The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Juniors prevail in extra-time
MUNSTER JFC FINAL Kerry 4-24 Cork 3-20 (after extra-time)
EARLY in the second-half it looked like Kerry’s great run at Junior level would be coming to an end. A 2-12 to 0-9 deficit appeared difficult at that point to overhaul with Cork nearly getting in for a third after the Rebels had made a big goal line clearance at the other end. The Kingdom proved they had some amount of resilience however in not only drawing level with the Rebels but also going ahead before the drama continued with the hosts forcing extra-time in a frantic conclusion!
Kerry had made the better start in Pairc Uí Rinn in going 0-6 to 0-2 in front after 14 minutes but Tomas Mac an tSaoir had made two saves in that time to keep the visitors in front. There was nothing he could do a minute later however when Ronan O’Toole powered through for the game’s first goal as the crossbar preventing him from adding another three minutes later.
The Rebels had a run of six unanswered points with included some great scores from Anthony O’Connor and Killian O’Hanlon as they went on to a 1-11 to 0-9 lead at half-time. Matters looked worse for Kerry after the restart when Eoghan Buckley overcame the glaring sun to score Cork’s second goal as a subsequent free from O’Connor saw their lead at double scores only three minutes after the restart.
Kerry’s revival started soon after but first it had to overcome Bart Daly clearing off the line for Cork with Buckley going down the other end and nearly getting a third Cork goal wide of the post. It would have been curtains if it went in at that stage but it did give Kerry the sense goals might be in the offing. Brendan O’Sullivan gave O Sé another opportunity in the 38th minute which he converted this time to make the score 2-12 to 1-11. Four minutes later the sides were level as Phillip O’Connor fired home to bring Kerry level on the scoreboard as substitute Liam Carey and Conor Cox put Kerry two points ahead.
Anthony O’Connor ended a 16 minute scoring drought for the Rebels in the 49th minute but despite both sides trading the lead in the last 10 minutes Philip O’Connor appeared to have given Kerry their win in injury time.
Eanna Ó Conchúir was black carded and there was to be more drama as O’Hanlon slotted over the final score of normal time for the hosts in tying matters up at 2-17 apiece. Extra-time was eagerly anticipated but essentially it was decided by two Kerry attacks within a minute of each other in the first additional period as Brendan O’Sullivan was a provider again this time for O’Connor for his second as Tomas Ó Sé followed up with his own second following a massive scramble by the Cork defence and goalkeeper Anthony Casey to prevent him for doing so.
Kerry’s lead at the end of the first additional period was 4-20 to 2-18 and it gave them the cushion they needed to dominate the final 10 minutes, Cork’s only real joy in the second period coming at the end in their third goal as O’Toole scored his second for a seven point loss for the Rebels that seemed inconceivably earlier in proceedings. A fourth straight title continues Kerry’s domination of this event, whatever happens from here you sense they won’t forget this game in a hurry as their pedigree certainly got a massive examination.
Leitrim will provide the opposition in the All-Ireland Semi-Final but it will take some effort to overcome this particular Junior side you feel especially one that can concede 3-20 and still come out on top. It should form an interesting basis for their preparations for the All-Ireland after this 44th provincial success for the Kingdom.
KERRY: Tomás Mac an tSaoir (An Gaeltacht), Eamon Kiely (Brosna), Jack Maguire (Listowel Emmets), Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar), James Walsh (Knocknagoshel), Michael Foley (Ballydonoghue), Daniel O’Brien (Glenflesk), Roibéard Ó Sé (An Gaeltacht), Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia, 0-1), Phillip O’Connor (Cordal, 2-3), Jeff O’Donoghue (Glenflesk, 0-3, 1’45’, 1f), Eanna Ó Conchúir (An Gaeltacht), Killian Spillane (Templenoe, 0-2), Conor Cox (Listowel Emmets, 0-5, 3f), Tomás Ó Sé (An Gaeltacht, 2-4) Subs: Liam Carey (Beaufort, 0-4) for O’Donoghue, Ivan Parker (Churchill, 0-2, 2f) for Cox, PJ Mac Laimh (An Gaeltacht) for Foley, Brandon Barrett (Ardfert) for Ó Conchúir (Black Card), Evan Cronin (Spa) for Spillane, DJ Murphy (Gneeveguilla) for Walsh and Stephen O’Sullivan (Templenoe) for Carey.
CORK: Anthony Casey, Kieran Histon, Peter Murphy, Padraic Clancy, Darren O’Regan, Bart Daly, John Cronin, Michael O’Leary, Ronan O’Toole (2-1), Ryan Harkin, Killian O’Hanlon (0-3), Roy Downey, Eoghan Buckley (1-2), Seamus Hickey, Anthony O’Connor (0-11, 6f) Subs: Sean T O’Sullivan (0-1) for Downey, Lorcan O’Neill for O’Regan, Ronan O’Callaghan (0-1) for Hickey, Matthew Bradley for O’Sullivan and Diarmuid Colfer for Murphy (Black Card).
REFEREE: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)