The best of the reaction as 'iconic' Kerry hurlers beat Cork for first time in 127 years

The Kerry manager enjoyed “a celebratory bag of chips” after the match.

A piece of GAA history was made yesterday as the Kerry hurlers defeated Cork in the Munster Hurling League, writes Stephen Barry.

It was 1891 when a team from the Kingdom last defeated their neighbours, and they did it in style in matching the 10-point winning margin of 127 years ago with a 1-23 to 1-13 win.

So regardless of it being a pre-season game and Cork fielding an experimental team, it’s a signpost of Kerry’s development, and thrilled the small-ball stronghold within the county.

What a day to remember! Big win for @Kerry_Official senior hurlers over @OfficialCorkGAA. #honthekingdom

— Ian Brick (@ian4brick) January 14, 2018

433 were present to witness history, the majority reportedly from Cork.

In time, though, those with photos of the day will have valuable proof they were part of the momentous occasion.

BY the way the Official attendance at the @Kerry_Official v @OfficialCorkGAA Munster Senior Hurling League was 433 I would wager that majority were from Cork #Ibet4333willclaimtohavebeenthere

— Mortimer Murphy(Murt) (@MortimerMurphy1) January 14, 2018

Amazing result from these gents today @sundaysport pic.twitter.com/repZL7awWW

— Donal Barry (@BarryDonal) January 14, 2018

Kerry’s most famous hurling supporter, Buff Egan, was in Limerick for their final against Clare, but he was quick to pass on his congratulations after the final whistle.

Last time Kerry, represented by Ballyduff, defeated Cork, they went on to claim their only All-Ireland hurling crown.

It wasn’t long before some were predicting even bigger things for the county this summer.

We're gonna do the double https://t.co/4VI3Bdphvg

— Seán O'Sullivan (@sean_osull00) January 14, 2018

Fabulous win for Kerry today in the Munster hurling league against Cork.
We are on for the double this year!!

— St Pats East Kerry (@PatsEastKerry) January 14, 2018

@paddypower what are the odds on the @Kerry_Official hurlers to win All-Ireland again? 😂 pic.twitter.com/HA9a7xBlQ8

— Simon Sinnott (@SimoSinnott) January 14, 2018

“Cork had a young side out but anytime you beat Cork you’ll take it especially as a lot of those lads won Fitzgibbon medals last year,” Kerry boss Fintan O’Connor told the

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“I know it’s January, but it is still exciting. You’d be giddy driving home after the match and excited and delighted with the performance,” he added, speaking on Morning Ireland.

As for a celebration?

“A celebratory bag of chips, that’ll do me!”

For the record, the teams and scorers on the day were:

Scorers for Kerry:

S Conway (0-10, 4 frees), C Harty (1-1), P Boyle (0-4), S Nolan (0-3), SB Weir (0-2), B Barrett, D Griffin and J Goulding (0-1 each)

Scorers for Cork:

D Dalton (0-8, 7f), J Looney (1-0), E Keniry (0-3), L Meade and A Myers (0-1).

KERRY:

M Stackpoole; J Buckley, J Diggins, Niall O’Mahony; S B Weir, B Murphy, D Dineen; B Barrett, D Griffin; C Harty, S Nolan, J Conway; P Boyle, S Conway, M O’Connor.

Subs:

S Murphy for M Stackpoole (inj 4), T Murnane for J Diggins (inj 12), J Goulding for M O’Connor (46), D Fitzell for N O’Mahony (55), D O’Carroll for D Griffin (65).

CORK:

P Collins: S Smyth, C Barry, G Murphy; R Cahalane, N O’Leary, J Cooper; C Cahalane, L Meade; E Keniry, D Dalton, J Looney; B Mulcahy, I Cahill, M Sugrue.

Subs:

E Clifford for R Cahalane (h/t), A Myers for B Mulcahy (h/t), S Condon for I Cahill (h/t), E Healy for G Murphy (49), P Lyons for J Looney (57.

Referee:

T Walsh (Waterford).