Jones hits late winner as Cork edge Kerry to claim McGrath Cup silverware 

Cork’s Sean McDonnell shoots under pressure from Kerry’s Tadhg Morley. Pic: Inpho

McGrath Cup final: Kerry 0-15 Cork 0-16  

THE obligatory health warning comes attached – it always must in January anyway but this is Cork, kings of the false dawn.

But there were little signs and indicators. Sharp movement up top from Sean McDonnell especially. 

Good game sense and in the closing minutes, game management. Young Dara Sheedy turning inside to tee up Chris Og Jones on the loop for the winner.

All counted, Cork left four goal chances after them, three of them to Mallow’s McDonnell who mined two points from the moments. In the round, John Cleary’s side took away some silverware from Fitzgerald Stadium, and few could quibble that it wasn’t deserved.

Whether we define the McGrath Cup as competitive or not, Saturday’s victory was the first by the Rebels in Killarney in recent memory – 30 years even. 

They outscored the All-Ireland champions 0-11 to 0-6 after the break and while a plethora of changes stifled any hope of momentum over the second thirty, Cork certainly looked the more cohesive of the shifting formations and changing personnel.

Kudos to Colm O’Callaghan in midfield, to Daniel O’Mahony who first policed David Clifford and then Tomas Kennedy, and conceded little to either. 

Brian Hurley came on for the second half and kicked five points, including a pair of two-point frees – the latter edging Cork in front for the first time on 56 minutes.

Kerry rebounded and Tony Brosnan kicked a point to level before Killian Spillane added their 15th point. That is usually that, but Cork weren’t done. 

Kerry’s Charlie Keating was called for a foul and Hurley equalised. Then came Jones’ winner. And deserved it was.

Cork’s Daniel O’Mahony with the McGrath Cup. Pic: Inpho

In fairness, the middle of January is not pre-season any more when the National League kicks off within the week. So it wasn’t a thundering shock that both Kerry and Cork would present battle-ready for Killarney on Saturday.

The Kingdom started seven of their All-Ireland winning fifteen and John Cleary’s Cork won’t look appreciably different next Sunday when they open their Allianz League campaign at home to Cavan.

Their starting attack dropped plenty of issues into Kerry’s lap in the opening half, Sean McDonnell menacing on either side and Chris Og Jones keeping Evan Looney on his toes. 

Steven Sherlock was well contained by Jason Foley, the All-Star full back.

More’s the pity then for Cleary and Co. that Cork couldn’t capitalise when goal chances presented themselves – literally so when Shane Ryan, the Kerry keeper, duffed the ball into Mark Cronin’s arms only for the normally-efficient Nemo man to completely fluff his lines. 

Earlier, in the 11th minute, Mallow’s McDonnell turned the Kerry backs inside out but his goal-bound effort was turned away excellently by Ryan. 

He did likewise in the second half when Cork went 17 first-half minutes without a score, and by the time Sherlock added their third point from a free, Kerry had 0-7 on the board, five of them from Sean O’Shea. 

Colm O'Callaghan of Cork kick's a point. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

One of those included a two-point free awarded for a Cork breach up top. There was a pattern of Cork inefficiency developing here.

A lot of local curiosity would have been trained on Strand Road’s Tomas Kennedy, and his AFL-standard fielding ability. 

Tony Brosnan offered him one carrot late in the half and Kennedy obliged to win the free. It resulted in a 30th minute tap over David Clifford, the Footballer of the Year’s first of the day. And last.

Kerry entertain Roscommon in Killarney next week, but the win for Cork will surely offer impetus for their Division 2 opener at home to Cavan. A game they have to win.

Scorers for Kerry: S O’Shea (0-5, 1 2pf, 1 45), T Brosnan (0-5, 1 2f), E Henrich, D Casey, K Spillane, D Clifford (free), R Murphy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: B Hurley (0-5, 2 2pfs), M Cronin (0-2, frees), C O’Callaghan, C Og Jones and S McDonnell (0-2 each), L Fahy, S Sherlock, M Taylor (0-1 each).

KERRY: S Ryan; E Looney, J Foley, D Casey; A Heinrich, M Breen, T Morley; J O'Connor, C Trant; D O'Sullivan, S O'Shea, D Lyne; D Clifford, T Kennedy (Kerins O'Rahillys), Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes).

Subs for Kerry: S O’Brien for Trant; M Burns for Lyne; R Murphy for D O’Sullivan; S Broderick for Ryan (all half time), T O’Donnell for O’Shea, C Keating for Breen , L Smith for O’Connor (all 43), K Spillane for Clifford (47), P O’Leary for S O’Brien (temp), K Evans for Kennedy, E O’Connor for Looney (53), P O’Leary for Morley (55).

CORK: P Doyle; S Brady, D O’Mahony, J O’Driscoll (Valley Rovers); B O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), R Maguire, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, S Walsh; R Deane, S McDonnell, C Cahalane; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.

Subs for Cork: M Shanley for Brady; M Taylor for Fahy; T Walsh for J O’Driscoll; B Hurley for Sherlock; M A Martin for Doyle, P Walsh for Deane (all half-time), S Meehan for B O’Driscoll (42), C Daly for Cronin (43), D Sheedy for Cahalane (43), M McSweeney for S Walsh (50).

Referee: E Morrissey (Waterford).