Kelleher crown comes back to the Rebel County

CORK ended a barren few weeks in football fortunes to collect the Humphrey Kelleher Cup after overcoming Kerry North in the Munster Under 15 Tournament at Millstreet on Saturday.

The young Rebels did so by using the principles of ball winning, slick movement and crafty finishing at the end of a productive opening half. That laid the groundwork for victory, a performance of pace and power with scores coming all angles and distances led by the impressive Quirke twins from Ballinora.

Kerry North had endured an energy sapping semi-final, extra time required to better Cork East by a single point and they came close to breaking the deadlock early on, Darragh Caplis denied by the Cork woodwork.

Cork got the scoreboard ticking nicely, centre forward Ivan Quirke netting twice in quick succession. For good measure, twin Michael, operating at wing back stepped up to land two splendid points.

Clearly Cork were up for the challenge, midfielders Shane Kingston and Conor Ushanowski established a strong platform for dominance.

Extending their advantage, Ciarán McCarthy pointed on the double and when defender Quirke stormed forward in search of a goal, his blocked effort fell nicely for David Coleman to net the rebound.

Kerry had struggled to get into the game though points to Caplis, Jordan Kissane and Shane Bastenville narrowed the arrears 3-4 to 0-5 at the break.

On the restart, Kerry made some progress, but never quite enough to establish a rhythm to find a route for a needed goal to knock the hosts off their stride with Cork ‘keeper Callum Dungan showing vigilance between the posts.

All through, Cork held the better attacking options; Seán Walsh, Paddy O’Driscoll and Tadgh Cronin adding points to complete a rewarding outing.

Mai Kelleher presented the Humphrey Kelleher Memorial Cup to Cork captain Shane Kingston.

CORK: C Dungan (Carrigaline); D O’Sullivan (Adrigole), D Murphy (Blarney), L McCarthy (Castlehaven); M Quirke (Ballinora) 0-2, F Walsh (Ardigeen Rangers), S Brady (Ballygarvan); S Kingston (Ballinora), C Ushanowski (Kilbrittain); B Humphreys (Valley Rovers), C McCarthy (Valley Rovers) 0-2 (0-1f), I Quirke (Ballinora) 2-0; D Coleman (Grenagh), 1-0 S Walsh (Ardigeen Rangers) 0-1, D Ó Ceallaigh (Naomh Abán) Subs: P O’Driscoll (Gabriel Óg) 0-2, T Cronin (St. Colums) 0-1, P Cotter (Crosshaven), G Kelleher (Newcestown), J O’Brien (Ballinascarthy), T McCarthy (Clonakilty), C O’Flynn (Ballinora), J O’Driscoll (Valley Rovers), I Harte (O’Donovan Rossa)

KERRY NORTH: S Broderick; R O’Connell, O Mansuel, J Nagle; C Kearney, D Moriarty, J O’Sullivan; D Rusk, S Bastible 0-1; A Joy, J Moriarty 0-1f, J Curtin; J Kissane 0-1, T Ó Sé 0-2f, D Caplis 0-2

Subs: C Walsh Murphy, D Quinn, 0-1 M Manning, L Kingston

REFEREE: B Barry Murphy (Aghabullogue)