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Kerry back in business

National Football League/Kerry 0-14 Cork 0-9: Kerry bounced back from their opening round defeat to condemn Cork to a second…

Mon Feb 13 2006 - 00:00

National Football League/Kerry 0-14 Cork 0-9: Kerry bounced back from their opening round defeat to condemn Cork to a second consecutive loss at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Manager Jack O'Connor praised the contribution of impressive new midfielder Kieran Donaghy. The Austin Stacks clubman proved a more than capable ally for Darragh Ó Sé, winning some great ball in the air or breaking it for colleagues.

"I was very pleased with Kieran's performance. He and Darragh won a lot of possession for us in midfield," said O'Connor.

Donaghy, well-known in basketball circles, looks like giving the Kerry management a significant option in that critical area while Eamonn Fitzmaurice added a physical presence in his new role at centre forward.

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Cork struggled at midfield and in the half forward line, clearly missing their Nemo Rangers contingent and Nicholas Murphy, out with a shoulder injury which may require surgery.

Their main plus was the performance of UCC student Daniel Goulding, a minor two years ago. The corner forward posed Tom O'Sullivan plenty of problems.

Coach Billy Morgan wasn't too disappointed with the defeat. "We're not as fit as we were last year, because we started training late and we've not as much done as others. I was happy with Goulding's performance," he said.

Kerry trailed 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval, registering six wides as Goulding pointed twice to offer his side hope on the resumption.

But during the third quarter Kerry kicked five points without reply, including a couple from Colm Cooper, to lead 0-11 to 0-7 after 57 minutes. Two Cork points reduced the deficit but Kerry added three more points to run out deserved winners.

KERRY: D Murphy; M Ó Sé, M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé, A O'Mahony (0-1), M Lyons; D Ó Sé, K Donaghy (0-1); D O'Sullivan (0-1), E Fitzmaurice, E Brosnan (0-1); MF Russell (0-5, 0-4 frees), D O'Sullivan, (0-1), C Cooper (0-3, 0-2 frees). Sub: S O'Sullivan (0-1) for D O'Sullivan (60 mins).

CORK: A Quirke; K O'Connor, G Canty, M Prout; N O'Leary, G Spillane, S Levis (0-1); M Shields, D Hurley; F Goold (0-1, 45), C McCarthy (0-1), K McMahon (0-1); D Goulding (0-4, one free), K O'Sullivan (0-1, free), R O'Mahony. Sub: A O'Connor for O'Mahony (50 mins).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).