Allianz Football League Division 1 – Cork 2-18 Kerry 1-11

Cork defeated Kerry by 2-18 to 1-11 in round 7 of the Allianz Football League Division 1 on Sunday April 6th at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

Source: TG4

Match Report: Brian Hurley was the star of the show as @OfficialCorkGAA swept @Kerry_Official aside in Tralee: http://t.co/aSIcXiH4h3 #gaa

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 6, 2014

Hurley stars as Cork sweep Kerry aside

Allianz Football League Division I: Kerry 1-11 Cork 2-18

Report from GAA.ie

Click to view photos from this game

The scoreline suggests that Cork were the team needing the win to make it to the league semi-finals and Kerry the team already there. Not so. This was a resounding victory for Cork, who were already assured of their place in the top four, and who now face Dublin in next weekend’s semi-finals. For Kerry it was a humbling defeat that sends them into an 11-week hiatus until the Championship with many questions still left to answer.

The pre-match talk was of whether or not Brian Cuthbert and his players would ease off and make Kerry’s task a little easier. Not likely. Goals in either half from Paul Kerrigan and Colm O’Neill helped Cork to an impressive 10-point win, but it was the performance of Brian Hurley that caught the imagination.

Hurley helped himself to eight points – seven from play and a converted free that he won for himself – in a masterclass of full-forward play that will make a Castlehaven man a handful for any full-back come the summer. He gave Mark Griffin a torrid time but there was much to admire in Cork’s collective performance, and much to fret about in Kerry’s.

For Kerry it wasn’t so much about getting through to a semi-final – something that was out of their hands – rather it was about ending their league campaign with a sound performance and some momentum. They failed on both counts.

At half-time they trailed by just a point – 1-6 to 1-7 – with Paul Geaney’s 29th minute goal nudging them 1-5 to 0-6 ahead after a lacklustre opening 25 minutes in which James O’Donoghue’s blazing shot over the bar was as close as either goal was threatened. As Kerry clung to a slight lead heading for the break Kerrigan burst through and beat Brian Kelly at his near post to leave Cork 1-7 to 1-6 ahead at the break. It was a portent for more trouble ahead for Kerry.

Buckley replaced Maher in the Kerry midfield at half-time and they lost Darran O’Sullivan to injury three minutes into the second half but it was all about Cork on the scoreboard. Hurley continued to torment the hosts with his audacious scoring as Cork pushed for home with a 1-13 to 1-7 lead after 50 minutes, embellished by scores from Damien Cahalane and Kerrigan.

Colm O’Neill’s first touch after coming on in the 52nd was to fire the ball past Kelly to send Cork nine points clear and into a semi-final showdown with Dublin. Kerry head to Portugal in two weeks for a training camp with much to ponder and work on. Cork have a rematch with Dublin next weekend and after that, who knows? For now, though, the Munster bragging rights reside on Leeside.
***

Kerry: Brian Kelly, Paul Murphy, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright, Peter Crowley (0-1), Fionn Fitzgerald, Marc O Se, Anthony Maher, David Moran (0-1), Donnchadh Walsh, Daithi Casey (0-1), Kieran O’Leary, Stephen O’Brien (0-1), Paul Geaney (1-2, 0-2f), James O’Donoghue (0-4, 2f).
Subs: Darran O’Sullivan for D walsh (31), Johnny Buckley for A Maher (ht), Bryan Sheehan (0-1f) for D O’Sullivan (inj, 38), Jack Sherwood for M O Se (44), Aidan O’Mahony for M Griffin (53), Barry John Keane for P Geaney (58)

Cork: Ken O’Halloran, Michael Shields, Jamie O’Sullivan, Tom Clancy, James Loughrey, Patrick Kelly, Damian Cahalane (0-1), Fintan Goold (0-1), Andrew
O’Sullivan, Colm O’Driscoll (0-1), Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan (1-2), Barry O’Driscoll, Brian Hurley (0-8, 1f), John Hayes (0-2).
Subs: Colm O’Neill (1-1) for J Hayes (50), Donncha O’Connor (0-1) for A O’Sullivan (52), Daniel Goulding (0-1) for C O’Driscoll (54), Tomas Clancy for M Shields (59), Micheal O Laoire for B O’Driscoll (63), Rory O’Sullivan for P Kelly.

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)

Preview: @Kerry_Official v @OfficialCorkGAA, Austin Stack Park, Sunday, 3pm – the Munster rivals meet again: http://t.co/S0Mvjd2832 #GAA

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 4, 2014

Team News

Six changes to Cork Football team v Kerry #CorkGAA14 http://t.co/iDk9zRUp4g

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) April 2, 2014

Check out the Kerry Team to play Cork Sunday http://t.co/95HQflbRwz http://t.co/hFivUXB2m9

— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) April 4, 2014

Kerry Senior Football Team V Cork

The Kerry Senior Football Team to play Cork in Round 7 of the Allianz Football League on Sunday shows 2 changes in personnel from the side that defeated Westmeath in Round 6. Both changes are in the half forward line where Donnchadh Walsh and Daithí Casey come in for Jonathan Lyne and Bryan Sheehan. Pa Kilkenny returns to the panel after injury.

The team is as follows:
1.Brian Kelly Killarney Legion
2.Paul Murphy Rathmore
3.Mark Griffin St Michaels/Foilmore
4.Shane Enright Tarbert
5.Peter Crowley Laune Rangers
6.Fionn Fitzgerald Dr Crokes
7.Marc Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht
8.Anthony Maher Duagh
9.David Moran Kerins O’Rahillys
10.Donnchadh Walsh Cromane
11.Daithí Casey Dr Crokes
12.Kieran O’Leary (Capt)Dr Crokes
13.Stephen O’Brien Kenmare
14.Paul Geaney Dingle
15.James O’Donoghue Killarney Legion

Fir Ionaid:
16.Brendan Kealy Kilcummin
17.Bryan Sheehan St Marys
18.Jonathan Lyne Killarney Legion
19.Darran O’Sullivan Glenbeigh Glencar
20.Johnny Buckley Dr Crokes
21.Aidan O’Mahony Rathmore
22.Jack Sherwood Firies
23.Barry John Keane Kerins O’Rahillys
24.Michael Geaney Dingle
25.Brian McGuire Listowel Emmets
26.Pa Kilkenny Glenbeigh/Glencar

Bainisteóir: Eamonn Fitzmaurice(Finuge)
Traenálaí: Cian O’Neill (Moorefield, Kildare)
Róghnóirí: Diarmuid Ó Murchú (Daingean Uí Chúis), Mikey Sheehy (Austin Stacks).

Additional Player/Team Information

Extended Panel Members
David Culhane Ballylongford
Conor Cox Listowel Emmets
Alan Fitzgerald Castlegregory
James Walsh Knocknagoshel
Shane O’Callaghan Austin Stacks
Paul O’Donoghue St Marys

Rehabbing from Injury
Kieran Donaghy Austin Stacks
Killian Young Renard (Played 1st Club Game last weekend)
Colm Cooper Dr Crokes

Extended Break
Declan O’Sullivan Dromid Pearses (Due Back Training Tuesday next)

Cork SF v Kerry: K O’Halloran; M Shields (Capt), J O’Sullivan, Tom Clancy; J Loughrey, P Kelly, D Cahalane; F Goold, A O’Sullivan; C O’Driscoll, M Collins, J O’Rourke; B O’Driscoll, B Hurley, J Hayes.
Substitutes: D Hanrahan, A Cronin, J McLoughlin, K O’Driscoll, Tomás Clancy, R O’Sullivan, M O Laoire, D Goulding, P Kerrigan, D O’Connor, C O’Neill

There are six changes to the team ahead of the Kerry game. Ken O’Halloran returns to the number one slot ahead of David Hanrahan, while the injured Eoin Cadogan is replaced by Jamie O’Sullivan, who gets his first start of the season. Michael Shields moves back to the full back line, while Noel Galvin is also out through injury. In a new-look half back line, Damien Cahalane gets a first football start of the season, having featured for the Cork hurlers against Tipperary last Sunday, and Patrick Kelly takes up the centre back position, with Tomás Clancy on the bench. Paul Kerrigan is replaced in the half forward line by Colm O’Driscoll, while Barry O’Driscoll comes in at corner forward ahead of Daniel Goulding.

Aidan Walsh, Eoin Cadogan, Donal Óg Hodnett, Ruairi Deane and Noel Galvin were not considered due to injury. Ruairi will revisit his surgeon on April 7th for an update on his injury, and Seán Dineen (Castlehaven) has joined the panel in his place.

Match Coverage

Deferred coverage of this game will be shown on TG4