Cork Crushes Kerry

MFC Semi-Final Replay
Cork 1-17 Kerry 0-12

By Denis O'Brien

Cork made no mistake the second time around, recording an emphatic victory over great rivals Kerry at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Saturday.

Many thought they had left it behind them when ahead and looking good in Killarney the previous week, but the manner in which the hosts totally outplayed Kerry in this Munster semi-final replay left no doubt in anybody's mind about the Rebel's superiority with an eight-point humbling of the green and gold.

Cork were too fast, too keen, and simply, just too good.

Kerry started on a lively note with Brian Sheehan opening the scoring with a brace of points (1 free) after seven minutes but Cork replied smartly to level things through two Donnacha O'Conner points.

Cork led their illustrious opponents a merry dance from there on. Kerry were beaten on every line, particularly so the full back line with the attack of O'Connor, James Masters and Daniel Goulding a constant threat.

Cork hit the next four points in a row and Kerry had no answers for Cork's pace and attacking flair.

A token of Cork's superiority could be measured in Kerry's third score of the game only coming on the 29th minute.

The Rebels added three more through Paul Kerrigan and O'Connor and Goulding frees to lead by 0-9 to 0-3 at half time.

The influence of Tommy Walsh and Colm Cooper was brilliantly negated by Mark Shields and Anthony Lynch who beat the 'Gouch to every ball in the opening half.

Kerry came out a different team in the second and points from sub Darren O'Sullivan, Declan O'Sullivan, Cooper (free) and Daragh Ó Sé left them one adrift.

They were back on track and a leveling point from a '45 by sub David O'Connor asked questions now of Cork for the second week in a row.

The turning point arrived with the awarding of a penalty to Cork after the excellent Goulding was pulled down by Padraig Reidy. Donnacha O'Connor's penalty effort was struck well and it found the inside of the post for a fine goal on the 46th minute.

This set Cork on their way again and once more they proceeded to dominate.

They outscored Kerry by 0-8 to 0-3 for the remainder, with Kerry failing to register a single score in the final 10 minutes of play.

Cork had run Kerry ragged and the latter looked a tired team by the final whistle. Cork are a talented, young and super fit team and will take beating.

The manner of this win now gives them serious All Ireland credentials, however, Killarney and Páirc Uí Chaoimh are not Croke Park - a place where they have come undone before and usually at the hands of their great rivals.

Teams & Scorers:
Cork: A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, A Lynch; J Miskella (0-2), G Canty, N O'Leary; A O'Connor, N Murphy; P Kelly (0-1), P O'Neill, P Kerrigan (0-1); D Goulding (0-5, 0-2f) , J Masters (0-1), D O'Connor (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-3f). Subs: F Gould (0-1) for Murphy (48 mins); P O'Flynn (0-1) for Kerrigan (54); J Hayes for Kelly (64); F Lynch for A O'Connor (67)
Kerry: D Murphy; M O Se, T O'Sullivan, P Reidy; T O Se, A O'Mahony, K Young; D O Se (0-1), T Griffin; P Galvin, D O'Sullivan (0-1), T Kennelly (0-1); C Cooper (0-4 f), T Walsh, B Sheehan (0-2, 0-1f). Subs: D O'Sullivan (0-2) for Sheehan (29 mins); D Moran (0-1, '45) for M O Se (HT); A O Shea for Reidy (47); D Walsh for T Walsh (52); E Brosnan for D O Se (55)
Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan)