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2025 Dalata Hotel Group GAA Under 20 Munster Football Championship Final – Kerry 2-15 Cork 1-10

April 28 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Kerry defeated Cork by 2-15 to 1-10 in the Dalata Hotel Group GAA Under 20 Munster Football Championship Final on Monday April 28th at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Kerry thump Cork to win fourth consecutive Munster U20 title

Report by Eoghan Cormican courtesy of the Irish Examiner newspaper

Munster U20 Championship final: Kerry 2-15 (2-0-15) Cork 1-10 (1-3-4)

The gap. This result didn’t confirm the gap. This result was the latest reinforcing of the gap. The gap is threatening to become a gulf. There are many who’d argue it already has.

An eight-point hammering. A four-in-a-row of Munster U20 titles for Kerry. A 10th consecutive Kerry victory over Cork at all grades. The breakdown is as follows: three at senior, four at U20, and another three at minor.

May 11, 2023, was the evening the Cork minors scored a no-jeopardy Munster championship win over Kerry. It remains the last occasion a Cork football team bested one in green and gold.

At underage, Cork are now closer to the chasing pack behind them than they are to the green and gold spec way, way out in front of them. That is no knee-jerk statement. Cork were fortunate to be part of this Munster final line-up, Tipp were even more unfortunate that they were not.

The wholly lopsided schools scene serves only to support all the evidence presented above. No Cork winner of the Corn Uí Mhuirí since 2011. The 13 editions since then have seen the silverware reside in the Kingdom. One Cork school reached the last four of the most recent edition. There, they were walloped 20 points. One Cork school is all that made last year’s semi-finals too. There, they were walloped 11 points.

That Cork have been right there with the neighbours at senior level for the past three years – one score separating the counties each time – should in no way mask the very worrying slide underneath. Cork’s development structures require significant scrutiny and reappraisal.

Three years ago at minor level, seven of the Cork players that featured here were part of a side that scored a comprehensive 3-11 to 0-9 Munster final win over the neighbours. Three years further on at U20, Kerry won their two championship meetings with the neighbours by a combined total of 18 points. In both games, Cork trailed by 15 and 14 points respectively before a flurry of late scores took the ugliness off the final scoreline.

The final scoreline here can’t mask everything. Cork midfielder Darragh Clifford kicked their opening point from play two minutes in. There were 55 minutes on the clock when Cork managed a second score from play through Dara Sheedy. Cork managed only three scores in the opening half. Sheedy’s aforementioned 55th minute point was only their second of the turnaround.

Kerry ran through them and yet Kerry were so wasteful. Expect three-in-a-row Munster winning boss Tomás O Sé to focus on the latter rather than the former.

Their first goal was gifted to them on 28 minutes. Dara Sheedy fumbled, Killian Dennehy finished. Paddy Lane pointed in the ensuing play. From 0-7 to 0-3 ahead to 1-8 to 0-3 out the gap by half-time. Tomás Kennedy, after Lane was blocked, fisted in a second three minutes upon the restart. The returning and outstanding Ben Murphy, Kennedy, and Daniel Kirby all could have added to that green flag tally.

The visitors finished with 11 wides. They annihilated the Cork kick-out for large swathes, their kick-passing and movement through the centre was superb, and yet the final product, be it nonchalance or overconfidence, too often let them down.

A Colm Clifford goal and two-pointers from Aaron O’Sullivan, his second, and sub Darragh Gough rewrote the final difference. Cork, though, remain a long way off rewriting the current chasm between the counties.

Cork, at underage, are no longer a barometer for Kerry to where they’re at. Kerry will see where they’re at when they meet the Ulster champions in the All-Ireland semi-final in mid-May. Tyrone bested them in last year’s All-Ireland final. Maghera and Omagh bested Mercy Mounthawk in the Hogan Cup this year and last. Ulster opposition raises them and challenges them in a way the red shirt no longer does.

Scorers for Kerry: T Kennedy (1-3, 0-1 mark); P Lane (0-4, 0-2 frees); K Dennehy (1-0); C Collins (0-2); A Ó Beaglaoich, B Murphy, E Boyle, R Carroll, D O’Sullivan, J Tagney (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: A O’Sullivan (0-5, 2tp frees, 0-1 ‘45); C Clifford (1-0); D Gough (0-2, tp free); D Clifford, B Hayes (0-1 free), D Sheedy (0-1 each).

KERRY: M Tansley (Austin Stacks); G Evans (Keel), D O’Connor (Kenmare Shamrocks), M Lynch (Dr Crokes); B Murphy (Austin Stacks), A Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), L Evans (Keel); E Healy (Listowel Emmets), D Kirby (Austin Stacks); C Collins (Rathmore), E Boyle (Ballyduff), K Dennehy (Cordal); P Lane (Austin Stacks), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), R Carroll (Austin Stacks).
SUBS: D O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) for Dennehy (40); J Tagney (Kenmare Shamrocks) for Collins (44); J Murphy (Austin Stacks) for Kirby, O Ferris (Ardfert) for Carroll (both 48); D Stack (Kilcummin) for Evans (50).

CORK: B Curtin (Valley Rovers); N O’Shea (Urhan), C Molloy (Nemo Rangers), G Daly (Mallow); C Clifford (Éire Óg), T Kiely (Mallow), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue); D Clifford (Éire Óg), C Gillespie (Aghabullogue); D Miskella (Ballincollig), D Sheedy (Bantry Blues), S O’Leary (Kilmurry); E Myers (Naomh Abán), B Hayes (Nemo Rangers), D O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).
SUBS: D Harrington (Clonakilty) for Myers (HT); B O’Connell (Ballincollig) for Woods (37); M Maguire (Castlehaven) for O’Neill (44); D Gough (Clonakilty) for Hayes (46); G Kearney (Kinsale) for Miskella (54).

REFEREE: E Morrissey (Waterford).

Fixture Details

Monday April 28th
2025 Dalata Hotel Group Munster GAA Under 20 Football Championship Final
Cork v Kerry
Venue: Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7:30pm
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford)
Extra Time if Necessary (Result on the Day)
Live on TG4

Ticket Information

General Admission: €15
Students/OAPs: €10
Under 16’s: Free

Tickets are available from participating Centra and Supervalu outlets or online via the link below.

Click here to buy tickets

Team News

Details

Date:
April 28
Time:
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Venue

Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA