Sheehan points way to victory

Kerry 1-14 Cork 0-10Kerry lowered the colours of raging hot favourites Cork in this Munster Minor Football Championship final at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, yesterday.

Despite having to play second fiddle early on, Kerry took over in the second half. They were strong in every department, and with Damian Breen dominant at midfield and last year's goalkeeper Bryan Sheehan revelling in his new role at full forward, they shredded the Cork defence in a one-sided second half.

Kerry were quickly into their stride with a superb point from the throw-in by Mickey Bowler, after good work by Bryan Sheehan.

Cork then settled, with Alan O'Connor fetching some great ball in the middle, but were woefully wasteful in front of goal, kicking six wides in the first quarter.

Paul Kerrigan was through on goal in the sixth minute but struck the post, before Cork had points from Patrick Kelly and Brian Cotter to lead 0-2 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.

Bryan Sheehan, Kerry's most dangerous forward, levelled from a free, before points from Colin Weste, Daniel Goulding and John Hayes had Cork 0-5 to 0-3 in front.

Then Kerry began to assume control, with Luke Quinn, Michael Curran and Pádraig Reidy excellent at the back and Breen finding Sheehan with regularity.

Kerry, with points from Sheehan and Kevin O'Sullivan, closed the gap and then in the 27th minute came the crucial score of the game when Sheehan set up Mickey Bowler, who rifled the ball to the Cork net. Kerry led 1-4 to 0-6 at half-time.

The second half was all Kerry as Cork folded their tent and managed only two points, from substitutes Jonathan O'Sullivan and Joe Shanahan. With Kerry's Breen rampant at midfield and Sheehan winning everything for his colleagues, it was all one-way traffic.

Three points from Sheehan, including a 55-yard free, and two more from Geaney, followed by a point from Jersey Houlihan, saw Kerry lead 1-10 to 0-7.

Brendan Kealy made a superb save to deny Weste in the 50th minute when he was through on goal but overall Kerry were the better side and fancied Cork simply had no answers in the final analysis.

KERRY: B Kealy, M Curran, L Quinn, P Reidy, C Kelliher, S O'Sullivan, J McGillicuddy, D Breen (0-1), B Moran, M Murphy (0-1), B O'Grady, M Bowler (1-2), K O'Sullivan (0-1), B Sheehan (0-6, 0-4 frees), D Geaney (0-2). Subs: S O'Shea for B Moran, J Houlihan (0-1) for K O'Sullivan, J O'Sullivan for C Kelliher, G Moynihan for D Geaney.

CORK: J Down, S O'Donoghue, E Cadogan, C Barrett, M Shields, N Horgan, P Murphy, A O'Connor, P Kelly (0-1), J Hayes (0-2), B Cotter (0-1), P Kerrigan, D Goulding (0-1), C Weste (0-2 frees), S Bermingham (0-1). Subs: J O'Sullivan (0-1) for Alan O'Connor, M Milner for P Kelly, H Curran for J Hayes, G O'Shea for C Barrett, J Shanahan (0-1) for D Goulding.

Referee: D Cahill ( Tipperary).