MUNSTER UNDER-21 FINAL/Kerry 1-14 Cork 2-12:MUNSTER CHAMPIONS Cork needed extra-time to see off Kerry in front of a crowd of 5,318 at the Austin Stack Park, Tralee, last night.
It appeared very much a case of déjà vu after five minutes when Cork threatened to repeat last year’s mauling of Kerry at Páirc Uí Rinn as they raced 0-4 to 0-0. Cork were winning every break around midfield and their inside line of Brian Hurley, Luke Connelly and Donal Óg Hodnett had the legs on their opponents with points from Hurley (2) and one each from Connolly and corner back Alan Cronin, leaving the Kingdom in a daze.
However once Kerry settled with James Walsh winning ball at midfield, the Kerry inside duo of Kieran Hurley and Conor Cox began to torment Cork and suddenly Kerry were back in the contest. They were level by the 20th minute thanks to four unanswered points from Conor Cox with three (two frees) and Hurley.
The crucial goal of the half came in the 28th minute when Luke Connolly floated in a free to the square and when the ball broke, Hodnett finished to the Kerry net as Cork led 1-5 to 0-5 at the interval.
Cork did their best to kick the game away as Kerry rallied with Walsh outstanding. Points from Cox (3) and one from the sideline from Shane Carroll left the minimum between the sides with seven minutes left. Brian Hurley then appeared to have kicked the insurance point for Cork in the 56th minute but Kerry forced extra time with points from Cox and O’Carroll.
It appeared Kerry were down and out in the first period as Cork added 1-3 to 0-0 with the goal coming from Luke Connolly. However a Kerry goal from a penalty by Chris Brady and points from substitutes Eanna O’Connor and Gavin O’Grady closed the gap to one point but Cork prevailed to win back-to-back titles.
KERRY: P O’Sullivan; M Galvin, M Griffin, F McNamara; P Kilkenny, J Sherwood; P Murphy, D O’Sullivan, J Walsh; S O’Carroll (0-2, 0-1 sideline), C Brady (1-0), S OBrien, I Galvin, C Cox (0-8, 0-7 frees), K Hurley (0-1). Subs: M Reen for Me Galvin (26 mins), N O’Shea for K Hurley (42 mins), D Culhane for M Galvin (52 mins), T Morley for J Sherwood, G O’Grady (0-2) for C Cox, E O’Connor (0-1) for S O’Carroll (all extra-time).
CORK: J Mellet; D ODonovan, D Cahalane, A Cronin (0-1); J Cronin, T Clancy, J Wall (0-1); R Deane (0-1), E Healy; K Hallissey, D Óg Hodnett (1-1), J O’Rourke (0-1); L Connolly, M Sugrue, B Hurley (0-4, 0-2 frees). Subs: D Nation for E Healy (48 mins), C O’Sullivan for T Clancy (49 mins), A Cadogan for M Sugrue (56 mins), D McEoin (0-2) for K Hallissey (60 mins), D Drake for J ORourke, B O’Driscoll for J Wall (both extra-time).
Referee: K OBrien (Tipperary).
