All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Final – Cork 0-13 Kildare 1-7

Cork defeated Kildare by 0-13 to 1-7 in the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Final on Saturday August 24th at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick.

Rebels strike again

By Denis Hurley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Cork 0-13 Kildare 1-07

With 16 All-Ireland junior football titles before Saturday, and one every second year since 2005, it might come as no surprise to see Cork add another by beating Kildare in the Gaelic Grounds. This was no procession, however, not even with the aid of a dominant first half which saw them lead by 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time. A spirited second-half revival from Kildare, buttressed by a goal from Keith Cribbin, had them level with 10 minutes left as Cork laboured.

Crucially, though, the Lilywhites never hit the front, and Cork did enough in the closing stages, with Cathal Vaughan, Ruairí Deane and Kevin O’Driscoll hitting late points. Cork go further clear on the roll of honour, but manager Paul McCarthy expected a tough challenge after needing extra-time against the same opponents in the 2011 final. “Two years ago, we were seven points down quite early in the game,” he said, “and our mantra for the last few weeks was that we’d be the team taking the initiative. “We knew Kildare wouldn’t give up, they have big strong players and they just battle and battle. We probably had the players who were able to take the points whereas they lacked that a little bit.”

In the first half, that difference was magnified as five of the starting Cork forwards scored from play, despite Kildare playing a sweeper. Former senior Fiachra Lynch conducted operations from full-forward, scoring two fine efforts and being involved in the build-up play for three more. Wing-forward Colm O’Driscoll was a live wire and Cathal Vaughan impressed from play and frees, with Micheál Ó Laoire and Deane going well at midfield. At times, Cork’s defence looked vulnerable, but Kildare never did enough to fully test that, as Ciarán Fitzpatrick and Cathal McNally only saw glimpses of goal with half-chances.

Turning with a 0-9 to 0-3 deficit, Kildare opened the second-half scoring through Cian Bolton, but Vaughan answered that with a Cork free and matters looked set to follow a similar pattern to the first half. Seven minutes in, Kildare gave themselves a huge boost as Cribbin found the net, but it was not without assistance from their opponents. After Cork gave the ball away cheaply, Cribbin’s point attempt was deflected and when the danger was not sufficiently dealt with, the midfielder was on hand to net from close range.

When Hughie Mahon and then captain Séamus Hanafin added further Kildare points, Cork were up against it, and an anxiety had slipped into their play. Mahon, after a nice one-two with sub Gavin Farrell, then tied matters at 0-10 to 1-7 and with 10 minutes left it was anybody’s game. That Vaughan immediately put Cork back in front was key, and then Deane – after a good run – provided breathing space.

Kildare mounted one last attack as they searched for a winning goal, but Cork broke and Kevin O’Driscoll concluded matters with this second point, leaving McCarthy delighted. “We were never led at any stage,” he said. “We had six of the 2011 team and a lot have played in All-Ireland latter stages at various levels. They drew on that experience. “One other small simple matter is that they’re damn good footballers when it comes to it as well.”

Scorers for Cork: C Vaughan (0-5, 3f), K O’Driscoll, F Lynch (0-2 each), R Deane, M Ó Laoire, A O’Brien, C O’Driscoll (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kildare: H Mahon (0-3), K Cribbin (1-0), C Bolton (0-2, 1f), S Hanafin (f), P Mahon, C McNally (0-1 each).

CORK: D Hanrahan; AJ O’Connor, E O’Mahony, K Harrington; Richard O’Sullivan, Rory O’Sullivan, S Kiely; R Deane, M Ó Laoire; C Vaughan, A O’Brien, C O’Driscoll; K O’Driscoll, F Lynch, D Harrington.

Subs: P Daly for O’Mahony (32-33, blood sub), Daly for Rory O’Sullivan (43), M Vaughan for Harrington (45), E Buckley for O’Brien (59).

KILDARE: C Heneghan; J O’Connor, W Burke, P Warren; D Barker, C Fitzpatrick, C O’Shea; K Cribbin, S Darcy; C Fagan, S Hanafin, H Mahon; P Mahon, C Bolton, C McNally.

Subs: G Waters for Warren (35), G Farrell for Darcy (41), D Grehan for P Mahon (55), D Duke for H Mahon (60).

Referee: G McCormack (Dublin)

Cork hold off Kildare fightback to take All-Ireland junior football title

Report from the Irish Times newspaper

Cork 0-13 Kildare 1-7: Cork had a big scare on their way to winning the All Ireland junior football championship for the 17th time at Limerick on Saturday. They totally dominated the first half against Kildare but then had to battle hard to win back the title they last held two years ago when it took extra time to see off Kildare. Six of that winning side started again this time for Cork who made a brisk start with points by Colm O’Driscoll (2) and Andrew O’Brien before Seamus Hanafin had Kildare’s first score after 13 minutes. By half time Cork were six points clear, 0-9 to 0-3, and while Kildare wasted two goal chances they were outclassed in that 30 minutes.

But it was a different matter subsequently and when Keith Cribben smashed home a Kildare goal after 37 minutes it was very much game on. It was all Kildare in the third quarter with Cork being able to manage only a single point from a free by Cathal Vaughan. When Kildare levelled with ten minutes remaining they looked on course for their first win in this grade. But 11 second half wides did not help their cause and in the last ten minutes Cork regained the iniative thanks to points by Vaughan, midfielder Ruairi Deane and Kevin O’Driscoll to seal the win.

CORK: D Hanrahan; AJ O’Connor, E O’Mahony, K Harrington; Richard O’Sullivan, Rory O’Sullivan , S Kiely; R Deane (0-1), M O’Leary (0-1); C Vaughan (0-5, 0-3 frees), A O’Brien (0-1), C O’Driscoll (0-2); K O’Driscoll (0-2), F Lynch (0-1), D Harrington. Subs: P Daly for Rory O’Sullivan (42 mins), M Vaughan for (44 mins), E Buckley for O’Brien (59 mins),

KILDARE: C Heneghan; J O’Connor, W Burke, P Warren; D Barker, C Fitzpatrick, C O’Shea; K Cribben (1-0), S Darcy; H Mahon (0-2), S Hanafin (0-2, 0-1 free), C Fagan; P Mahon (0-1) , C Bolton (0-2, 0-1 free), C McNally. Subs: G Walters for Warren (36 mins), G Farrell for Darcy (40 mins), D Grehan for P Mahon (54 mins), D Duke for H Mahon (59 mins), M French for Hanafin (60 mins).

Referee: G McCormack (Dublin).

Cork 0-13 Kildare 1-7

Report from the Cork GAA web site

Cork lived dangerously for much of the second half, but a strong first half performance was enough to earn them a seventeenth title at this level at the Gaelic Grounds this evening. Colm O’Driscoll opened the scoring after three minutes, and Cork led by three points before Kildare got their first on the board, and the Rebels dominated the first half to lead by 0-9 to 0-3 at half time. However, Kildare got off to a much better start in the second half, and a goal after six minutes brought them right back into contention. They continued the fightback to level the game at 0-10 to 1-7, before top scorer Cathal Vaughan edged Cork back in front. The final minutes were nervy ones for Cork, but points from Ruairi Deane and Kevin O’Driscoll sealed the win.

Well done to all involved!

Cork: David Hanrahan, AJ O’Connor, Eoin O’Mahony, Kevin Harrington, Richard O’Sullivan, Rory O’Sullivan, Seán Kiely, Ruairi Deane (0-1), Micheál O Laoire (0-1), Cathal Vaughan(0-5, 0-2f), Andrew O’Brien(0-1), Colm O’Driscoll (0-1), Kevin O’Driscoll (0-2), Fiachra Lynch (0-2), David Harrington.

Subs: Peter Daly for O’Sullivan (42′), Michael Vaughan for D. Harrington (44′), Eoghan Buckley for O’Brien (58′)

Fixture Details

GAA Football All Ireland Junior Championship Final

Gaelic Grounds Limerick 18:00

Cill Dara v Corcaigh

Referee: Gary McCormack (Áth Cliath)

(E.T. if Necessary)

Team News

The Cork Junior Football team to play Kildare in the All-Ireland Final on Saturday at 6pm in Limerick will line out as follows:

1. David Hanrahan

2. A.J. O Connor 3. Eoin O’Mahony 4. Kevin Harrington

5. Richard O’Sullivan 6. Rory O’Sullivan 7. Sean Kiely

8. Ruairi Deane 9. Michael Ó Laoire

10. Cathal Vaughan 11. Andrew O’Brien 12. Colm O’Driscoll

13. Kevin O’Driscoll 14. Fiachra Lynch 15. David Harrington

16. Sean Mellett Carrigaline

17. Niall McCarthy Kinsale

18. Peter Daly St. Mary’s

19. John Cronin Lisgoold

20. Kevin Barrett Kilmurry

21. Seamus Hickey Rockchapel

22. Eoghan Buckley St. Michaels

23. Michael Vaughan Millstreet

24. Mark Sugrue Bandon

The team shows one change from that which defeated Lancashire in the semi-final, with David Harrington replacing Michael Vaughan.