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Kieran Donaghy fires home Kerry's first goal. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Kerry v Cork, Munster Senior Football Championship Final

These two great rivals clashed for provincial glory at Fitzgerald Stadium.

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Happy Sunday lunchtime, provincial rivalry fans.

We’re in Killarney for today’s Munster Senior Football Championship final between reigning All-Ireland champs and hosts, Kerry and their beloved brethren to the east, Cork.

Get in touch with your thoughts, opinions, predictions and, if you’re in Fitzgerald Stadium, your view of the action. You can get us all the usual ways: tweet @The42GAA, find us on Facebook here or just email Ryan@The42.ie.

You’ve got just under an hour before throw-in, so take a gander at our preview or just finish off that flask of tea in peace.

To bring you up-to-date with the latest from the Munster minor championship final which is preceding the main course at Fitzgerald Stadium. Kerry are in complete control of the contest, leading Tipperary 2-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

Gavin White and Tommy Nolan Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Ryan Bailey here for the afternoon to guide you through the action as it happens while our GAA correspondent Fintan O’Toole is in Killarney to give us the low down from the ground.

Before we run through the teams, here’s some pre-match reading to pass the time until throw-in.

The big talking point has been the omission of Colm Cooper as Eamonn Fitzmaurice makes five changes for this clash.

Full-back Mark Griffin, midfielder Anthony Maher and the attacking duo of Paul and Mikey Geaney all make way from the starting side as well.

Kerry

1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)

2. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes)
3. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)

5. Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion)
6. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
7. Killian Young (Renard)

8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
9. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s)

10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
11. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)

13. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys)
14. Kieran Donaghy (C) (Austin Stacks)
15. James O’Donoghue (Legion)

Cork’s starting XV, meanwhile, shows two changes from the one that defeated Clare in last month’s semi-final clash.

Eoin Cadogan and Fintan Goold are drafted in at the expense of Conor Dorman and Colm O’Driscoll.

Cork

1. Ken O’Halloran (Bishopstown)

2. Michael Shields (St. Finbarr’s) (Capt)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
4. James Loughrey (Mallow)

5. Barry O’Driscoll (Nemo Rangers)
6. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
7. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)

8. Alan O’Connor (St. Colum’s)
9. Fintan Goold (Macroom)

10. Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers)
11. Donncha O’Connor (Ballydesmond)
12. Kevin O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)

13. Colm O’Neill (Ballyclough)
14. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)
15. Brian Hurley (Castlehaven)

Fintan O’Toole here in Killarney, both teams currently out on the pitch and getting the last minute preparations in. It’s been raining regularly during the morning but it’s dry now and the pitch looks to be in perfect condition. Big crowd here and a nice atmosphere starting to build up.

Here’s the options available to the respective managers this afternoon. There’s no doubt Kerry have greater strength in depth with Fitzmaurice able to call upon the Gooch, among others, should he need to.

Kerry subs:

16. Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion)
17. Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes)
18. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
19. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
20. Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore)
21. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
22. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore)
23. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
24. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys)
25. Jack Sherwood (Firies)
26. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)

Cork subs:

16. Paddy O’Shea (St. Vincent’s)
17. Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown)
18. Noel Galvin (Ballincollig)
19. Conor Dorman (Bishopstown)
20. Tomás Clancy (Fermoy)
21. Ruairi Deane (Bantry Blues)
22. Patrick Kelly (Ballincollig)
23. John Hayes (Carbery Rangers)
24. Colm O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
25. Daniel Goulding (Éire Óg)
26. Donal Óg Hodnett (O’Donovan Rossa)

Kerry have won the Electric Ireland Munster minor football final, beating Tipperary by 2-14 to 1-11. Fintan O’Toole’s match report from Killarney here.

Just minutes until we get under-way in Killarney. How do you see this one going? Kerry – the All-Ireland champions – are hoping to make it three consecutive Munster titles while Cork haven’t won the provincial crown since 2012.

The teams are out for the pre-match parade with a crowd of 35,000 packed into Fitzgerald Stadium. It’s dry at the moment with a light breeze sweeping across the ground. We’re just about all set.

We’ve had the national anthem and, finally, all the talking is over. Referee Padraig Hughes gets us started with Cork playing from right to left in this first-half. For what it’s worth, they have the breeze at their back.

Frantic start as both sides look to settle. Cork are making most of the early running but it remains scoreless.

First scoring opportunity is for Stephen O’Brien but he miscues his left-footed effort and it’s well wide. Cork are staying compact in these early stages.

It’s been a tense first five minutes. O’Brien has another opening but the referee awards a free out for over carrying.

Kerry 0-0 Cork 0-1

First blood to the Rebels as Colm O’Neill slots over a free from the 45 after Brian Hurley was fouled.

We saw the advantage of the breeze there as O’Neill made the most of it to open the scoring. At the other end, Bryan Sheehan is unable to level proceedings as his effort holds up and falls just short.

GOAL! Kerry 0-0 Cork 1-1

Cork have converted their bright start onto the scoreboard as they expose the Kingdom’s defence. O’Neill is on hand to palm the ball into the net from close range after fine work from Donnacha O’Connor. Cork mean business.

Kerry 0-1 Cork 1-1

Kerry are up and running as Sheehan’s sweet strike from 45m out sails over after Johnny Buckley was fouled. That was some effort considering he was into the wind.

GOAL! Kerry 1-1 Cork 1-1

Out of nothing, Kerry are level and the momentum has shifted. Cork fail to clear their lines and Kieran Donaghy pounces to slot past Ken O’Halloran. Shields was the guilty party there as he was caught in possession.

Kerry 1-1 Cork 1-2

Cork’s lead is restored as Kevin O’Driscoll scores his first championship point from a tight angle.

It’s been an entertaining opening quarter to this game and Cork, despite their defensive lapse, have started purposely. Padraig Hughes shows Buckley the first yellow of the game for pulling an opponent’s shirt.

Kerry 1-2 Cork 1-2

James O’Donoghue, the 2014 footballer of the year, joins the party with a trademark point as he cuts in from the left. Kerry are just starting to click into gear now.

Kerry 1-3 Cork 1-2

The Kingdom are in the lead for the first time today as Donaghy creates the opening for Johnny Buckley and he strikes it sweetly from range.

Kerry 1-3 Cork 1-3

A brief break in play allows us to catch our breath after an absorbing 20 minutes in Killarney. The intensity, as you would expect, is fierce and we’re level once again as O’Connor makes no mistake from a free from 13 metres out.

A view of the team parade Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Kerry 1-4 Cork 1-3

Paul Kerrigan hauls down O’Brien as he bears down on goal after Donaghy won the high ball. The referee had little option but to show the Cork man a black card and Sheehan converts the resulting free.

Bad miss from Brian Hurley after he had done all the hard work. Cork have shuffled their pack following that black card with Patrick Kelly coming on as sweeper.

Kerry 1-4 Cork 1-4

We’re level again as O’Neill slots over another free after O’Connor had been fouled.

Kerry 1-6 Cork 1-4

7 minutes until the break and Kerry get their noises in front again. Sheehan is on the mark again and then Barry John Keane fists one over the bar after a determined run.

Colm O'Neill celebrates scoring the first goal of the game Colm O'Neill of Cork celebrates scoring the first goal of the game. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Here’s a closer look at Kieran Donaghy accepting the gift bestowed to him by Cork.

 

cork-implode RTE RTE

 

Kerry 1-8 Cork 1-4

Four points in quick succession from Kerry as Barry John Keane and then James O’Donoghue stretches their advantage heading towards the half-time interval.

Kerry 1-9 Cork 1-4

Bryan Sheehan pushes his latest free to the right but moments later, Barry John Keane makes no mistake from close range to give Kerry a five point lead.

Kerry 1-9 Cork 1-5

Donncha O’Connor strikes in the dying embers of this first period and it was a much needed score for Cork as they head into the dressing room four points in arrears.

And that’s half-time in Killarney with Kerry holding a four point advantage. Cork started brightly and Colm O’Neill’s goal saw them take an early lead. However, a defensive lapse allowed Kerry back into the contest and Eamon Fitzmaurice’s side just began to pull clear towards the end of that first-half.

Nonetheless, it’s still all to play for when the action resumes.

Here’s the scorers from that first-half:

Scorers for Kerry: K Donaghy 1-0, B Sheehan 0-3 (3f), Barry John Keane 0-3 (1f), J O’Donoghue 0-2, J Buckley 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: C O’Neill 1-2 (1f, 1 45’), D O’Connor 0-2, K O’Driscoll 0-1.

On The Sunday Game, Colm O’Rourke said Cork did everything right for the first ten minutes but, as the half wore on there ‘was an inevitability about it’.

Joe Brolly added the Rebels enjoyed ‘the perfect start’ as they were ferocious in the tackle and applied a stranglehold.

The RTÉ pundit described Cork’s opening goal as a ‘Chelsea one’ as they hit their opponents on the break but it all changed with that Donaghy goal. ‘A give-away goal,’ according to Brolly.

If you missed the game’s two goals so far, catch up with them here.

Kieran Donaghy score their first goal of the game Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

And we’ve resumed in Killarney. Can Cork stage a comeback?

Kerry 1-9 Cork 1-6

Perfect start for Cork as Colm O’Neill adds another free to his tally.

Kerry 1-10 Cork 1-6

Kerry hit back instantly as Walsh finishes off a fine move involving Donaghy and O’Brien.

Kerry 1-10 Cork 2-6

Game on! Donncha O’Connor does brilliantly to burst through the Kerry defence and as Kealy rushes off his line, the Cork forward flicks it over the goalkeeper’s head.

Kerry 1-10 Cork 2-7

David Moran is shown a black card as O’Neill levels the game. Huge cheer as Colm Cooper is introduced.

Kerry 1-10 Cork 2-8

Cork have started this half in blistering fashion and they lead as O’Neill dissects the posts with a sweetly struck effort from 30 metres out.

Kerry 1-10 Cork 2-10

Kerry are rocking and the Rebels are taking full advantage as another fine piece of play from O’Neill tees-up Kevin O’Driscoll to kick his second point of the day.

Moments later, Barry O’Driscoll then opens his account and Fitzgerald Stadium is bouncing.

Kerry 1-11 Cork 2-10

Bryan Sheehan gets Kerry back on track.

Kerry 1-11 Cork 2-11

After Donaghy collects a yellow card for a high tackle on Cadogan, Cork continue to overrun the Kerry midfield and O’Neill extends his side’s lead again.

GOAL! Kerry 2-11 Cork 2-11

Controversy! The referee has awarded a penalty to Kerry  as James O’Donoghue and Mark Collins clash. Replays suggest it was a harsh decision and O’Donoghue steps up to convert from the spot.

17 minutes remaining and we’re level.

Kerry 2-12 Cork 2-11

Colm Cooper scores his first point of the game and Kerry have their noises in front.

It’s been a frenetic, tense and absorbing Munster final in Killarney. Which way will it go in the closing stages?

Bryan Sheehan and Donnacha O'Connor Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Kerry 2-13 Cork 2-12

Cork were level for no more than a minute after O’Connor converted a free. At the other end, Paul Geaney clinically slots over the bar as Kerry rushed forward.

Kerry 2-14 Cork 2-12

The lead is two as Maher fists it over the bar with less than ten minutes remaining.

GOAL! Kerry 2-14 Cork 3-12

Cork remain patient and eventually pierce through the Kerry rearguard before Barry O’Driscoll finishes clinically to nudge the Rebels ahead.

Incredible stuff in Killarney as the clock ticks closer to the 70 minute mark. Here come Kerry…

So close! The ball is launched high towards Donaghy and it falls to Geaney but his effort goes wide from close range. In fact, O’Halloran got the slightest of touches on that to deflect it past the post.

Wide! O’Donoghue pulls the resulting 45 and Cork’s slender lead remains in tact.

Grandstand finish! 60 seconds remaining with both sides giving everything for the cause. Two minutes of injury time.

Colm O’Neill spurns the chance to extend the lead and here come Kerry…

Black card for Colm O’Driscoll as he hauls down O’Sullivan. Last chance saloon for Kerry.

Kerry 2-15 Cork 3-12

Would you believe it! Fionn Fitzgerald levels the scores with an outrageous point from all of 45 metres out. He absolutely nailed it and that’s full time!

Dramatic ending to a hugely entertaining Munster SFC final. The sides will meet again in a replay.

Thanks for joining us this afternoon. We’re off to catch our breath, and maybe a lie down, but be sure to keep an eye on The42 for all the reaction from Fitzgerald Stadium.

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