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.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
C’mon the Pool!
@Gerry Peyton: it’s a little cold to be going to the pool.. Maybe around summer time come back to me
Hooray defence has changed a little.
Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Can, Lovren, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Salah, Firmino. Subs: Karius, Klavan, Grujic, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Solanke, Sturridge.
Some good news finally.
@Hank_Scorpio: Emre Can at centre Half?
@Ronan Rafferty: at this stage I take a traffic cone over some of the centre halves.
@Ronan Rafferty: plus it’s good to see No 23 back in the defence.
Brighton to Win and Shane Duffy to score a header..
@Colin Floyd: you are a header
@Colin Floyd: threw himself to the ground for that peno, our Shane.
Come on Hendo Cano Dumo Robo Salo Gimpo Harpo Gypo and Kloppo . Majestic !
@powerfix: whatever your in to, we won’t judge.
A Brighton win here wouldnt surprise me….if they contain and mark Salah, then they should score and take the points…i’m a big fan of Chris Houghton who was very hard done by at Norwich..
And on to more important news…well done Chelsea another 3 points and the gap is closing….ish !!!!
@dannyboy: Hard done by at Newcastle too. The man gets no respect from up high but players have never had a bad word to say. Excellent football man, terrible footballing politician. Unfortunately that’s the same as every other walk of life. Big Sam, anyone?
@dannyboy: Houghton?? Wasn’t he yer man that put the ball in the back of the English net?
@dannyboy: Great prediction, you must be a real football man, Lol!
3-3 anyone ?
@powerfix: yeah maybe in 10 years