Munster MFC Final/ Kerry 0-9; Cork 0-9: Thank heavens for Mark Evans was the Kerry call at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, as the second-half substitute allowed them to keep one hand on their Munster minor football title.
With just three minutes remaining Kerry's cause looked hopeless as they trailed by two points to a Cork side that was in full flight. However, the wily Evans had other thoughts. He brought Kerry fans to their feet when he narrowed the gap to a point and proved their saviour when he split the uprights from a free-kick with the last kick of a game that never really sprung to life.
Aided by the breeze in the opening half Kerry failed to do the business and after 26 minutes were just three points in front, 0-4 to 0-1, with midfielder Brian Moran having led their charge with a hat-trick.
Cork, with Andrew O'Sullivan in brilliant form in midfield and Niall Horgan a master in the heart of the defence, did not look troubled and showed their teeth in the lead up to half-time when O'Sullivan and Fintan Gould left just one point between the teams.
Kerry started the second half with a buzz with a pointed free from John Buckley, but what was not to be known was they would not score again until four minutes from the end.
Sandwiched in between were a string of points from O'Sullivan, Kevin Canty, Colm Callinan to put Cork ahead for the first time, 0-6 to 0-5.
When O'Sullivan, Canty and substitute John Halbert left it 0-9 to 0-5, Cork looked on their way to taking their first title since 2000. However they started to lose concentration and gave away two frees that were converted by Buckley before Evans was sent in to do the rest with his brace of points.
The sides must meet again, when Kerry will be hoping to make it four in a row.
CORK: K O'Halloran; R Carey, N Horgan, K Harrington; M Shields, E Cadogan, S Keohane; A O'Sullivan (0-3), C Keane; C Callinan (0-1), F Gould (0-1), P Kerrigan; A Concannon, D Goulding, K Canty (0-3). Subs: D Crowley for Concannon; J Halbert (0-1) for Goulding; M Lynch for Canty.
KERRY: B Kealy, P Reidy, L Quinn, K Young, D Doyle, C Kelliher, D O'Connor, B Moran (0-2), R Keating, M O'Donoghue (0-1), D O'Sullivan (0-1), P Curran, B Dennehy, S Murphy, J Buckley (0-3). Subs: M Evans (0-2) for Curran; K O'Leary for O'Donoghue, A Kennelly for Keating
Referee: M Meade (Limerick).
• Wicklow surrendered their All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship B title at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday, as Kildare, deservedly triumphed 1-18 to 3-8 in an exciting semi-final.
The game will be remembered for the accuracy of Kildare's Billy White, who shot 0-10. Wicklow full forward Wayne O'Gorman also had a good day, scoring 3-3 , all from play.
An early brace of goals from O'Gorman gave Wicklow control, but Kildare slowly gained a foothold, Colin Buggy scoring just before the interval to give them a 1-8 to 2-4 advantage.
Kildare, who were more balanced than their opponents, never surrendered their lead, despite the best efforts of O'Gorman, who scored a third Wicklow goal midway through the second half.
Kildare now advance to an all Ireland B final meeting against Mayo.
KILDARE: C Leahy, P Keegan, D Lahart, P Reidy, C Divilly, D Harney, R Hoban, J Brennan, J Dempsey , A Quinn, C Buggy, T Carew, B White, E Denieffe, T Murphy.Subs: B Byrnbe for Quinn; S Crowe for Keegan, S Joyce for Brennan.
WICKLOW: T Finn, Michael J O'Neill, G Keogh, D Moran, J Bermingham, Michael A O'Neill, T McGrath, C O'Toole, G Doran, J Murphy, J O'Toole, A Tiernan, E Kennedy, W O'Gorman, J O'Neil. Subs: W Collins for Moran; G Murray for J O'Toole; J Keogh for Tiernan; E O'Sullivan for Doran.
Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny)
