All-Ireland SFC: Clifford inspires Kerry again

All-Ireland SFC Group Two

Kerry 1-28 (1-7-14) Cork 0-20 (0-3-14)

By Jack McKay at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Cork put it up to Kerry for much of the first half at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. As is so often the case when Cork and Kerry meet, the Kingdom found a way.

Within minutes of the restart, Kerry, who trailed by three at the break, had drawn level for the fifth time. Tom O’Sullivan teed up David Clifford for a stunning two-pointer. Moments later, Seán O’Shea raised another orange flag from a free: 0-14 to 1-11.

Brian Hurley nudged Cork back in front with a two-point free in the 44th minute. It would be the last time they led.

In a ruthless 10-minute blitz, the visitors hit 0-9 without reply, including three two-pointers. The first came after a foul on the 65. Dissent moved the ball forward, Clifford brought it to the arc, and made no mistake.

O’Shea followed up with another two-pointer — his fist pump said it all. Then he squeezed over a third. Suddenly, Kerry were eight points clear: 1-21 to 0-16 and on their way to a second All-Ireland Football Championship group stage win.

Mark Cronin and Ruairí Deane clipped over scores to cut the gap to six, but Kerry weren’t done. O’Shea was on target again, before Clifford, unselfishly passed up the shot to set up Graham O’Sullivan for a fisted point. In just 45 seconds, they had matched what Cork had scored over the previous 15 minutes.

With two minutes to go, Cork had a penalty awarded. Brian Ó Beaglaoich dragged down Colm O’Callaghan. Cronin stepped up, but Shane Ryan saved.

Cronin gathered the rebound. Ryan saved again. A third bite at the cherry – this time Ó Beaglaoich was there to block.

Kerry’s party rolled on into added time. Two more orange flags, one each from Tony Brosnan and Tom O’Sullivan.

Kerry were lethal in the opening six minutes, or rather, David Clifford was. His free left the visitors 0-2 to 0-1 ahead. Then, a short Mícheál Aodh Martin kickout was punished — Clifford intercepted, burst forward, and the outcome was inevitable.

He fired over two more white flags, pushing Kerry 1-4 to 0-2 ahead. But Cork responded.

Hurley found the target. Walsh did too from outside the arc. By the 21st minute, Cork had drawn level – though Matty Taylor was denied a goal by a superb Shane Ryan save in the interim.

Cork edged in front again. Seán McDonnell found Brian Hurley, who launched one from outside the arc with the last kick of the half – sparking a big cheer from the Cork crowd.

When play resumed, Walsh and O’Connor were shown black cards for their antics. But any Cork joy quickly faded. With the wind at their backs, Kerry were rampant in the second half.

O’Shea and Clifford ensured the result was never really in doubt.

Scorers for Kerry: D Clifford 1-8 (2fs, 1 tp, 1 tpf), S O’Shea 0-9 (3 tpf, 3fs), P Geaney, T O’Sullivan (1 tp), T Brosnan (1 tp), K Spillane 0-2 each, P Clifford, D Geaney, G O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: B Hurley 0-7 (2fs, 1 tp, 1 tpf), M Cronin 0-6 (5fs), P Walsh 0-3 (1 tp), C O’Callaghan 0-2, C Óg Jones, R Deane 0-1 each.

Kerry: Shane Ryan; Dylan Casey, Jason Forde, Tom O’Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Joe O’Connor, Barry Dan O’Sullivan; Graham O’Sullivan, Paudie Clifford, Seán O’Shea; David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Micheál Burns.

Subs: M O’Shea for BD O’Sullivan (23 inj), Dylan Geaney for P Clifford (34), Killian Spillane for P Geaney (HT inj) Tony Brosnan for Burns (59), Tadhg Morley for Ó Beaglaoich (65).

Cork: Mícheál Aodh Martin; Seán Brady, Seán Meehan, Daniel O’Mahony; Brian O’Driscoll, Maurice Shanley, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Seán McDonnell, Seán Walsh, Paul Walsh; Chris Óg Jones, Brian Hurley, Mark Cronin.

Subs: Seán Powter for Meehan (44), Ruairí Deane for McDonnell (52), Cathail O’Mahony for Hurley (65), Luke Fahy for Taylor (70+1), Eoghan McSweeney for P Walsh (70+2).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).