Kerry's ambitious bid for a fourth successive Munster minor football title was brought to an emphatic end by a resurgent Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.
They went into this final as underdogs, yet right from the off, Cork looked in control and an own goal by Kerry's Shane Cremin had the desired effect of kick-starting their challenge.
Cork moved into a comfortable three-point lead after 10 minutes and despite a brief period of complacency when Kerry drew level, there was never any doubt about the final outcome of this contest.
Five unanswered points , briefly interrupted by a Tadgh Kennelly goal for Kerry saw the home side turn over with a four-point lead.
Then a goal from corner forward Conor Brosnan, reaffirmed Cork's superiority as Kerry were made to play second fiddle for the second 30 minutes.
CORK: P O'Shea; N O'Leary, N Furlong, F Crowley; D O'Sullivan, R Curran, T Kenny (0-1); D Delaney (0-1), D Niblock; J Flavin, C McCar- thy, (0-3), P Hurley (0-7); R O'Mahony (0-2), B Collins (0-2), C Brosnan (1-0). Subs: C Murphy for R O'Mahony.
KERRY: H Bowden; S Cremin (1-0 og), D Donegan, G Walsh; B Guiney, P Costello, C O'Connor; M Finn, P Galvin; G Wrenn, T Kennelly (1-3), J O'Connor; J O'Neill (0-1), R O'Connor (0-1) , DJ Fleming (0-2). Subs: D Hennebry for Bowden; D Long (0-1) for Wrenn; R Barrett for Costello.
Referee: K Walsh (Clare).
