Cork - 0-13 Kerry 0-12: Kerry, forced to line out without senior star, Colm Cooper, were struck by lightning for the second successive year in the Munster under-21 football championship yesterday evening.
Cork came from four points down with 12 minutes to go to equalize in the 61st minute. Kevin O'Sullivan fired Cork ahead a minute later as the game reached a dramatic conclusion at the Austin Stack Park.
To add to the drama Bryan Sheehan, who kicked points from 60 yards in the first half, had a last-gasp chance of saving the day when Kerry won a 45, but his effort was short and Cork had escaped to record an unlikely victory.
Kerry, surprising losers in 2003 to a last minute goal to Waterford, had been very impressive en route to the final with facile wins over Clare and the reigning champions Waterford.
Cork were playing a controlled passing game against the strong breeze while Kerry wasted possession.
The rebels led by 0-6 to 0-5 after 25 minutes, with Kerry's indiscipline at the back punished by the fine free-taking of Kevin O'Sullivan.
Cork had some outstanding performances from Michael Prout, Noel O'Riordan and Paddy Nealon in defence while Kerry, despite good play from Padraig Sheehan in defence and Seamie Foley and Bryan Sheehan in attack, struggled.
Declan O'Sullivan levelled before another pointed free by Cian O'Riordan saw Cork edge in front 0-7 to 0-6 by the half-time interval.
With the wind, the rebels must have fancied their chances in the second half. But Kerry resumed play in an impressive manner with Bryan Sheehan showing his precocious talent while Paddy Kelly, Brendan O'Mahony and substitutes Joe McGillycuddy and Shane O'Neill upped their game.
Excellent points from Sheehan and O'Sullivan and a fine Paddy Kelly effort saw them move 0-12 to 0-8 clear with 12 minutes rtemaining in the game.
Kerry looked to have weathered the Cork storm but the team in red jerseys never gave up and an inspirational point from wing back O'Riordan reduced the gap.
After Kevin O'Sullivan had converted a 45 in the 52nd minute the margin was down to just two points.
Kerry senior Kelly kicked two very bad wides that ultimately cost his side. But blame can be attributed to some of the more senior Kerry players when Cork rallied and, when Hayes took advantage of a defensive lapse, Cork were within a point of Kerry as the game drifted into injury-time. A hungrier Cork side hung on but one wonders if Colm Cooper was playing, what might have transpired.
CORK: K Murphy; M Prout, D O'Donovan, B Crowley; N O'Riordan (0-1), P Nealon, E O'Connor; S O'Sullivan, D Coughlan; C O'Riordan (0-2, two frees), P Kelly, J Hayes (0-3); R Long (0-1), T Twomey, K O'Sullivan (0-6, three frees, one 45). Subs: K Murphy for T Twomey, D Burns for P Kelly, A O'Connor for D Coughlan.
KERRY: D Dineen; A O'Connell, B O'Mahony, F Griffin; P Sheehan, R Ó Flatharta, J Coffey; K Donaghy, P Kelly (0-1); D Walsh, D O'Sullivan, S Foley (0-2); D O'Sullivan (0-3), B Sheehan (0-5, four frees), D Doona. Subs: J McGillycuddy for J Coffey, S O'Neill for A O'Connell, A O'Connor for D Doona, D Kelliher (0-1) for D Walsh.
Referee: M Ryan (Limerick).
