Cork claim Kerins Cup

Cork 2-14 Kildare 1-12

CORK were comfortable winners over Kildare in the final of the John Kerins Cup in Callan last Saturday afternoon.

While the Kerins Cup is only a development competition and we shouldn’t read too much into it because of that, it would see that Keith Ricken and co have another fine team on their hands for the 2020 campaign.

In a highly entertaining opening half the sides were level at 0-3 apiece after three points, Kildare having take the lead after a minute through a Shane O’Sullivan free, but Cork came back with three points on the trot from Mark Cronin (2) and a Fionn Herlihy effort that went just over.

Darragh Kirwan punched a point before another Shane O’Sullivan free had them level. Kieran Twomey and Darragh Kirwan, showing lovely skill, shared points before Cork upped their game a tad, getting on top around the middle they opened a three point lead with points from Conor Russell (mark), Brian Hayes and Mark Cronin.

Kildare looked in a bit of bother at this stage but fought their way back into it with a Kirwan setting up O’Sullivan and then O’Sullivan added a free after a foul on Darren McDermott left just one separating the sides with 31 minutes on the clock.

However, as we approached the half time whistle Cork poured forward with Mark Cronin setting up to Blake Murphy and the Cork captain made no mistake firing low past Kyle Costello to give his side a four point lead at the break 1-7 to 0-6.

Kildare made a number of changes at the break, but it was Darragh Kirwan who reduced the lead to three with a fine point before a Cork attack saw Blake Murphy gain possession turn and shoot only for Kildare keeper, Kyle Costello to deny him with a brilliant save.

Blake Murphy extended the lead before Paddy McDermott made a burst out of defence to fire over for an inspirational score. However it was Cork who responded the better side with five points on the trot, all from play in a blistering six minute spell.

It was looking beyond The Lilies at this stage, but they again proved a side with lots of resilience and with points from Luke Griffin, a brilliant effort, and two from Shane O’Sullivan they edged within five points of their opponents.

However, a Cork attack down the left wing saw Blake Murphy burst past a defender before planting the ball in the Kildare net to make it 2-13 to 0-11. Mark Cronin added a point and the game was effectively over before Darren McDermott was shown a black card and while Shane O’Sullivan goal bound shot was deflected into the net and the same played added another free it was not enough as Cork won on a final score of Cork 2-14 Kildare 1-12.

CORK: Josh O’Keeffe; Colm O’Shea, Daniel O’Mahoney, Diarmuid Phelan; Ciaran O’Sullivan, Sean Desmond, Brian Lynch; Brian Hayes (0-2), Jack Lawton; Daniel O’Connell (0-1), Mark Cronin, Fionn Herlihy (01); Kieran Twomey (0-1), Blake Murphy (2-2, 1f), Conor Russell (0-1m) Subs: Eoghan Lehane for S Desmond, 26, Aodhán Ó Luasa for C Russell, half-time, Darragh Hayes for Kieran Twomey, half-time, Gerry O’Sullivan for F Herlihy, 40, Ciaran Nhyhan for J Lawton, 52

KILDARE: Kyle Costello; Jack Hamill, John Lawler, Sean Moore; DJ Earley; Jack Collins, Adam Conneely; Darren McDermott, Tony O’Connor; Alex Beirne, Darragh Kirwan (0-3), Findlay Nairn; Luke Griffin (0-1), Shane O’Sullivan (1-7, 5f), Paudi Behan Subs: Aaron Browne for A Beirne, half-time, Paddy McDermott (0-1) for DJ Earley, half-time; Jack Sargent for Jack Hamill, half-time, Mark Cully for Luke Griffin, 49, Aaron Browne for Adam Conneely, 49

REFFEEE: Chris Dwyer (Offaly)