Munster MFC Final: Cork 1-6 Kerry 2-18
An eight-point exhibition from Gearóid White completed Kerry’s clean sweep of Munster football titles for the second year in a row as they proved too strong for Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday evening.
In one of the most impressive minor final displays between Munster’s old firm, the Kingdom cantered to a 52nd crown with second-half goals from captain Ben Murphy and Ronan Carroll, who matched White’s haul by bagging 1-5.
But John Mitchels star White was indisputably the man of the match. The wing forward cut in from the right flank on repeat and showed devastating accuracy off both feet. His half-time tally of 0-5 was derived entirely from play, with three points off his left and two off his right. He added three more off his left, including two frees, in the second period.
Kerry were dominant from the start in front of 2,444 fans as they wiped out the Cork kick-out with an effective press, splendid fielding, and a hunger for breaking ball. They translated that possession into attacks and scores, outshooting the hosts by 18 attempts to five in the first half.
But for a couple of missed goal chances, the deficit could’ve been more than 0-11 to 0-3 that stood between the teams at the break.
Kerry had the first four points, including one from midfielder Murphy and a fine jinking effort by Michael Horan.
Quick counters from Danny Miskella and Ben O’Shea got Cork up and running but Kerry replied with another four in a row.
Three of those came from White while Jack Joy was denied by a James O’Flaherty save and Ruairí O’Connell’s blast struck the umpire rather than the back of the net.
They produced a 1-5 streak after the change of ends to stretch 1-16 to 0-3 ahead.
Killian Dennehy started the second half as he did the first; winning the throw-in, charging forward, and drawing a pointed free. Carroll and Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich tacked on others from long range.
Cork’s Cian Cooney was denied a goal by Kacper Robak’s point-blank save and Joey McCarthy took the rebound off the line. A Seán Whelton black card in the aftermath gave Kerry a numerical advantage. Dylan O’Neill would also be sinbinned in the dying moments.
The goal arrived in the 38th minute. The influential Gavin O’Keeffe caught a Cork kick-out and Murphy raced through the heart of the defence to find the bottom corner.
Miskella gave home fans some reason to cheer with 1-1; the goal from a penalty rebound after Robak saved his initial effort.
Carroll won and converted a penalty himself to round off a 15-point victory.
Both sides now advance to face the Connacht finalists in their All-Ireland quarter-finals next month.
CORK: J O’Flaherty; A Keane, N O’Shea, J Mouret; O Harrington, C O’Connor, C McCarthy; H Cogan, J Trench; C Cooney, B O’Shea (0-1), S Whelton (0-1); D Miskella (1-3), D O’Neill (0-1, f), H Canty. Subs: B Ryan for O’Connor, D O’Donovan for B O’Shea (both h-t), B Delaney for Trench (40 mins), F O’Dwyer for Canty (44), C Ahern for Harrington (55).
KERRY: K Robak; F Ryan, M Lynch, R Donovan; S Ó Cuinn (0-1), A Ó Beaglaoich (0-1), G O’Keeffe; B Murphy (1-1), K Dennehy; G White (0-8, 0-2f), J McCarthy, R O’Connell; J Joy (0-1), R Carroll (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-3f), M Horan (0-1). Subs: É Murphy for O’Connell (44 mins), C Mac Gearailt for Horan (45), E O’Flaherty for Ryan (48), O Fleming for Joy (52), K Dennehy for Dennehy (56).
Referee: D O’Callaghan (Limerick).
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