Kerry pipped to McGrath Cup crown on penalties by tenacious Cork

McGRATH CUP FINAL

Cork 1-14

Kerry 1-14

(Cork win 4-3 on penalties)

With drama right to the very last kick of a ball, this McGrath Cup final certainly delivered.

Not for Kerry alas, who were just pipped by Cork on penalties at the end of a game of football that belied its billing, rose above the conditions and entertained the crowd in Páirc Uí Rinn no end.

That Kerry didn’t win the cup, we suspect, won’t worry them unduly. That they didn’t win win the game, though, well that might be a slightly different story.

The Kingdom did have their chances to win it – eleven missed chances over the seventy minutes – but in these conditions that was probably understandable enough.

Besides this is still a pre-season competition, the main thing for the green and gold – and the blood and bandages too for that matter – was the work-out, the chance to learn a thing or two.

And, on that score, both management teams can be pleased as both teams played the game with a genuine intensity and edge, even in the second half when both sides ran the bench – eighteen changes in all, eleven / seven with Kerry having the lion’s share.

That in the end it came down to a shoot-out even carries certain benefits, if and when either team faces them again at least some of their players will have this experience in their back-pocket.

Kerry missed two penalties – Micheál Burns and Darragh Roche – allowing Cork recover from a 2-1 deficit early on in the shoot-out, Fionn Herlihy, Chris Óg Jones and Blake Murphy flawless from then on in to claim the title.

A nice start to the season for John Cleary’s outfit, and from the off it was clear they had designs on downing the green and gold ahead of their league opener away to Donegal next weekend.

A lively enough opening half saw Cork, with more established players on the pitch, start more confidently, before Kerry, with a greener selection, began to find their groove.

In what must have been tricky conditions – a near constant drizzle blowing ever so slightly down towards the city end to begin with – the quality of fare was pleasingly high, with both sets of players and management teams clearly taking the competition seriously.

Players on both side clearly keen to make the most of the opportunity that afforded itself. Killian Spillane certainly took the first half by the neck, shooting over inside 27 seconds and finishing the half with three beautiful points from play.

As we’ve said, though, in the opening quarter the Rebels looked the more effective and cohesive combination just about and, once they over hauled that early Spillane point with frees from Ruairí Deane and David Buckley, more often than not had a nose in front.

They were three points to two clear on nine minutes following a sweet strike by Eoghan McSweeney and five points to three clear after fifteen minutes (Brian Ó Beaglaoich had a shot at goal on ten minutes saved during their period by Patrick Doyle).

Kerry, with Joe O’Connor increasingly to the fore, were back level with ten minutes to go in the half, Cillian Burke firing over following a pass by Ronan Buckley to make it six points each.

Three minutes later the Kingdom’s opening goal arrived. Patrick Doyle took too long to kick-out the ball, referee Donnacha O’Callaghan threw it up and Joe O’Connor got a fist to it. First to the breaking ball was Dylan Geaney who fired home venomously – 1-6 to 0-6.

Swapped points from namesakes Ronan and David Buckley rounded out the half for a 1-7 to 0-7 half-time score. The Kingdom in the driving seat, but six half-time changes gave Cork a chance to recover.

To be fair the Kingdom didn’t look at all disjointed despite that plethora of changes. Still Cork started the livelier with Brian O’Driscoll shooting over early on.

Eight minutes into the second half Cork were level – Ian Maguire picking out Jones for a screamer of a goal o n 42 minutes – and well in the contest.

With Kerry missing a decent number of chances, Cork went clear on a couple of occasions and with fifteen to goal were two clear, 1-12 to 1-10 in front after a a point by Mark Cronin.

Kerry, though, with the likes of Gavin White and Micheál Burns really impacting off the bench rallied to level it up and even go in front come 63 minutes thanks to a pair of Darragh Roche frees.

Cork, to their credit, kept plugging away and twice pegged the Kingdom back, finally thanks to a well-worked finished with aplomb by Darragh Cashman – 1-14 to 1-14.

When penalties were announced a ripple of excitement through the crowd. Like we say, this game had a little bit of everything. For January 20, that’ll do very nicely indeed for all involved.

KERRY: Shane Ryan, Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Paul Murphy, Armin Heinrich, Joe O’Connor, Seán O’Brien, Ronan Buckley (0-1), Dylan Geaney (1-1), Cillian Burke (0-1), Killian Spillane (0-3), Seán O’Shea (0-3, 2m, 1f), Dara Moynihan Subs: Barry ‘Dan’ O’Sullivan for S O’Brien, half-time, Micheál Burns (0-1) for D Geaney, half-time, Gavin White (0-1) for P Murphy, half-time, Tom O’Sullivan for A Heinrich, half-time, Keith Evans for C Burke, half-time, Stephen O’Brien for R Buckley, half-time, Conor Geaney (0-1) for K Spillane, 52, Adrian Spillane for D Moynihan, 56, Damien Burke for D Casey, 56, Darragh Roche (0-2f) for S O’Shea, 56, Diarmuid O’Connor for J O’Connor, 56

CORK: Patrick Doyle, Muarice Shanley, Tommy Walsh, Kevin Flahive, Luke Fahy (0-1), Seán Meehan, Mattie Taylor, Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan, Eoghan McSweeney (0-2), David Burkley (0-5, 4f), Brian O’Driscoll (0-1), Ruairí Deane (0-1f), Conor Corbett, Chris Óg Jones (1-1) Subs: Mark Cronin (0-1) for R Deane (inj), half-time, Rory Maguire for T Walsh, half-time, Cathal Maguire for E McSweeney, 53, Fionn Herlihy for D Buckley, 56, Daniel O’Mahony for S Meehan, 56, Blake Murphy (0-1) for C Corbett, 60, Darragh Cashman (0-1) for L Fahy, 61

REFEREE: Donnacha O’Callagher (Limerick)

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