Cork 3-6
Kerry 0-10
AT THE SECOND time of asking, Cork managed to overcome the challenge of Kerry in the first round of the Munster minor football championship.
The Rebels advanced by 3-6 to 0-10 thanks to efforts from Michael Cahalane, Kevin O’Neill and an own-goal deflected in by Éanna Ó Conchúir.
In many ways, the game proved completely different to the last week’s thrilling first meeting.
Kerry stormed out of the traps and into a four point lead with Cork scoreless in the first seven minutes. But once Cahalane found his range, Kerry had little answer.
It was his rasping shot on nine minutes which cannoned back off the bar an into the net via the luckless Ó Conchúir.
The sides were soon level as Kerry pushed their way to point number five and six, but Cahalane’s was again able to prove himself dangerous from more than just frees as he forced a second green flag after 26 minutes.
From there, with Kerry at arm’s length, Cork rarely looked out of control. The missed chances that proved so costly in last week’s meeting had been taken and the three point lead turned to four with a half time score-line of 0-6 to 2-4.
Kerry emerged confident of reeling in their fierce rivals, but this night was all about Cahalane, who laid on goal number three for O’Neill. The Kingdom claimed the next two scores , but at 0-8 to 3-4, could not find the goal they needed and the closest they would get to cork was the five-point deficit at the final whistle.
KERRY: Shane Ryan (Rathmore); Sean T Dilllon (St Senan’s), Cathal Ó Luing (An Ghaeltacht), Pádraig Ó Conchúir (Dingle); Matthew Flaherty (Dingle), Greg Horan (Austin Stacks), Brian Sugrue (Renard); Eanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht), Kevin Shanahan (Ardfert); David Foran (St Senan’s), Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht); Conor Keane (Legion), Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks), Killian Spillane (Templenoe).CORK: Anthony Casey (Kiskeam); Michael McSweeney (Newcestown), Dylan Quinn (St Finbarr’s), Kevin Flahive (Douglas); Sean White (Clonakilty), Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Kevin O’Neill (Glenville); Ryan Harkin (Mallow), Conor Kingston (Douglas); Richard O’Sullivan (Kilmacabea), Killian O’Connor (Mallow), Kevin Cremin (Boherbue); Michael Cahalane (Bandon), Aidan Moynihan (Canovee), Jack Bushe (Ilen Rovers).
