Kingdom survive second-half surge from Rebels
Kerry 1-16 Cork 0-17
Kerry had to withstand a spirited Cork comeback before holding on to dethrone the Rebels and capture their 75th Munster SFC title in the sunshine at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.
The Kingdom seemed poised for a facile win when they opened up an interval lead of 1-10 to 0-6 against a Cork side who were unable to meet the challenge of the home side.
Indeed, Kerry would have wrapped up the issue had they been more lethal in attack with eight wides, including a great goal chance for James O’Donoghue, undermining their challenge.
Eight different scorers found the range for Kerry in the opening half — three more followed after the restart — as they took a firm control of proceedings.
Kerry led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter and while John O’Rourke and Paul Kerrigan reduced the margin to the minimum after 20 minutes, Kerry pulled away and led by double scores when Cooper slotted to the net after a good run by Declan O’Sullivan.
Cork manager Conor Counihan made three changes for the start of the second-half and the holders were more fired-up after the restart.
But while former Antrim player James Loughrey and Daniel Goulding found the target for Cork, Kerry pulled further in front as points from O’Donoghue, Cooper (two) and Marc O Sé opened up a lead of 1-14 to 0-8 after 48 minutes.
Cork rallied after that and hit the next six points from Goulding (two), Donncha O’Connor, Ciaran Sheahan, Aidan Walsh and Brian Hurley to leave it 1-14 to 0-14 with eight minutes remaining.
Bryan Sheehan eased the pressure on Kerry with a trademark long range free before Loughrey got his second score. Peter Crowley and Hurley exchanged points and Goulding’s seventh point left two between them after Hurley had a goal effort saved by Brendan Kealy as the Kingdom held on for victory.
B Kealy (0-1f); M O’Sé (0-1), M Griffin, S Enright; T O’Sé, K Young, P Crowley (0-1); A Maher (0-1), J Buckley (0-1f); P Galvin (0-1), C Cooper (1-3, 0-3f), D Walsh; Darran O’Sullivan (0-1), Declan O’Sullivan (0-2), J O’Donoghue (0-3).
K Donaghy for Walsh (56), F Fitzgerald for T O Sé (59), E Brosnan for Young (60), B Sheehan (0-1f) for Buckley (62)
K O’Halloran; E Cadogan, M Shields, D Cahalane; J Loughrey (0-2), P Kissane, N O’Leary; G Canty, A Walsh (0-1); F Goold, D O’Connor (0-2, 1f), J O’Rourke (0-1); D Goulding (0-7, 4f, 2 ’45), B Hurley (0-2), P Kerrigan (0-1).
A O’Connor for Cahalane (34), T Clancy (Clonakilty) for Cadogan (35), P O’Neill for O’Rourke (35), C Sheahan (0-1) for O’Connor (54).
Marty Duffy (Sligo).
