Clinical Kerry send 14-man Cork packing down to Division 2

Kerry 0-20
Cork 1-12

Paul Brennan reports from Austin Stack Park, Tralee

Wildly different emotions in Tralee this afternoon as Kerry booked their place in the League semi-finals for the first time since 2012 while Cork are relegated to Division Two after this five-point loss and results elsewhere going against them.

Having suffered heavy defeats in the last two NFL meetings between the counties, Kerry threatened to reverse those results by an even wider margin as they ripped into the Rebels from the outset. Points from Donnchadh Walsh, Alan Fitzgerald, Kieran Donaghy, Stephen O’Brien, Mark Griffin and two from Colm Cooper put Kerry 0-7 to 0-2 ahead by the 13^th minute, and by the 21st they were 0-10 to 0-2 clear and threatening to turn this contest into a procession.

Cork, by now, were all at sea and seemingly lacking any direction, cohesion or desire, but a couple of Colm O’Neill frees kept them hanging onto Kerry’s coattails and by the 33^rd minute they were still hanging in there, 0-11 to 0-5, as Kerry’s took their foot off the gas momentarily.

Just long enough, indeed, for midfielder Ian Maguire to win a penalty off Peter Crowley, which O’Neill goaled with the last kick off the half to make it 0-11 to 1-5.
Two superb Brian Hurley points after the restart trimmed the deficit for Cork and for the next 15 minutes the old Munster rivals slugged it out as Cork realised their Division One status might well be in their own hands.

>Hurley’s converted free in the 57^th minute levelled matters, 1-11 to 0-14, and suddenly questions were being asked of Kerry who weren’t quite as imperious as in that first 20 minutes.

But just as quickly as the pressure came on the home team they moved it up a couple of gears and Marc O Se, Fionn Fitzgerald, David Moran (‘45’) and Cooper (two frees) landed five unanswered points before Daniel Goulding could only manage a consolation point in injury time for the doomed Rebels who had Michael Shields sent off in those closing minutes for a straight red card.

Kerry face Roscommon next weekend in the semi-finals and a chance to reverse their round 2 loss in Killarney, while Cork will ponder the what ifs as they head for Division 2 football next year.

Scorers for Kerry: Colm Cooper (0-6, 3f), Alan Fitzgerald (0-5f), M O Se (0-1), M Griffin (0-1), Kieran Donaghy (0-1), David Moran (0-1 ‘45’), Johnny Buckley (0-1), Donnchadh Walsh (0-1), Stephen O’Brien (0-1), Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1), Brendan O’Sullivan (0-1)

Scorers for Cork: Colm O’Neill (1-3, 1-0 pen, 3f), Brian Hurley (0-6, 3f), Brian O’Driscoll (0-1), Paul Kerrigan (0-1), Daniel Goulding (0-1)

Kerry

1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)

2. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)

5. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
6. Killian Young (Renard)
7. Padraig O’Connor (Killarney Legion)

8. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks)
9. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)

10. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
11. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)

13. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
14. Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes)
15. Alan Fitzgerald (Castlegregory)

Subs:
17. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes) for P O’Connor (blood, 17)
5. Padraig O’Connor for F Fitzgerald (blood reverse, HT)
17. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes) for P Crowley (black card, HT)
19. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia) for J Buckley (52)
18. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys) for A Fitzgerald (55)
25. Michael Geaney (Dingle) for B O’Sullivan (blood, 61)
22. Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion) for M Griffin (62)
19. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia) for M Geaney (blood reverse, 66)
25. Michael Geaney (Dingle) for D Walsh (66)
26. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys) for S O’Brien (68)

Cork

1. Ryan Price (O’Donovan Rossa)

2. Colm O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
4. Kevin Crowley (Millstreet)

5. Daniel Hazel (O’Donovan Rossa)
17. Tom Clancy (Fermoy)
7. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)

8. Kevin O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
9. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)

10. Sean Kiely (Ballincollig)
11. Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers)
12. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)

21. Ruairi Deane (Bantry Blues)
14. Colm O’Neill (Ballyclough)
26. Brian Hurley (Castlehaven)

Subs:
6. Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown) for D Hazel (22)
15. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers) for R Deane (42)
13. Daniel Goulding (Eire Og) for C O’Neill (56)
20. Michael Shields (St Finbarrs) for E Cadogan (62)
24. Fintan Goold (Macroom) for C O’Driscoll (62)

Referee: David Gough (Meath)

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