Kerry too strong as Cork sent crashing into Division Two

Kerry 0-20 Cork 1-12

Kerry on the day proved the more resourceful side and based on a strong first half performance they were too strong for a Cork side who are now relegated but they fought back well in the second half of this typical derby clash, in the final round of the AFL Division 1 league, played in glorious sunshine at the Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

Kerry were coasting in the opening half as they cruised into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead after fifteen minutes with Colm Cooper and Alan Fitzgerald kicking some good points , and Cork simply could not get going. Kerry pulverized Cork from the very outset as they ruled the roost at midfield where Kieran Donaghy and David Moran commanded the airwaves and Mark Griffin who had followed Ruairi Deane outfield, collected numerous breaks as Kerry poured forward at every opportunity.

Johnny Buckley and Donnchadh Walsh were also influential figures and Fitzgerald added another free while Cooper scored his 3rd point of the half with a beauty after an O’Brien assist.

Johnny Buckley soon had Kerry eight points clear with 14 minutes to go to half-time before Cork finally ended their scoring drought with a Colm O’Neill free after Marc O’Se was called for an off-the-ball foul.

Then Cork began to get to the pace of the game and was afforded a life line, when Peter Crowley appeared taking down Ian Maguire just out the square but referee David Gough who managed to irritate both sets of players, pointed to the spot and Crowley received a black card. Colm O’Neill slotted home the spot kick and Cork would have been happy to be retiring just three points adrift, 0-11 to 1-5 and that despite all their scores coming from placed balls.

To their credit, they fought hard in the 2nd half and were actually level with 10 minutes to go but Kerry were not going to be denied and with their defence holding firm and players like Barry John Keane and Brendan O’Sullivan coming off the bench along with the outstanding Fionn Fitzgerald it is Kerry that can look forward to a date in Croke Park next weekend while Cork must embrace the prospect of life in Division 2 next season.

Colm O’Neill from frees and Brian Hurley from frees and play, contributed 1-8 of Cork’s total, so this game mirrored much of what has gone wrong for Cork in this league.

Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice was pleased with maintaining Kerry’s unbeaten run “ We were delighted with the win and you have to pay massive tribute to the players the way the stood up to the challenge, we always knew it was going to be a tough battle and we got off to a great start but let Cork back into it and he penalty before half time gave them life. We were under no illusion on how difficult the game was going to be but you have to give massive credit to the players the way they stood up in second half.”

Fitzmaurice was happy with the response of his side when Cork levelled with ten to go” You have to give a lot of credit to the subs, the brought energy and helped close out the game. As well as that the lads that were there made good decisions and it got tight but they were calm and kept trying to do the right thing and when you come you come through a test like there’s great satisfaction of course.”

Cork selector Eoin O’Neill was naturally downbeat “We were disappointed with our start. The start was the winning and the losing of the game for us today. In fairness to Kerry, they got a very good start and came at us very strongly. They got the result today and we didn’t.

Colm’s penalty was a big score. It gave us a bit of a lifeline and something to work on. It gave us a bit of breathing space and something to work on. I thought for 20-odd minutes of the second-half that we were the better team. We just died then a small bit, Kerry got a couple of scores to kick on. That is life. That is the way it goes. If you don’t play for the full 70 minutes like a team like Kerry, you will get caught.”

O’Neill reckons luck was not on Cork side when it came to be relegated “

We won it in 2009 and came up after that. It is kind of funny that the three teams we beat are below us and we are the people going down. We are paying the price for one very bad display, in terms of the scoring side of it. That it is the way it is. We have won three games and lost four. Kerry have lost four games and stayed up in recent years. Luck isn’t on our side today. The league is over, now. It is done and dusted.”

Man of the Match: Fionn Fitzgerald (Kerry).

Scorers – Kerry: C Cooper 0-6 (0-3 frees); A Fitzgerald 0-5 (5 frees), M O'Se, M Griffin, K Donaghy, D Moran ('45), J Buckley, D Walsh, F Fitzgerald, S O'Brien and B O'Sullivan 0-1 each. Cork: C O'Neill 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-3 frees); B Hurley 0-5 (0-3 frees); D Goulding 0-2, B O'Driscoll, P Kerrigan 0-1 each.

Kerry: B Kealy; M O Se, M Griffin, S Enright; P Crowley, K Young, P O'Connor; K Donaghy, D Moran; J Buckley, P Murphy, D Walsh; S O'Brien, C Cooper, A Fitzgerald. Subs: F Fitzgerald for P Crowley (b/c h/t); B O'Sullivan for J Buckley (52); BJ Keane for A Fitzgerald (55); J Lyne for M Griffin (62); M Geaney for D Walsh (66); T Walsh for S O'Brien (66).

Cork: R Price; C O'Driscoll, E Cadogan, K Crowley; D Hazel, T Clancy, B O'Driscoll, K O'Driscoll, I Maguire; S Kiely, P Kerrigan, M Collins; R Deane , C O'Neill, B Hurley. Subs: J O'Sullivan for D Hazel ( 22), L Connolly for R Deane ( 43) , D Goulding for C O'Neill (55); F Goold for C O'Driscoll (62); and M Shields for E Cadogan (62).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).