MUNSTER JFC SEMI FINALS: Kerry 2-9 Clare 1-7: KERRY'S ABILITY to score goals at vital junctures in the opening half saw the 2006 All-Ireland junior champions hang on in the last quarter to reach the Munster final after an entertaining affair at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney yesterday.
Kerry were 2-9 to 0-5 ahead entering the final 13 minutes, but they took their foot off the pedal and Clare rallied and were awarded a 53rd-minute penalty that Brian Donnellan clinically dispatched to the net.
Kerry then conceded another penalty, but this time, Donnellan struck the post and Kerry escaped to victory.
Scorers: Kerry: N Fleming 1-2; M O'Donoghue 1-1; C Daly 0-3; P Curran (free) A Maher, JP Brosnan 0-1 each. Clare: B Donnellan 1-0 (pen); P Nagle 0-3 (all frees); K Larkin, E Troy, J Dowling, S Boland 0-1 each.
White goal seals win
Cork 1-10 Limerick 1-7: LIMERICK BATTLED back in the late stages of the game at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, but by then it was too late to spring a surprise and Cork will meet Kerry in the decider.
It is more than 40 years since Limerick beat Cork in the junior grade, but had Trevor Cosgrove goaled from a second-half penalty it would have left only two points between them.
And Limerick were out of luck three minutes from the finish. John O'Connell's shot came back off the upright and when it was deflected to the same player he put it over. In injury-time Gary White's goal clinched it for Cork.
Scorers: Cork: G White 1-0; S Kiely, D Gould 0-3 each; N O'Riordan 0-2; E Lyons, P O'Flynn (free) 0-1 each. Limerick: J Barry Murphy 1-0; P Mullins 0-3 (all frees); J O'Connell 0-2; T Cosgrove (pen), S Fox 0-1 each.
