Whirlwind Clifford goal sets Kerry back on the path to old firm victory

MUNSTER MFC FINAL Kerry 3-13 Cork 3-8

AT times it was looked like the Kerry minors were in a spot of difficulty in their efforts to claim a fourth consecutive Munster Minor title. However when David Clifford billowed the net in the 48th minute after catching the Cork defence flatfooted and paying a quick 1-2 with the returning Cormac Linnane, the Minors pushed on to claim an eventual five point victory.

Twelve minutes in it looked like Kerry were on for a convincing victory after two early goals had them 2-3 to 0-2 in front. Mike Breen and Clifford combined for full-forward Bryan Sweeney to find the back of the net in the sixth minute before six minutes later Clifford was involved in the build-up again as this time it was team captain Sean O’Shea who fired home in an ideal Kingdom opening.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Kerry however as Cork started to ask a few questions of the Kerry defence in the second quarter of the first-half breaking through in the 25th minute for their first goal of proceedings. Colm O’Callaghan fed Mark Buckley whose finish left only three points between the sides. Points from Clifford and Dara Moynihan pushed Kerry’slead back out to five butthe hosts needed a good defensive block down by Graham O’Sullivan on Buckley to stop Cork breaking through again. Buckley did manage to find a point before the half-time whistle to make it 2-7 to 1-6 at the break. Cork came out with much more purpose at the start of the second-half than they had at the start of the first even if their second goal in the 32nd minute was a subject of debate.

Despite a block on a shot from O’Callaghan heading goal-ward it appeared that Billy Courtney had cleared the ball off the line. However the umpire awarded the goal to the Rebel County before a point from Buckley had the scores level a minute later. What followed was a nervous period in proceedings where both sides packed the numbers into their defences with only one score up to the three-quarter mark, that being a free from Clifford in the 40th minute.

When the same player put over the next score the game opened up again but Kerry were caught out at the back once more with the concession of a third goal. A misjudgement on a high ball from full-back Niall Collins saw Buckley take full advantage in putting Cork 3-7 to 2-9 in front.

Kerry responded decisively however to this setback. Clifford punished a bad lapse in concentration by the Cork defence in scoring their third goal with 12 minutes left and the hosts never looked back from there. A Cathal Maguire point was all the visitors could manage in the closing stages as Kerry started to become a lot more ambitious in their play.

Wing-back Micheál Foley came forward for two points and tried for a goal that would have increased Kerry’s winning margin even further only for the ball to go wide off the post. Clifford would finish with 1-5 in total as captain Seán O’Shea pitched in with 1-3 in an impressive response to the pressure that the Kerry Minors were put under after a strong start.

Centre-Back Dan O’Brien and midfielder Mike Breen provided good leadership as well particularly during that nervous period in the second half. Four consecutive Munster titles sees Peter Keane follow in the footsteps of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan and Jack O’Connor in continuing Kerry’s revival at Minor level. The All-Ireland series will be a different challenge but no doubt Keane and his management team will be interested spectators at the Ulster Minor Final in two weeks time when Donegal take on Derry in Clones.

The loser of that particular fixture will be Kerry’s opponents in the All-Ireland quarter-final on the August Bank Holiday

weekend. KERRY: Billy Courtney (Dr Crokes), Micheál Reidy (Ballymacelligott), Niall Collins (Listowel Emmets), Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), Michael Potts (Dr Crokes), Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk), Micheál Foley (Ballydonoghue, 0-2), Mike Breen (Beaufort), Mark Ryan (Rathmore), Dara Moynihan (Spa, 0-2), Seán O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks, 1-3, 2f, 1 ‘45’), Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil), David Clifford (Fossa, 1-5, 2f), Bryan Sweeney (Listowel Emmets, 1-0), Brian Friel (Rathmore, 0-1). Subs: David Naughton (Dr Crokes) for Reidy, Cormac Linnane (Beale) for Sweeney, David Shaw (Dr Crokes) for Friel, Caolim Teahan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for Ryan, Ferdia O’Brien (Austin Stacks) for O’Connor, Stefan Okunbar (Na Gaeil) for Foley. CORK: Mark White, Alan McCarthy, Aidan Browne, Liam O’Donovan, Tadhg Corkery, Nathan Walsh, Rory O’Driscoll, Jack Ryan, Sean Ryan, Sean O’Sullivan, Colm O’Callaghan (1-0), Cathal Maguire (0-2), Damien Gore (0-4, 4f), Mark Buckley (2-2), Kevin O’Donovan. Subs: Cathal Foley for Jack Ryan, Shane O’Driscoll for O’Sullivan, Gearoid O’Donoghue for Sean Ryan, Sean Minihane for O’Driscoll, Cathal O’Mahony for O’Donovan. REFEREE: Alan Kissane (Waterford)