Cork 1-28
Kerry 0-18
Denis Hurley reports from Mallow
WHILE THEY WERE tested at times, Cork eventually pulled away to comfortably see off Kerry in the opening round of the Coop Superstores Munster SHL at Mallow on Sunday afternoon.
Leading by 1-12 to 0-14 at half-time, Kieran Kingston’s actually fell behind on the resumption as Shane Nolan – who would finish with nine points in all – added two for Kerry.
Fintan O’Connor’s visitors would only score twice more, however, as Cork began to find a rhythm and pulled away.
Wing-forward Shane Kingston, son of the manager, impressed at times for the Rebels, scoring nine points, while corner-forwards Darragh Fitzgibbon and Michael Cahalane also had their moments. The concession of 14 first-half points will be a worry, though.
The goal came from Fitzgibbon in the 15th minute, profiting from good work by Séamus Harnedy and Kingston to make it 1-5 to 0-4, but Nolan and O’Leary ensured that Kerry kept Cork within their sights up until the interval.
They had a glimmer of an upset when Nolan put them in front, but a Kingston double, and a long-range free from wing-back Mark Coleman, restored Cork’s lead.
Sub Luke Meade also got in on the scoring act while Cahalane was only denied by a good Aidan McCabe save as he finished with four points. Cork now face Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds next Sunday.
Scorers for Cork: Shane Kingston 0-9 (0-3 frees), Darragh Fitzgibbon 1-2, Michael Cahalane 0-4, Séamus Harnedy (0-2 frees), Luke Meade, Mark Coleman (0-3 frees), 0-3 each, Bill Cooper 0-2, Lorcán McLoughlin, Brian Lawton 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: Shane Nolan 0-9 (0-7 frees), Jordan Conway 0-3, Micheál O’Leary, Paudie O’Connor 0-2 each, Mikey Boyle, John Egan 0-1 each.
Cork
16. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
2. David Griffin (Carrigaline)
3. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
4. Killian Burke (Midleton)
5. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
6. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
7. Mark Coleman (Blarney)
8. Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk)
9. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
10. Shane O’Keeffe (Blackrock)
11. Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
12. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
15. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)
14. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
13. Michael Cahalane (Bandon)
Subs
20. Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra) for Burke, 12, injured)
24. Luke Meade (Newcestown) for Harnedy (half-time)
25. Alan Cadogan (Douglas) for O’Keeffe (58)
21. Cormac Murphy (Mallow) for Cahalane (61)
26. Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers) for McLoughlin (61)
Kerry
1. Aidan McCabe (Kilmoyley)
4. Seán Weir (Crotta O’Neills)
3. Rory Horgan (St Brendan’s)
2. Billy Lyons (Causeway)
5. James O’Connor (Abbeydorney)
6. Darren Dineen (St Brendan’s)
7. Tomás O’Connor (Crotta O’Neills)
8. Daniel Collins (Kilmoyley)
9. Paudie O’Connor (Kilmoyley)
10. Micheál O’Leary (Abbeydorney)
11. Mikey Boyle (Ballyduff)
12. Brendan O’Leary (Abbeydorney)
13. Jack Goulding (Ballyduff)
14. Shane Nolan (Crotta O’Neills)
15. John Egan (St Brendan’s)
Subs
18. Jordan Conway (Crotta O’Neills) for Brendan O’Leary (6, injured)
22. Thomas Casey (Causeway) for Goulding (42)
17. Pádraig Boyle (Ballyduff) for Micheál O’Leary (53)
26. Philip Lucid (Ballyheigue) for Egan (53)
24. James Godley (Kilmoyley) for Tomás O’Connor (58)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
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