PAIRC STRIFE

Rebels torn to shreds on first day out at new stadium as Geaney and Kerry starlets storm into the Super 8s

GAA CORK 2-4 KERRY 3-18

Kerry gave the old ground an emphatic send off in 2014 when, inspired by James O’donoghue, they streaked to a 12-point victory, and they christened the new one last night with an even more emphatic victory.

O’donoghue did his bit with 0-3 this time but Kerry’s attack carried a wide range of threat, chiefly from Paul Geaney, who hit 2-5, to inflict their biggest defeat on Cork since 1938.

It was a shocking display from Cork in front of 27,764 in the first Championship football match at the new Pairc Ui Chaoimh as Kerry claimed their 80th Munster title and sixth in succession, a feat they last managed in 1980.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s side become the second team into the last eight alongside Galway, who they will meet in their next game at Croke Park in July.

A blistering start gave rise to expectations of a classic but it settled down into the type of Kerry procession that we have become more accustomed to.

Ruairi Deane started on the inside line for Cork and was troublesome early on, first fielding a Sean White delivery in the second minute and es- chewing a point opportunity by taking the ball on before squaring it to Jamie O’sullivan to palm to an unguarded net.

Kerry’s response was immediate. David Clifford got them off the mark with a point before Stephen O’brien burned Stephen Cronin for pace and slotted past Mark White in the fifth minute.

Another point from Geaney suggested that they had quelled Cork’s early fire, but not just yet.

Deane’s directness again caused trouble for Kerry as his angled run at goal opened them up again. Another pass across goal left Mark Collins with the easy finish in the ninth minute.

A minute later Luke Connolly sliced over a fine point and jabbed his finger in the air as Cork took a two-point lead – 2-1 to 1-2 – but the home side ran out of ideas from there.

Kerry got a foothold at midfield and suffocated numerous Cork attacks and clipped over 0-9 without reply for the rest of the half.

It wasn’t even that Cork were missing chances; too often they coughed up possession far too easily with Kerry mopping up and driving forward, boring holes in their defence at will.

Five of Kerry’s six forwards scored in the first half and Paul Murphy skipped forward to kick a couple of points to boot. Micheal Burns, their only scoreless forward, was replaced by Darran O’sullivan at half-time.

Sam Ryan was struggling on Clifford in the early stages and was black-carded in the 18th minute after bringing down the Fossa starlet.

There were two further black cards before half-time as O’brien needlessly rugby-tackled Ryan’s replacement James Loughrey following a short kickout while Deane’s eventful evening came to an early conclusion too.

He was the most unlucky of the three as referee Ciaran Branagan decreed that he deliberately bundled over Jason Foley off the ball in the 25th minute.

By half-time, Kerry led 1-11 to 2-1 and any hopes of a Cork comeback were quickly extinguished on the restart when Geaney hit their second goal from Kevin Mccarthy’s pass within two minutes.

Clifford could have immediately added another only for his shot to be deflected just past the post, though Sean O’shea slotted the resultant 45 to stretch it to 11 points with 32 minutes left.

Connolly’s 46th minute free ended saw Cork’s scoring drought end after 36 minutes but the game slowed to pedestrian pace as Kerry ran in the bench.

A third goal eventually arrived through Geaney after 69 minutes.