Cork 2-13
Kerry 2-13
CORK ENDED TONIGHT’S Munster minor football championship first round clash against Kerry in Páirc Uí Rinn right where they started. On the attack.
Aidan Moynihan’s 81st minute penalty pushed the scoreboard to 2-13 apiece and ensured we’d be treated to a repeat of the contest.
Just as Kerry had dramatically cut down what looked to be Cork’s winning lead at the end of full time, Moyihan’s strike snatched victory from the grasp of the bitter rivals from the south west.
However, Cork must leave feeling they themselves passed up a chance to knock Kerry out after failing put away first half chances.
The hosts shaded the opening minutes, taking two of the first three scores, but the fourth put them behind. Killian Spillane with a well-taken goal after 13 minutes.
The young Rebels responded in the best fashion, leveling the tie before Micheal Cahalane’s goal rifled them into a clear lead.
Yet Cork would begin to lose their clinical edge. They led by two points at the break, but they should have held a much healthier advantage than 1-4 to 1-2. Ryan Harkin missing a penalty on 27 minutes, seven minutes after their final score of the half.
With chances going begging like that, a second half comeback was almost predictable. and The Kingdom duly set about slowly reeling the Rebels in.
With 2,208 onlookers in Cork confident going into the second half, they began to grow anxious even before Kerry drew level in the 45th minute.Kerry took the lead three minutes later, but two quick-fire scores from Cahalane had the crowd in buoyant mood again. Richie O Sullivan tagged on another to offer a little breathing space, but Kerry would ensure a tense finale as the once again narrowed the gap to the minimum. 1-9 to 1-8 with five minutes to play.
Cahalane’s free gave the home side a two-point lead to cling on to going into stoppage time. Fortunately for those in the south-west, Conor Keane found his best form as the game wore on and inspired to his side to two points in two minutes of stoppage time to forces the extra-time.
The Killarney man had more to add, shoving his side into what looked certain to be a decisive lead with a goal five minutes into the extra period.
As the teams traded scores, it looked as though the visitors’ ability to pick off opportunities on the break would see them through. However, with only a goal sufficient for Cork at 2-13 to 1-13, they found it after working the ball into the square and winning a penalty.
An awful lot of time had passed since Harkin’s miss in the first half, but Moynihan made no mistake with his effort and rippled the net to give both sides a chance to do it all over again.
A date for the replay will be decided in the coming days.
