Cork likely to maintain home rule

U-21 FOOTBALL MUNSTER FINAL Cork v Kerry:MUNSTER'S 50TH showcasing of their under-21 football final this evening couldn't contrast more with proceedings in Leinster: between them Cork and Kerry have collected 46 of the titles won since 1962, with only Waterford, Limerick and Tipperary sharing the other three between them.

Kerry might be ahead on that roll of honour, having won 25 titles to Cork’s 21, but Cork have won the last four matches played at a Cork venue – and also beat Kerry in their last final meeting, in 2004. Kerry’s last win over Cork came back in 1997, after a replay.

The first final, played in 1962, saw Kerry beat Cork in Kenmare, and all surviving members of those teams will be honoured this evening.

Kerry welcome back Barry John Keane from suspension to replace the injured Barry John Walsh at centre forward, and David O’Leary from Dr Crokes, younger brother of Kieran, also replaces Pa Kilkenny at corner back – with Thomas Ladden coming into midfield in place of Colm Moriarty.

Otherwise manager John Kennedy has gone with the team that beat Limerick in the semi-final, 3-15 to 2-6. Cork boast 2010 Young Player of the Year Aidan Walsh at midfield, and keep faith with the team that beat Tipperary – the reigning Munster champions – in the semi-final, 0-21 to 2-3.

That suggests Cork’s range of scoring forwards, coupled with home advantage, might be just a little too much for Kerry to handle.

KERRY: B Kelly; P Crowley, M Griffin, D O'Leary; J Sherwood, B Shanahan, J Lyne; T Ladden, E Walsh; J O'Donoghue, BJ Keane, A Fitzgerald; S O'Brien, D Casey, P Geaney.

CORK: S Mellet; L Jennings, D Cahalane, A Cronin; P Daly, T Clancy, J Wall; M O'Laoire, A Walsh; C Sheehan, M Collins, J O'Rourke; D Óg Hodnett, B O'Driscoll, P Honohan.