Round-up: Cork and Kerry to meet in Dalata Hotel Group Munster FC Final

Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship

KERRY 2-20 CLARE 0-7

CORK 0-33 WATERFORD 1-9

By Paul Brennan

For the fifth year running, the Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under-20 Football Championship final will be a Kerry against Cork affair after both came through their respective Phase 2 round 3 games against Clare and Waterford with plenty to spare.

Kerry were 2-20 to 0-7 winners over Clare in Tralee, with second half goals from Evan Boyle and substitute Jack Joy embellishing the Kingdom’s win after they only led by two points at half time.

Clare, playing with a breeze in the first half, utilised that advantage well with three two-pointers – two from play from Colm Breen and a free from outside the arc by Daire Culligan.

Kerry had kicked the game’s first three points but needed second quarter scores from Daniel Kirby, Paddy Lane, Ronan Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan to lead 0-8 to 0-6 at half time.

The defending champions showed their quality in the third quarter to push their lead out to five points before Boyle pounced on a short kick for Kerry’s first goal on 45 minutes. The second arrived in the 58th minute when Joy reacted best to a strong save from the Clare goalkeeper to find the net to make it 2-17 to 0-7. A late Lane two-pointer helped Kerry to a 19-point win.

Cork, meanwhile, had it just as easy against Waterford in Pairc Uí Chaoimh with a 0-33 to 1-9 win over the Deise.

The visitors actually led 0-2 to 0-1 after three minutes but it was quickly one-way traffic as Cork ran up a 0-10 to 0-2 lead before Waterford’s next score on 20 minutes – a John Brennan two-pointer. By half-time Cork were looking comfortable, leading 0-14 to 0-6, with Sean Coakley scoring five points, and three from Luke Shorten.

Waterford got the start they needed to the second half, an early goal, but Cork’s accuracy was nigh on perfect. Dylan O’Neill’s three points, a Coakley two-pointer, and a Danny Miskella point helped their team to a 0-20 to 1-6 lead after 38 minutes.

The remainder was shooting practice for the Rebels, with O’Neill, Coakley and Miskella adding to their tally, along with scores from Rickey Barrett, Darragh Clifford, Billy Curtin and Denis O’Mullane to complete a comfortable evening for the home side.

The result tees up a rematch between Cork and the reigning Munster champions Kerry, who played each other just a week ago, with Cork winning by 0-10 to 0-9 on Leeside.

In Tralee next Thursday, the Kingdom will looking to make it five provincial titles on the trot – having beaten Cork in those last four finals – while Cork will be trying to win the Munster U-20 title for the first time since 2021, and beat Kerry for the first time in the Munster decider since 2019.