Cork U-21s too strong for Kerry
Cork 1-17 Kerry 0-09
It was a first half which will live long in the memory for Cork fans as the got off the perfect start in today's Munster U-21 quarter-final.
With just 40 seconds on the watch, Colm O’Driscoll broke through the centre and from 20 yards out unleashed a fierce goalbound drive which was blocked brilliantly on the line by Stephen Browne, only for the ball to rebound back off O’Driscoll and roll into the net.
Cork dominated the first 10 minutes with four further unanswered points from Goold, McCarthy and a double for Ciaran Sheehan to leave it 1-4 to no score.
Kerry finally got on the board after 11 minutes through Gavin Sayers. Cork then outscored Kerry by five points to three in the rest of the half to leave it 1-9 to 4 points at the break.
Cork came out for the second half like a team that was down eight points instead of a team that was winning by that margin. Points from Goold, O’Neill, McCarthy and the excellent Ciaran Sheehan were only answered by two points from the Kingdom through Tommy Walsh and Shane Enright.
Kerry’s biggest problem on the day was dealing with the superior cutting edge of the Rebel forwards with all six looking dangerous throughout and seemed to work as a seamless unit which will spell danger for the remaining sides in the competition.
Kerry added to their tally with points for Sayers, Tommy Walsh and two from Barry John Walsh but it wasn’t enough to stop Cork easing their way to a 11-point victory.
Kerry All-Ireland champions last year can only take heart from the fact that a lot of their side will be eligible for this grade next year.
Cork meanwhile will worry a lot of teams on this performance and they will fancy their chances against a Waterford team shy of games in the semi-final.
Cork: D. Farry, J. McLoughlan, J. O’Sullivan, N. Galvin, Connor O’Driscoll, A. Walsh, B. Daly, C. O’Donovan, K. O’ Driscoll, C. Sheehan, S. McCarthy, Colm O’Driscoll, C. O’Neill, D. Goold, P. Honahan.
Cork Subs: D. O’Sullivan for A. Walsh (41), M. Collins for P. Honahan (53), J. Fitzpatrick for C. O’Donovan (57)
Cork Scorers: C. Sheehan 0-6, D. Goold 0-4, Colm O’Driscoll 1-0, Colm O’Driscoll 0-3, C. O’Neill 0-3 (0-2f), J. Fitzpatrick 0-1.
Kerry: T. Mac An Tsaoir, P. O’Connor, S. Browne, S. Enright, J. Lyne, M. Moloney, R. Horgan, D. Moran, J. Buckley, A. Greaney, G. Sayers, JB Spillane, A. O’ Donoghue, T. Walsh, BJ. Walsh.
Kerry Subs: S. Hennessy for A. Greaney (21), J. Doolan for JB Spillane (25), D. Casey for A. O’ Donoghue (41), P. Curtin for J. Buckley (50).
