Cork 2-18
Kerry 1-11
NO REQUIREMENT FOR calculators or counters to determine whether or not Kerry sneaked into the semi-finals. No, this was an emphatic a win for Cork over the old enemy as one is likely to see in quite a while.
With Cork’s place in the play-offs already assured before their visit to Tralee one wondered would Brian Cuthbert and his players ease off and make Kerry’s task a little easier. Would they heck. Goals from Paul Kerrigan and Colm O’Neill – one in either half – helped the Rebels to an impressive 10-point win, but it was the exploits of Brian Hurley that was the standout performance.
Hurley helped himself to eight points – seven from play and a converted free that he won for himself – in a tour de force at full forward that will send Cork to next weekend’s semi-finals with confidence high.
For Kerry it wasn’t so much about getting through to a semi-final – something that was out of their hands – rather it was about winning the game to give them a chance, or at least finishing their league campaign with a sound performance and some momentum. They did neither.
At half time they trailed by just a point – 1-6 to 1-7 – with Paul Geaney’s 29th minute goal nudging the Kingdom 1-5 to 0-6 ahead. Cork’s response was swift, however, with Paul Kerrigan bursting through and beating Brian Kelly at his near post to leave Cork 1-7 to 1-6 ahead at the break.
Kerry replaced Anthony Maher in midfield at half time and lost Darran O’Sullivan to injury three minutes into the second half but it was all about Cork on the scoreboard.
Hurley continued to kick some outrageous scores as points from Damien Cahalane and Kerrigan pushed Cork into a 1-13 to 1-7 lead after 50 minutes.
Colm O’Neill’s entrance in the 52nd minute earned a little cheer from the travelling support but he garnered a far bigger roar with his first touch, which was to fire the ball past Kelly to send Cork nine clear and into a semi-final showdown with Dublin.
KERRY: Brian Kelly, Paul Murphy, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright, Peter Crowley (0-1), Fionn Fitzgerald, Marc O Se, Anthony Maher, David Moran (0-1), Donnchadh Walsh, Daithi Casey (0-1), Kieran O’Leary, Stephen O’Brien (0-1), Paul Geaney (1-2, 0-2f), James O’Donoghue (0-4, 2f).
Subs: Darran O’Sullivan for D walsh (31), Johnny Buckley for A Maher (ht), Bryan Sheehan (0-1f) for D O’Sullivan (inj, 38), Jack Sherwood for M O Se (44), Aidan O’Mahony for M Griffin (53), Barry John Keane for P Geaney (58)
CORK: Ken O’Halloran, Michael Shields, Jamie O’Sullivan, Tom Clancy, James Loughrey, Patrick Kelly, Damian Cahalane (0-1), Fintan Goold (0-1), Andrew O’Sullivan, Colm O’Driscoll (0-1), Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan (1-2), Barry O’Driscoll, Brian Hurley (0-8, 1f), John Hayes (0-2).
Subs: Colm O’Neill (1-1) for J Hayes (50), Donncha O’Connor (0-1) for A O’Sullivan (52), Daniel Goulding (0-1) for C O’Driscoll (54), Tomas Clancy for M Shields (59), Micheal O Laoire for B O’Driscoll (63), Rory O’Sullivan for P Kelly.
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)