Tough match for Cork

The scoreline from Sunday’s Munster football championship semi-final doesn’t do justice to the Cork footballers, who were only a point adrift of Kerry going into the 52nd minute of this tough encounter at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

Following a foul on Mitchelstown’s Cathail O’Mahony by Tom O’Mahony in the opening moments, Stephen Sherlock gave the Rebels an early lead to help settle any nerves. All square after 9 minutes (0-2 apiece), Cork could be happy with their opening, with Sean Powter being a late addition to the team in place of Eoghan McSweeney.

However, white flags from Paudie Clifford, Stephen O’Brien and Seán O’Shea pushed Kerry out to a 3 point lead, before a long range free from Stephen Sherlock kept Cork in touch.

A change of ‘keeper for the Rebels, as Dylan Foley made his championship debut following the enforced withdrawal of Micheál Aodh Martin, who pulled up on a kick-out.

Three points from Sherlock and a score from O’Mahony brought the sides level by the 28th minute, however the Kingdom with 2 more scores eeked out an interval lead of 0-9 to 0-7, after 4 minutes of injury time.

KERRY PULL AWAY IN FINAL 20 MINUTES

Some six minutes into the second half, Cathail O’Mahony registered his second point from distance, neutralising Kerry’s opening second half score from Sean O’Shea. Cork held with the hot favourites, with O’Mahony’s white flag on 51 minutes getting the Rebels the closest they would be to the Kerry men (0-10 to 0-11).

Cork’s Brian Hurley was replaced by Damien Gore as the Kingdom slowly started to extend their lead, which was out to 8 points some 10 minutes later.

Sub Eoghan Sweeney curled over a sweet score to end their scoring drought, however it was looking too little too late with 5 minutes plus stoppage time to be played.

Paul Geaney’s final score stretched the winning margin to 12 points and the Kingdom only managed to assert their game in the final 20 minutes, with the Rebels competitive up to that point.

Mitchelstown can be proud of their representative Cathail O’Mahony, whose showing earned him a pick on the GAA team of the week.

Cork: Micheal Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers), Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers – 0-1), Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), Kevin Flahive (Douglas), John Cooper (Eire Og), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Matthew Taylor (Mallow), Ian Maguire (St Finbarrs), Colm O’Callaghan (Eire Og), Daniel Dineen (Cill na Martha), Sean Powter (Douglas), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Stephen Sherlock (St Finbarrs – 0-6, 0-5f), Brian Hurley (capt – Castlehaven), Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown – 0-3). Subs: Dylan Foley for M A Martin, Eoghan McSweeney (0-1) for D Dineen, Damien Gore for B Hurley, Tadhg Corkery for S Powter, Brian Hayes for J O’Rourke.

Hatchell) (Pic: George GOOD SHOWING FROM CATHAL - Cork and Mitchelstown’s Cathal O’Mahony in possession breaks past the challenge of Kerry duo Jason Foley and Tom O’Sullivan in the Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn. Kerry emerged victorious 0-11 to 0-23, with Cathal scoring 0-3 for the Rebels.

(Pic: T Fox) The Limerick primary schools’ team that played their Tipp counterparts on Sunday at the interval of the main Munster Senior championship round robin encounter at TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. The side included locals Jack Meade, Ballylanders NS (No 10) and Jack Roche, Kilfinane NS (No 11).