius.
Well said Sandra!
The tackle in question http://www.balls.ie/gaa/gif-castlehaven-player-gets-the-line-after-unsubtle-challenge-on-colm-cooper/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gif-castlehaven-player-gets-the-line-after-unsubtle-challenge-on-colm-cooper&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.FflGxaah.dpbs
A battle to resonate through the ages …..
fame! found ourselves in the photo. go on The Crokes
watching two unbelievable teams play fast open football today, if crokes meet crossmaglen it will be some game, ok you have bridgets whom are no bad team either im not forgeting portlaois v ballymun.all good games to look forward thanks to tg4.
Just back from Cork watching match Crokes were Fantastic can’t say one player but the Crokes team a a very talented bunch.
Fair play to Sandra -A true sportswoman who recognises a football genius
Am I sensing some sarcasm there Neil!