Cork make it five-in-a-row over Kerry

Wed, 18 Mar, 2015 - 21:39

By Tony Leen

Cork u21 1-12 Kerry u21 1-9

IN Kerry, the rising tide of All-Ireland senior and minor successes isn't lifting all boats. The county's dire recent record in the Under 21 grade continued at the hands of their primary punishers, Cork, at Páirc Uí Rinn tonight.

Over the hour Cork - now with five wins in the bounce over their old enemy in the grade - were the better side.

More importantly, they were the better side when it mattered - in the final fifteen minutes when the game was there to be won at 1-8 each.

The likes of captain, Brian O'Driscoll, centre back Sean White and subs Conor Horgan and Michael Hurley provided the final quarter vigour and intent to see Sean Hayes' men into another Munster final - on April 8th in Thurles against Semple Stadium.

There were periods in both halves when Kerry's footballing nous looked like it might bring its reward. Conor Keane, their corner forward, was a constant menace, as was Micheal Burns until his withdrawal ten minutes from time.

However the fact that Keane claimed 1-7 of their total says a lot.

In Barry O'Sullivan, the visitors also had the game's dominant midfielder, but around the fringes, with the likes of Brian O'Driscoll foraging, Cork looked that bit better.

In that last 15 minutes, Clonakilty's Sean White powered forward with impunity, while sub Conor Horgan claimed two important points. Sean O'Donoghue also had a goal chance to put daylight between the sides, but was foiled by Shane Ryan in the Kerry goal.

In the red zone, it was mostly Cork asking the questions. Another success over Kerry in this grade was all but done before Eanna O Conchuir became the second Kerry forward to be black-carded in short order.

This trend does not seem to be damaging Kerry's production line, but it must surely also be aiding Cork's.

Given the lack of progress they've made in this grade of late, the early portents were not good for Darragh Ó Sé's men.

Where Cork buzzed with intent from their half-back line in the first period, Kerry looked hesitant. The jersey looked heavy on them.

Within seven minutes, the reigning champions had jumped into a 1-2 to no score lead, Inniscarra's Sean O'Donoghue breaking in from the left wing and finishing with aplomb.

Strangely though, Cork would go another 20 minutes before they added to their early score-burst - by which time they had lost the influential Kevin Crowley to injury.

Kerry's plight looked onerous, but it was to get worse when Jack Savage, the in form centre forward, was black-carded in the 15th minute for a late tackle.

He had just registered Kerry's first from a free, but if his colleagues felt the blow to the solar plexus, they didn't show it.

Dara Roche roamed deep from his nominal full-forward posting, and it was his great graft up the right wing that produced a Kerry goal.

His effort for a point was palmed out by Cork keeper Micheal Martin, but not to the man he would have wished - Legion's Conor Keane was calm and patient before he netted.

The same player pointed in the 25th minute to tie the match. This was a period of Kerry control but Cork never allowed them to make it anything more than fleeting.

The Rebels led 1-4 to 1-2 at the break, but Kerry's dominance at midfield gave them the platform to edge 1-6 to 1-5 in front by the 40th minute.

Peter Kelleher claimed an inspirational score from Cork, battling through tackle after tackle to point. When Cathal Vaughan then nudged them ahead, Cork drove for the winning post.