Cork complete nine-in-a-row

CORK’S domination of Munster Vocational Schools’ football continued with their annihilation of Kerry in the final in Killarney yesterday.

Leading 3-9 to 0-2 at half-time, thanks to goals from Gearóid Finn and Aaron O’Brien’s brace, the result was never in doubt as Cork completed the nine-in-a-row.

With Daniel O’Connor a central figure in the Cork attack, their full-forward line of O’Brien, Stephen Casey and Finn had a plentiful supply of ball, despite the best efforts of Kerry defenders Eamonn McLoughlinn, Daniel Collins and Jason Lyne.

In the second-half, Cork added a fourth goal through Rickard Cahalane before Kerry’s Kealan Ó Dubhlainn missed two penalties in 60 seconds.

Kerry, who had beaten Limerick in the Munster B final, did add two late points from Daniel Collins and Micheál Ó Horáin but it’s Cork that advance to an All-Ireland semi-final against champions Donegal in mid-February.

Scorers for Cork: A O’Brien 2-0, G Finn 1-2 (1f), R Cahalane 1-0, G Barry 0-2, D Canty, K Crowley, I Walsh, G Farrell, G O’Shea, D O’Connor, S Casey, K Histon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kerry: P Herlihy (1f), D Ó Fuaráin, D Collins, M Ó Horáin 0-1 each.

CORK: D Casey; K Dennehy, J Lynch, D Canty; K Crowley, M Murphy, D Nyhan; I Walsh, G Farrell; G Barry, G O’Shea, D O’Connor; A O’Brien, S Casey, G Finn.

Subs: M Taylor for D Nyhan (ht); R Cahalane for A O’Brien; J Leahy for G Finn (ht); K Histon for I Walsh (43); E O’Sullivan for G Barry (48).

KERRY: R O Mathúna; E McLoughlin, N MacGearailt; J Lyne; A Finn; D Collins, D Goulding; P Herlihy, D O’Connell; S O’Connor, J O’Connor, D Ó Fuaráin; E Murphy, K Bowler, K Ó Dubhlainn.

Subs: E O’Riordan for E McLoughlinn (ht); M Ó Horáin for K Bowler (ht); D Ó Fionnagáin for D Goulding (48); G MacCárthaigh for P Herlihy (49).

Referee: Michael Meade (Limerick).