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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Cork vs Kerry, Munster senior football final

We went minute-by-minute as Cork took on defending champions Kerry at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in this year’s Munster SFC final.

Hello! And welcome to our live coverage of this evening’s Munster SFC final between Cork and Kerry.

The familiar foes meet once again in this year’s decider, as the Kingdom aim to secure an impressive sixth Munster title under the stewardship of Éamonn Fitzmaurice.

The weather is radiant at Páirc Uí Chaoimh — definitely shorts weather — with just under an hour to go before throw-in.

Today’s teams will look like this:

Kerry

1. Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes)

2. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
3. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
4. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)

5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)

8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
9. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil)

10. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
11. Seán O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks)
12. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare Shamrocks)

13. David Clifford (Fossa)
14. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
15. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)

Cork

1. Marl White (Clonakilty)

2. Sam Ryan (St Finbarr’s)
3. Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown)
4. Kevin Flahive (Douglas)

5. Kevin Crowley (Millstreet)
6. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)
7. Tomás Clancy (Fermoy)

8. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)
9. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)

10. Kevin O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh)
11. Sean White (Clonakilty)
12. Ruairi Deane (Bantry Blues)

13. John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers)
14. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)
15. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers)

Just 15 minutes to go now before we get underway.

A view of Pairc Ui Chaoimh Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

An early Kerry fan

David Moran

What way do we see this one going? Let us know below!


Poll Results:

Kerry (406)
Cork (128)

Both sides are out on the pitch. Can Cork cause an upset and secure their first Munster championship since 2012, or will Kerry secure their 80th provincial title?

Brian O'Beaglaoich makes his way out Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Shane Murphy leads his side out

Eamonn Fitzmaurice

Throw-in: We’re underway at Páirc Uí Chaoimh!

Cork 1-0 Kerry 0-0

2 mins — GOAL! Jamie O’Sullivan gives Cork a stunning start to this game! A long ball into the box causes havoc inside Shane Murphy’s box and Bishopstown man O’Sullivan is on hand to push the ball into the back of the net. What a start.

Cork 1-0 Kerry 0-1

3 mins — David Clifford sweeps a brilliant point over the bar to get Kerry off the mark. There was early switch for Cork as O’Sullivan was forced off following his brilliant goal — the forward clashed with the post.

Cork 1-0 Kerry 1-1

4 mins — GOAL! What a blistering start to this game, there’s been another goal! It’s the perfect response from Kerry as Stephen O’Brien finds the back of the net at the other end and the Kingdom race into the lead.

Cork 1-0 Kerry 1-2

9 mins — A poor miss for Kerry as highly-rated UCC man Sean O’Shea kicks well wide of the target from off the ground. However from the resulting Cork kick-out Paul Geaney snatches possession and kicks over confidently.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-2

11 mins — GOAL! There’e been a third goal inside ten minutes and it’s another for Cork. Ruairi Deane navigates his way into the box before putting the ball on a plate for Mark Collins who pushes it into the back of the net. Another score soon follows as Luke Connolly points.

Here’s that opening goal from Jamie O’Sullivan inside just two minutes.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-2

13 mins — Tomás Clancy with Cork’s first wide of the game. Space and time opened up for the half-back, but his kick just wouldn’t carry between the posts and instead veers wide of the target.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-4

15 mins — James O’Donoghue with a neat interchange with David Clifford before kicking his side’s third point from play so far this evening. Soon after Kevin Crowley steers a magnificent effort of his own over from distance. We’re all square.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-5

16 mins — Another fine score from Kerry, this time from Seán O’Shea, and his side take the lead for the first time in this year’s Munster final.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-6

19 mins — David Clifford is hauled down by Sam Ryan as he meanders his way dangerously through the opposition defence. The talented Kerry forward is being offered an awful lot of space, and Ryan receives a black card for his foul, which the referee deemed deliberate. James O’Donoghue slots over the free.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-7

21 mins — Paul Geaney gets his second score of the game, fisting over the bar from close range following some tenacious work to hang onto possession under pressure.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-8

22 mins — Paul Murphy does the same, slotting over his second score of the game to extend Kerry’s lead to three points.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-9

23 mins — Jack Barry is fouled by Stephen Cronin after the two clashed. Seán O’Shea kicks over the resulting free.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-10

24 mins — Sean O’Shea pops over another free as his side stretch their lead to six points. It’s been all Kerry since that Mark Collins goal for Cork after 11 minutes as they begin to assert their dominance here.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-10

30 mins — James O’Donoghue tries his luck from distance but his shot drops short and is easily caught by Mark White in goal. Kerry a little bit wasteful in the last few minutes, however Cork are now without a score in over 20 minutes.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-10

33 mins — Ruairi Deane is shown a black card for a clash with Brian Ó Beaglaoich. The Cork forward’s momentum appeared to carry him into the Kerry corner back, however the referee deemed the offence deliberate. He will be replaced by Paul Kerrigan.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 1-11

34 mins — Paul Geaney with a superb score from distance along the left flank. He needed to get a lot of power behind his kick, and it carries comfortably over Mark White’s crossbar and between the posts. Kerry extend their lead to seven points as we approach the interval.

HALF-TIME: CORK 2-1 KERRY 1-11

Well, what did we make of that? No shortage of action that’s for certain.

Three goals inside a chaotic opening ten minutes and three black cards between the sides too. Cork really came out of the traps with that early pair of goals from Jamie O’Sullivan and Mark Collins — they were almost a replica of each other!

Kerry, however, have plugged away with that impressive front six kicking their scores consistently to take a seven point lead at the break.

The young pairing of David Clifford and Sean O’Shea have been extremely impressive (both just 19-years-old remember) linking up with Paul Geaney expertly.

Cork, on the other hand, have really struggled — not managing a single score since the 11th minute. The loss of Ruairi Deane to a black card will be a big miss after the break, too.

Kevin Crowley and Jason Foley Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Brian O'Beaglaoich and Ruairi Deane

Stephen O'Brien celebrates scoring their first goal

One switch for Éamonn Fitzmaurice at the break as Michael Burns is replaced by Darran O’Sullivan off the bench.

SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway!

Cork 2-1 Kerry 2-11

36 mins — GOAL! A stunning goal from Paul Geaney who offers a swizzle of the hips before slamming the ball into the back of Mark White’s net. A beautiful finish and an explosive start to the second period as Kerry pick up where they left off.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 2-12

37 mins — Seán O’Shea adds another with a pinpoint 45 off the ground, extending his side’s lead to 11 points just two minutes into the second half.

There were two switches from Ronan McCarthy at the break.

Cork 2-1 Kerry 2-12

43 mins — Cork are looking a bit demoralised at the moment as the game starts to peter away from them. McCarthy’s side haven’t managed a score since the ninth minute and the crowd at Páirc Uí Chaoimh are falling a little bit quiet.

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-12

45 mins — Luke Connolly breaks his side’s scoreless streak with a brilliant free off the ground from distance, cutting the deficit to 13 points.

Kevin McCarthy and Tomás Clancy Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Kevin Crowley and Jason Foley

Ian Maguire and Jason Foley

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-12

49 mins — There’s a bit of handbags now as players clash in their numbers after a challenge on Brian Hurley. The referee is going to have to issue a few cards now as he remonstrates with his fellow officials to see what happened.

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-12

51 mins — The referee issues a yellow card each for Mark Collins and Jason Foley.

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-13

52 mins — James O’Donoghue with a fine score following a brilliant, surging run through midfield from Dr Crokes man Gavin White who covered a lot of distance before offloading possession,

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-14

55 mins — The ever-present Mark Griffin is brought on off the bench to replace the recently-booked Jason Foley — Éamonn Fitzmaurice clearly taking to chances. Soon after Paul Geaney steers a clever point over the bar from close range.

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-14

56 mins — David Clifford goes off to a chorus of applause all around Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The young forward is replaced by Kieran Donaghy.

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-15

56 mins — Gavin White with another point and there’s 13 points between the teams now.

Cork 2-2 Kerry 2-16

63 mins — Seán O’Shea sweeps another free over as Kerry begin to swagger. A chance for another goal comes and goes as Kieran Donaghy plucks a high ball from the sky inside the penalty area, however the Cork defence stood firm and saw out the danger admirably.

Cork 2-3 Kerry 2-16

65 mins — Peter Kelleher sweeps a long-distance effort between the posts which receives a lot of appreciation around the ground. It’s a fine score, but only Cork’s fifth in this game — a statistic which tells it’s own story.

Cork 2-3 Kerry 2-17

68 mins — Paul Geaney pops over another from close range. The Kerry full forward has racked up an impressive 1-5 this evening.

Cork 2-3 Kerry 3-17

69 mins — GOAL! Geaney adds another goal and Kerry are easing to victory late on here. It was far too easy for the forward, who slipped by one defender and then the goalkeeper before sliding the ball into the back of the net. 2-5 for Geaney today.

Cork 2-4 Kerry 3-17

70 mins — Mark Collins slices over a brilliant score from the lefthand side — he composed himself well before looking up and firing over Shane Murphy’s crossbar. The Castlehaven man has played well on a very disappointing evening for his Cork side.

Cork 2-4 Kerry 3-18

72 mins — Barry John Keane with another late score for Kerry, extending his side’s lead to 17 points.

FULL-TIME: KERRY ARE MUNSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

An exceptional display from Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s side and Kerry have secured their 80th provincial title and a sixth in a row. Plenty of more reaction to come, thanks a million for joining us!

Paul Geaney celebrates scoring a goal Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

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