Cork 1-12 Kerry 1-9

Report Courtesy of GAA.ie

Cork remain on course for an unprecedented fifth Munster U21FC title in a row after they came good late on to see off Kerry in tonight’s semi-final in Páirc Uí Rinn.

In a game which ebbed and flowed, the second half provided more quality than a pedestrian first period and the lead changed hands as the sides enjoyed different periods of momentum.

A point from Kerry attacker Conor Keane – his sixth – tied matters at 1-8 each in the 48th minute but the visitors would only score once more as Cork found an extra gear.

Centre-back Seán White scored an inspirational point, his second of the game, to put Cork ahead again and then sub Conor Horgan got on the scoresheet with practically his first touch.

While Keane responded with a Kerry free just after missing another, Cork were not to be denied and captain Brian O'Driscoll kicked a fine point before Horgan got his second.

Cork began the game excellently, with points from Vaughan and Peter Kelleher getting them off to a good start before Seán O’Donoghue netted an eighth-minute goal, surging towards goal and finishing well after a break had fallen to him.

Kerry’s tactic of playing a sweeper wasn’t working as Cork played with seven forwards but slowly the Kingdom got on top at midfield. Jack Savage opened their account and though he was lost to a black card it didn’t unduly affect them.

Keane scored a fine goal on 25 minutes after Cork goalkeeper Micheál Martin failed to deal with Dara Roche’s delivery and then the corner-forward levelled.

Cork added two points in the closing stages through Vaughan, however, and they would have three to spare at the end.

***

Scorers for Cork: C Vaughan 0-4 (0-3f), S O’Donoghue 1-1 (0-1f), P Kelleher, S White, C Horgan 0-2 each, B O’Driscoll 0-1.

Scorers for Kerry: C Keane 1-7 (0-6f), B Crowley, J Savage (0-1f) 0-1 each.

CORK: M Martin; M McSweeney, T O’Rourke, S Cronin; J Davis, S White, K Crowley; D O’Callaghan, D Murphy; K Davis, B O’Driscoll, A O’Donovan; C Vaughan, P Kelleher, S O’Donoghue. Subs: D Quinn for Crowley (21, injury), M Hurley for O’Callaghan (38), C Horgan for K Davis (48), C Kiely for McSweeney (56).

KERRY: S Ryan; C Coffey, G Crowley, B Ó Beaglaíoch; R Murphy, D Daly, C Ó Lúing; J Barry, B O’Sullivan; M Burns, J Savage, B Crowley; M Flaherty, D Roche, C Keane. Subs: G Horan for Savage (15, black card), K McCarthy for Burns, C Murphy for Daly (both 51), É Ó Conchúir for Crowley (56), L Carey for Ó Conchúir (57, black card).

Referee: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary)

***

Report: Denis Hurley

 Pairc Uí Rinn Wednesday March 18th 7:30 pm

A young Kerry side heads to Páirc Uí Rinn tomorrow: Wednesday evening (7:30) to try and halt Cork’s bid for five-in-a-row Munster Final appearances.
Kerry have not won a Munster Under 21 title since 2008, a year in which they went on to claim the All Ireland title with a team that included the likes of Killian Young, Shane Enright, David Moran, Kieran O’Leary, Michael O’Donoghue and Tommy Walsh. Indeed Kerry folk will need little reminding that the Kingdom have fallen to their rivals in each of the last four years; twice in the final and twice at the quarter final stage.

The Kerry team contains just one of last year’s starting fifteen against the same opposition (Gavin Crowley)as well as six of the successful Kerry Minor side from last year namely, Shane Ryan, Cormac Coffey, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Barry O’Sullivan, Micheál Burns and Matthew Flaherty.

The management team of Darragh Ó Sé, Ciarán McCabe, Seamus Moynihan and John Shanahan have left no stone unturned in their efforts to return Kerry to the top of the Munster Under 21 pile and their participation in the Longford GAA sponsored Hastings Cup competition  will surely have been a help in that regard. Cork for their part, got quite a scare from Limerick in the quarter final tie played on Wednesday last but on home soil they will once again prove very formidable opposition.  Still, there is a quiet air of optimism that it’s time for the Kingdom to end a series of narrow defeats in this grade against their neighbours.

For the Record

The Kerry U21 team to Play Cork in Munster Semi Final

The Kerry Team to play Cork in the Cadburys Munster GAA Under 21 Football Championship Semi Final in Páirc Uí Rinn on Wednesday evening next contains just one of last year’s starting 15 against the same opposition (Gavin Crowley)as well as 6 of the successful Kerry Minor side from last year namely, Shane Ryan, Cormac Coffey, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Barry O’Sullivan, Micheál Burns and Matthew Flaherty. 

The team, captained by Gavin Crowley from Templenoe is as follows:
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Cormac Coffey (Kerins O’Rahillys)
3. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)
4. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
5. Ronan Murphy (Beaufort)
6. Denis Daly (St Marys)
7. Cathal Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht)
8. Jack Barry Na Gaeil)
9. Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)
10. Brian Crowley (Templenoe)
11. Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys)
12. Micheal Burns (Dr Crokes)
13. Matthew Flaherty (Dingle)
14. Dara Roche (Glenflesk)
15. Conor Keane (Killarney Legion)
Fir Ionaid
16. Darragh O’Shea (Ballydonoghue)
17. Cathal Murphy (Rathmore)
18. Greg Horan (Austin Stacks)
19. Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks)
20. Gary O'Sullivan (Listry)
21. Kevin McCarthy (Kilcummin)
22. Eanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht)
23. Donal Maher (Kilcummin)
24. Liam Carey (Beaufort)

Bainistíocht: Darragh Ó Sé (Bainisteoir), Seamus Moynihan, John Shanahan, Ciarán McCabe.
The following players are part of the extended Kerry training panel:
Adrian Spillane (Templenoe), Cillian Fitzgerald (Churchill), David Foran (St Senans), Killian Spillane (Templenoe), Niall Sheehy (John Mitchels), Padraig Ó Conchúir (Dingle), Sean T. Dillon (St Senans), Tom O'Sullivan (Dingle).