Cork 1-16 Kerry 1-11: A remarkable fightback from Cork saw them overturn an eight point deficit and beat All-Ireland champions Kerry by five to win the Munster title at Pairc Ui Chaoimh this afternoon. Conor Counihan men's looked dead and buried at the break but the introduction of Michael Cussen and James Masters in the second half, coupled with an entirely different attitude from Rebels, turned the tide in the most dramatic fashion.
Referee Derek Fahy will come in for criticism for sending of both Darragh and Marc Ó Sé after the break for two seemingly innocuous challenges but the Rebels were reduced as well after Nicholas Murphy was dismissed immediately after the restart.
Counihan's side also lost captain Graham Canty to a knee injury nine minutes into the second half.
Cork were mere spectators in a dour first half and allowed Kerry to run amok with Kieran Donaghy causing particular problems in the full forward line.
The teams traded points in the opening exchanges and had two apiece after eight minutes, though Colm Cooper's free looked to have been hooked wide by the Kerryman.
Cork, however, adopted a policy of containment and as a result watched helplessly as Kerry played all the football for the remainder of the half.
Cooper added another from play before Donaghy's strength afforded him time to find Donnacha Walsh with a hand-pass and the goal-line was breeched for the first time.
Cork mustered some opportunities but both Daniel Goulding and Conor Hayes were guilty of poor misses and their third point didn't arrive until 16 minutes after the second when Donnacha O'Connor pointed a third and last point of the half.
Bryan Sheehan and Sean O'Sullivan registered scored on either side of that effort, thanks again, to the persistence and strength of Donaghy who was continuing to cause all sorts of problems for the Cork backline.
Cork emerged fired up after the break, but trailing by 1-08 to 0-03. Darragh Ó Sé and Pearse O'Neill were booked for some handbags before a ball was kicked but when Murphy was dismissed for a second yellow card Cork's task looked impossible.
Cussen replaced Alan O'Connor at the break though, and he had different ideas, wasting no time in getting on the scoreboard.
Cork appeared unhindered by the numerical disadvantage as Hayes and Goulding pointed with Cussen working off high ball up front.
Kerry's first point of the half came from a beautifully struck point from Tomas Ó Sé before Sheehan added another.
The 14 men brought their tally for the half to five when O'Connor pointed from a free and the gap was reduced to five points.
The game then sprung into live when Cussen got the slightest of touches on another high ball, directing it into the net and reducing the gap to two points. Moments later, Kerry were down to 14 men when Marc Ó Sé was given a straight red card for a seemingly fair shoulder.
Cork pointed another and then drew themselves level through Goulding after Cussen forced the foul.
Sean O'Sullivan levelled for the All-Ireland champions with Kerry's first score for 11 minutes but Masters scored a sublime point to edge Cork in front on the hour, before O'Connor and Goulding were again on target and suddenly the gap was three.
With four minutes remaining Kerry looked bewildered and even the great Cooper was left shaking his head when he pushed an effort wide.
It got worse for Kerry as Darragh Ó Sé was given his second yellow card for a push when under a high ball and moments later Goulding added his seventh before a late Paul Kerrigan point pushed the Rebels into an unassailable five point lead.
A marvellous comeback and a signal of intent from Counihan and co.
CORK: 1. A Quirke; 2. D Duggan, 9. D Kavanagh, 7. A Lynch; 5. B O'Regan, 6. G Spillane, 4. K O'Connor; 8. A O'Connor, 10. N Murphy; 3. G Canty, 11. P O'Neill, 12. S O'Brien; 13. D Goulding (0-7, four frees), 14. D O'Connor (0-4, two frees), 15. J Hayes (0-1). Subs: 27. M Cussen (1-1) for A O'Connor (half-time), 22. F Goold (0-1) for Canty (49 mins), 24. J Masters (0-1) for O'Brien (54 mins), 26. P Kerrigan (0-1) for Gooulding (70 mins)
KERRY: 1. D Murphy; 4. P Reidy, 3. T O'Sullivan, 2. M Ó Sé ; 6. A O'Mahony, 5. T Ó Sé (0-1), 7. K Young; 8. D Ó Sé (0-1), 9. S Scanlon; 12. S O'Sullivan (0-1), 10. D Walsh (1-2), 11. E Brosnan; 13. C Cooper (0-3, two frees), 14. K Donaghy, 15. B Sheehan (0-3, two frees). Subs: 18. Darren O'Sullivan for D Walsh (43 mins), 17. T Griffin for Brosnan (59 mins), 19. T Walsh for S O'Sullivan (65 mins).