Kerry 1-23
Cork 0-15
Fintan O’Toole reports from Fitzgerald Stadium
THE HOME FANS witnessed a five-in-a-row this afternoon in Killarney, Kerry again confirming their superiority in Munster with a ruthless and professional display as they swept past Cork.
There was 11 points separating the teams at the finish, an accurate reflection of Kerry’s dominance.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s team produced powerful phases of play at the start of either half and that laid the foundations for their victory
From the start James O’Donoghue and Paul Geaney looked threatening, finishing with a combined total of 1-12.
Geaney grabbed the only goal of the game in the 64th minute, bundling the ball home after a high delivery from Paul Murphy broke kindly off Kieran Donaghy.
Cork made a burst before half-time to cut the gap to 0-11 to 0-7 at the interval yet Kerry reeled off five without reply early in the second-half and ran out comfortable winners.
Kerry accelerated clear by 0-6 to 0-1 after 11 minutes and still had a four-point cushion at the break. The advantage could have been greater but for Ken O’Halloran expertly tipping away a Geaney goalbound drive while Kieran Donaghy elected to punch a point on another occasion when a goal chance had been created.
Substitute Stephen O’Brien made an excellent impression after the break for Kerry as he picked off some useful points and Kerry were gone 0-16 to 0-7 clear by the 41st minute.
Cork pulled a brace of points back courtesy of Donncha O’Connor before there was a lengthy delay after Fionn Fitzgerald was felled after a heavy collision, the Dr Crokes man suffering concussion.
Still Kerry powered on with Michael Geaney, Anthony Maher and Paul Murphy all impressing throughout the game.
They kept a clean sheet at the other end to frustrate Cork and consign the Rebels to the qualifiers.
Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney 1-5 (0-1f), James O’Donoghue 0-7 (0-4f), Stephen O’Brien 0-3, Michael Geaney 0-2, Shane Enright, Paul Murphy, David Moran, Anthony Maher, Kieran Donaghy, Barry John Keane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Donncha O’Connor 0-6 (0-4f), Mark Collins, Luke Connolly 0-2 (0-1f) each, Ian Maguire, Tomas Clancy, Paul Kerrigan 0-1 each.
Kerry
1. Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion)
2. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes – captain)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michaels-Foilmore)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
5. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
6. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
7. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
9. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
10. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
11. Kevin McCarthy (Kilcummin)
13. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
14. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks)
15. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)
Subs
19. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare) for Walsh (half-time)
21. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes) for McCarthy (41)
22. Killian Young (Renard) for Fitzgerald (blood) (50)
17. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil) for Maher (58)
18. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahilly’s) for O’Donoghue (63)
23. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar) for Donaghy (65)
20. Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion) for Michael Geaney (65)
Cork
1. Ken O’Halloran (Bishopstown)
7. Kevin Crowley (Millstreet)
3. Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown)
6. Michael Shields (St Finbarr’s)
4. Sean Powter (Douglas)
2. James Loughrey (Mallow)
5. Tomas Clancy (Fermoy)
9. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)
10. Ruairi Deane (Bantry Blues)
12. Kevin O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
11. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)
8. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)
25. Niall Coakley (St Judes)
14. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers)
15. Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers – captain)
Subs
17. Alan O’Connor (St Colum’s) for Deane (blood) (29)
Deane for Alan O’Connor (half-time)
20. Donncha O’Connor (Ballydesmond) for Coakley (half-time)
Alan O’Connor for Deane (39)
19. Colm O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh) for Shields (41)
24. Michael Hurley (Castlehaven) for Kevin O’Driscoll (45)
21. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas) for O’Sullivan (black card) (63)
26. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers) for Loughrey (inj) (63)
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)
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