Cork juniors power to 14th title

Cork 1-14 Wexford 3-2

Should the powers-that-be decide later in the year to disband this particular grade of championship, the Leesiders will have finished joint leaders with Kerry. But it would be a pity if it were to happen as this was a splendid game of open football with hard knocks given and taken without complaint.

Cork had wind advantage in the opening half and were quickly into their stride with points by Pat Dunlea and Niall O’Sullivan and were shaping as likely winners.

However, Wexford in their first attack of note goaled in the eighth minute when Brendan Doyle fed Darren Foren with a peach of a pass in behind the Cork defence and he finished superbly.

The aerial dominance of Andrew O’Sullivan gave Cork control at midfield and with Pat Dunlea unerring from frees, the Munster champions were back in front after 10 minutes with points by Dunlea and Niall O’Sullivan.

Indeed such was Cork’s dominance they should have goaled a minute later but Wexford ‘keeper Anthony Masterson stood up well to Andrew O’Sullivan in a one on one to save a certain score.

Three minutes later Cork were in for another goal chance following a great passing movement, but with only the ‘keeper to beat, Vincent Hurley’s effort was a fraction too high and a point was his only reward.

Defensively Cork were excellent, giving nothing away and with O’Sullivan continuing to rule the roost at midfield, Pat Dunlea punished Wexford for their indiscretions with three further points to lead 0-8 to 1-0.

Given how well Wexford had played to reach the final, it was difficult to understand how poor they were in this game, but they finished the half with a Paddy Sinnott point, their first score for 20 minutes, and for all their territorial dominance Cork only had a four point half-time lead, 0-8 to 1-1.

Wexford brought on Peter Atkinson for the second half and he raised their spirits with a point but Cork were back for a similar score a minute later.

Cork were totally on top at this juncture and the goal they had threatened all night finally came in the 40th minute.

The impressive Michael Feehily began the move which led to the goal deep in his own half and after four of his colleagues handled, it was played in to the unmarked Fiachra Lynch and from five metres out he was never going to miss.

Leading by eight points, Cork took the foot off the pedal and using the long ball into the Cork defence, Wexford engineered two goals, the first by Paddy Murphy and the second a real beauty by Darren Foran but they were only token scores.

Cork always had the ability to hit back strongly when the danger threatened and with Vincie Hurley, Fiachra Lynch and Pat Dunlea each finding the target with points, the Leesiders finished comfortable winners to regain a title they last won in 2005.

Scorers for Cork:

P. Dunlea 0-6 (frees); F. Lynch 1-2; V. Hurley, A. O’Sullivan 0-2 each; N. O’Sullivan, C. Brosnan 0-1 each.

Wexford:

D. Foran 2-0; P. Murphy 1-0; P. Sinnott (free), P. Atkinson 0-1 each.

CORK: K. Murphy; D. Wiseman, E. Wiseman, D. O’Riordan; P. Kissane, B. Goggin, M. Feehily; A. O’Sullivan, A. O’Connor; F. Lynch, V. Hurley, S. O’Sullivan; C. Brosnan, N. O’Sullivan, P. Dunlea.

Subs: J. Russell for N. O’Sullivan; P. Cahill for Brosnan.

WEXFORD: A. Masterson; D. Walsh, M. Gahan, C. Molloy; Y. Wall, J. Waters, S. Cousins; P. Murphy, B. Doyle; N Flynn-O’Connor, D. Farrell, W. Hudson; J. O’Shaughnessy, D. Foran, P. Sinnott.

Subs: P. Atkinson for O’Flynn-O’Connor; G. Jacob for O’Shaughnessy;

K. Kennedy for Waters; P. Hughes for Hudson.

Referee: B. Tyrell (Tipperary)