Cork are Munster U20 Champions 2019

EirGrid Munster Under 20 Football Championship Final

CORK 3-16 KERRY 0-12

By Ger McCarthy at Pairc Ui Rinn- report from gaa.ie 

Cork dethroned Kerry as EirGrid Munster Under 20 football champions in emphatic fashion at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Keith Ricken’s charges were full value for their victory in front of 2,758 spectators and denied Kerry a clean sweep of 2019 provincial football titles with a swashbuckling display highlighted by some terrific individual scores.

The Cork full-forward line of Mark Cronin, Cathal O’Mahony and Damien Gore were superb throughout and ably assisted by Colm Barrett and Blake Murphy on the 40’.

As for the Kingdom, they were coming off a straightforward semi-final defeat of Limerick and made one alteration to their starting line-up with Eddie Horan replacing Cathal Ferriter at centre-forward.

Cork were forced into three changes following their facile 31-point demolition of Waterford with Eanna O’Hanlon’s injury opening the door for Kanturk’s Daniel O’Connell to operate at midfield. Colm O’Callaghan was a late replacement for centre-forward Blake Murphy as was Sean Meehan for Shane Hickey.

Kerry’s Eddie Horan fired over the opening score but Cork’s response was immediate with Cathal O’Mahony landing a free before Damien Gore and Colm Barrett made it 0-3 to 0-1.

The Rebels didn’t let up, maintaining a high tempo and moving the ball swiftly through a porous Kerry defence. Cathal O’Mahony landed a monster score form distance prior to Mark Cronin twice splitting the posts and O’Mahony bringing the crowed to their feet with a marvellous score from the right side-line.

Kerry finally gained a foothold in midfield and Eddie Horan, Fiachra Clifford and Sean O’Leary efforts reduced the deficit. A scrappy spell saw goalkeeper Josh O’Keefe twice deny the Kingdom’s Eddie Horan a goal before the sides changed ends with Cork 0-10 to 0-6 ahead.

There was still four points between the sides when Cork conjured up a cracking goal early in the second period. Blake Murphy raced on to a hopeful ball and thundered an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Additional Cathal O’Mahony, Damien Gore and Colm Barrett points added to Kerry’s misery as the Rebels played with a swagger and arrogance more accustomed to their opponents.

The closing stages saw Cork’s defence deny their opponents time and space with a couple of late Donal O’Sullivan frees helping reduce the deficit.

Cork’s win was never in doubt however and the winners finished with a flourish as Fionn Herlihy and Cathal O’Mahony rattled the net to complete their rout.

Scorers for Cork: Cathal O'Mahony 1-5 (1f), Mark Cronin 0-5, Blake Murphy 1-1, Fionn Herlihy 1-0, Colm Barrett and Damien Gore 0-2 each, Colm O'Callaghan 0-1.

Scorers for Kerry: Donal O'Sullivan 0-5 (4fs), Eddie Horan 0-3, Cian Gammell, Fiachra Clifford, Sean O'Leary, and Paul O'Shea 0-1 each.

CORK: Josh O’Keeffe; Michael O’Mahony, Maurice Shanley, Paul Ring; Gearoid O’Donovan, Sean Meehan, Peter O’Driscoll; Brian Hartnett, Daniel O’Connell; Colm Barrett, Colm O’Callaghan, Mark Hodnett; Mark Cronin, Cathal O’Mahony, Damien Gore.

Subs: Blake Murphy for Hodnett (27), Jack Murphy for O’Connell (35), Daniel O’Connell for Murphy (36, blood), Fionn Herlihy for O’Callaghan (48), Jack Murphy for Barrett (50), Jack McCarthy for O’Donovan (59), Shane Hickey for Meehan (60).

KERRY: Brian Lonergan; Dan McCarthy, Dylan Casey, Michael Potts; Cian Gammell, Patrick Warren, Seán O’Leary; Joseph O’Connor, Barry Mahony; Seán Horan, Eddie Horan, Adam Donoghue; Fiachra Clifford, Donal O’Sullivan, Killian Falvey.

Subs: Cathal Ferriter for Falvey (22), Niall Donohue for McCarthy (34), Brian Friel for Horan (40), Chris O’Donoghue for Casey (40), Paul O’Shea for O’Connor (46), Paul Walsh for Clifford (53).

REFEREE: Alan Kissane (Waterford).