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Electric Ireland Munster MFC Final: Kerry cruise to victory

Ben Murphy, Kerry, in Electric Ireland Munster MFC Final action against Cork's Cian O’Connor, Harry Cogan, and Danny Miskella at Páirc Uí Rinn. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ben Murphy, Kerry, in Electric Ireland Munster MFC Final action against Cork's Cian O’Connor, Harry Cogan, and Danny Miskella at Páirc Uí Rinn. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Electric Ireland Munster MFC Final

Kerry 2-18 Cork 1-6

By Stephen Barry at Páirc Uí Rinn

An eight-point exhibition from Gearóid White completed Kerry’s clean sweep of Munster football titles for the second year in a row.

In one of the most impressive minor-final displays between Munster’s old firm, the Kingdom cantered to a 51st crown with second-half goals from captain Ben Murphy and Ronan Carroll, who matched White’s haul by bagging 1-5.

But John Mitchels star White was indisputably the man of the match. The wing-forward cut in from the right flank on repeat and showed devastating accuracy off both feet. His half-time tally of 0-5 was derived entirely from play, with three points off his left and two off his right. He added three more off his left, including two long-range frees, in the second period.

Kerry were dominant from the start in front of 2,444 fans at Páirc Uí Rinn. They wiped out the Cork kick-out with an effective press, splendid fielding, and a hunger for breaking ball. They translated that possession into attacks and scores, outshooting the hosts by 18 attempts to five in the first half.

But for a couple of missed goal chances, the deficit could’ve been more than 0-11 to 0-3 that stood between the teams at the break.

Wing-back Gavin O’Keeffe put in a terrific opening too. He assisted White for his first two points and won a handful of turnovers around the middle to instigate attacks.

Kerry had the first four points, including one from midfielder Murphy and a fine jinking effort from Michael Horan.

Quick counters from Danny Miskella and Ben O’Shea got Cork up and running but Kerry replied with another four in a row. Three of those came from White while Jack Joy was denied by a James O’Flaherty save and Ruairí O’Connell’s blast struck the umpire rather than the back of the net.

Seán Whelton kicked a solo score for Cork but Kerry ended with a brace from Seán Ó Cuinn and Joy.

They pushed on with the next 1-5 to stretch 1-16 to 0-3 ahead. Killian Dennehy started the second half as he did the first; winning the throw-in, charging forward, and drawing a pointed free. Carroll and Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich tacked on others from long range.

Cork’s Cian Cooney was denied a goal by Kacper Robak’s point-blank save as Joey McCarthy took the rebound off the line. A Whelton black card in the aftermath gave Kerry a numerical advantage. Dylan O’Neill would also be sin-binned in the dying moments.

The goal arrived in the 38th minute. O’Keeffe caught a Cork kick-out, Ó Cuinn gave the pass, and Murphy raced through the heart of the defence to find the bottom corner.

Miskella gave home fans some reason to cheer with 1-1. Donnacha O’Callaghan awarded a penalty against Robak for overcarrying and while the keeper saved the initial effort, the Ballincollig attacker dispatched the rebound.

Carroll won and converted a penalty himself to round off a 15-point victory.

Both sides now advance to face the Connacht finalists in their All-Ireland quarter-finals next month.

Scorers for Kerry: Ronan Carroll 1-5 (1-0 pen, 3fs), Gearóid White 0-8 (2fs), Ben Murphy 1-1, Seán Ó Cuinn, Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich, Jack Joy, Michael Horan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Danny Miskella 1-3, Ben O’Shea, Seán Whelton, Dylan O’Neill (f) 0-1 each.

Kerry: Kacper Robak; Fionnán Ryan, Michael Lynch, Ruadhan Donovan; Seán Ó Cuinn, Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich, Gavin O’Keeffe; Ben Murphy, Killian Dennehy; Gearóid White, Joey McCarthy, Ruairí O’Connell; Jack Joy, Ronan Carroll, Michael Horan.

Subs: Éanna Murphy for O’Connell (44), Cian Mac Gearailt for Horan (45), Eoin O’Flaherty for Ryan (48), Oisín Fleming for Joy (52), Killian Dennehy for Dennehy (56).

Cork: James O’Flaherty; Aaron Keane, Niall O’Shea, Joe Mouret; Oisín Harrington, Cian O’Connor, Cathal McCarthy; Harry Cogan, Jack Trench; Cian Cooney, Ben O’Shea, Seán Whelton; Danny Miskella, Dylan O’Neill, Humphrey Canty.

Subs: Billy Ryan for O’Connor (HT), Danny O’Donovan for B O’Shea (h-t), Ben Delaney for Trench (40), Finn O’Dwyer for Canty (44), Cian Ahern for Harrington (55).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick).