Kerry Best The Rebels In Munster Final

A Roundup Of The GAA Championship Action From Jackie Cahill

Munster SFC final
Kerry 1-15 Cork 1-12

All-Ireland champions Cork lost the latest battle against ancient rivals Kerry in last Sunday's Munster SFC final but manager Conor Counihan vowed to win the 2011 championship war. 

Counihan watched his charges slump to a three-point defeat in a gripping provincial decider at Killarney's Fitzgerald Stadium but the Rebels produced enough evidence in the second half to suggest that they will go close to holding onto the Sam Maguire Cup.

When man of the match Declan O'Sullivan pointed 12 seconds after half-time, Cork trailed by a whopping eleven-point margin.

But the Leesiders fought back to within one point of the Munster champions in the closing minutes and could have snatched it with three minutes remaining.

John Miskella bombed forward from the Cork half-back line but struck the base of the upright as he attempted to snatch a famous winning goal in front of a bumper 40,892 attendance.

Kerry closed the game out with late scores from Eoin Brosnan and sub James O'Donoghue to ensure that Cork's long wait for a championship victory on Kerry soil, which stretches back to 1995, continues.

A blistering display from Kerry in the first half provided the platform for victory as the hosts led by 1-10 to 0-5 at the midway point.

Darran O'Sullivan lashed home a sensational 15th minute goal for the hosts, with Donncha O'Connor netting a 56th minute penalty for Cork.

Kerry could have had more goals in the first half as Darran O'Sullivan and Kieran Donaghy went close and a curious tactic of Cork's was their tendency to play short kickouts, when it was generally assumed that midfield dominance would win the game for them.

Kerry hoovered up around the middle third but it was a different story after half-time as Cork upped the ante considerably.

But Cork suffered an horrific injury blow in the 41st minute when 20-year-old forward Ciaran Sheehan was stretchered off.

And scans on Monday confirmed that the Eire Og star's season is over after he sustained cruciate knee ligament damage.

All six of Kerry's forwards scored from play; with centre back Brosnan and midfielder Bryan Sheehan also on target.

Cork's haul of 0-9 from play will have disappointed Counihan, who also lamented his team's decision-making at crucial times.

Leinster SHC final
Kilkenny 4-17 Dublin 1-15

Kilkenny produced an awesome performance to smash Dublin by eleven points in last Sunday's Leinster senior hurling final.

The Cats collected a seventh successive provincial crown with a stunning revenge mission in what was a repeat of the National League Division 1 final.

Henry Shefflin called the tune in attack and scored 1-9, including 1-2 from play, as Eoin Larkin, Colin Fennelly and Michael Rice also bagged goals.

33,814 witnessed another Kilkenny hurling exhibition and Dublin simply couldn't cope without top stars like the injured Tomas Brady and suspended Ryan O'Dwyer.

First half goals from Larkin and Fennelly helped to establish a 2-10 to 1-7 interval lead before Shefflin added Kilkenny's third goal with a devastating finish.

With 14 minutes remaining, Paul Ryan drilled a 20m free through a ruck of players and into the Kilkenny net to drag Dublin back into contention.

But Kilkenny's response was emphatic as the superb Richie Power fetched a long delivery and placed Rice for the killer fourth goal.

Kilkenny's victory ensures an All-Ireland semi-final appearance in less than five weeks while Dublin must regroup for a quarter-final appearance.

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Qualifier
Limerick 1-22 Wexford 2-13

Colm Bonnar stepped down as Wexford boss following his side's six-point defeat against Limerick in last Saturday's All-Ireland hurling qualifier at the Gaelic Grounds.

It was an evening when debutant Declan Hannon announced himself as Limerick's next big thing as the powerful Adare teenager picked off nine points.

Graeme Mulcahy was on fire at corner forward for the Shannonsiders, landing 1-4 from play before he went off injured before the finish.

And another teenage sensation, Kevin Downes, landed a point and was involved in much of Limerick's good work in just his second championship game.

Wexford were simply over-run in the second half and a blistering Limerick spell immediately after half-time ended the Slaneyside challenge.

Mulcahy punished a Darren Stamp error within 18 seconds of the restart with Limerick's only goal of the game and the hosts were 1-14 to 1-7 clear by the 40th minute, having led by 0-11 to 1-6 at the break.

Chaos reigned before throw-in with the start of the game delayed by ten minutes as many patrons in the estimated 14,000 attendance attempted to gain access to the stadium.

Many wily spectators even managed to gain access to the stands, having paid in through the terraces.

They witnessed the sides level on four occasions during the opening 22 minutes before Limerick reeled off four unanswered points to move 0-8 to 0-4 clear.

Eoin Quigley's goal on the half hour dragged Wexford back into contention but the visitors collapsed in the second half.

And their misery was complete nine minutes from time when corner back Paul Roche received a straight red card following an off the ball altercation with the elusive Mulcahy.

Rory Jacob's injury-time goal was a mere consolation for Wexford and Limerick are now within 70 minutes of the All-Ireland quarter-finals, with a phase 3 qualifier against Antrim fixed for next Saturday evening at Parnell Park, Dublin.

All-Ireland SHC qualifier
Galway 4-25 Clare 0-20

Galway bounced back to top form as they routed Clare by 17 points in last Saturday's All-Ireland SHC qualifier at Pearse Stadium, Salthill.

Joe Canning hit 1-9, Ger Farragher added 1-4, Damien Hayes collected 1-3 and Alan Kerins bagged 1-2 as Clare were simply blown away.

And Galway's victory has set up a tasty phase 3 qualifier against Cork in Limerick next Saturday evening.

Galway had last Saturday's game in the bag by half-time and Clare were reduced to 14 men five minutes after the restart when James McInerney was red-carded for a disgraceful head-high challenge on Canning.

At half-time, Galway led by 3-13 to 0-12 and this game saw the Tribesmen return to something approaching top form.

But the sheer paucity of the Clare challenge must be factored into the overall result as the Banner County failed to raise a gallop.

Ulster SHC Final
Antrim 2-20 Armagh 2-12

Antrim were crowned Ulster Senior Hurling champions for a tenth successive year at Casement Park last Sunday.

The Saffrons, fielding a second string team but still managed to score a comfortable win against Armagh, appearing in a first provincial senior hurling final since 1946.

At one stage, Armagh were within four points of the red-hot favourites following goals from Conor Dorvan and Paul McCormack.

Antrim's chances weren't helped by the dismissal of wing-back Ciaran Herron but there was enough class and experience in Dinny Cahill's team to cope with that loss. Joey Scullion scored an injury-time goal to add real gloss to the final scoreline after Colm McFall had netted earlier in the game.