​​Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Final

​​Kerry 3-14 Cork 3-8

​By Denis Hurley at Fitzgerald Stadium.

Kerry dominated the closing stages to claim a fourth Electric Ireland MFC title at Cork’s expense in Killarney on Sunday.

When Mark Buckley scored his second goal for Cork in the 47th minute, it put the visitors 3-7 to 2-9 ahead, giving them the lead for the first time in the game, having trailed by 2-3 to 0-2 early in the first half. The Rebels would only score one more point, however, with Kerry going into overdrive.

Man of the match David Clifford conjured an instant response when he goaled after a quickly-taken free and he would get two more points, as would wing-back Micheál Foley, with captain Seán O’Shea also on target as they ran out six-point winners.

It appeared early on that the final winning margin would be far greater, though. Clifford was central as Bryan Sweeney and captain Seán O’Shea got early goals with Dara Moynihan unlucky too.

Cork were struggling but the free-taking of Damien Gore gave them a foothold in the game and Buckley’s goal ensured that they trailed by just four at half-time, 2-7 to 1-6. Within three minutes of the restart, the sides were level as Colm O’Callaghan’s deflected goal was followed by a Buckley point.

Two Clifford points pushed Kerry ahead again but Buckley’s goal looked to have set up an interesting final quarter. Instead, it was almost all Kerry. Both sides advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, with Kerry meeting the Ulster runners-up and Cork clashing with that province’s champions.

**Scorers for Kerry: **D Clifford 1-5 (2 frees), S O’Shea 1-4 (2 frees, 1 45), B Sweeney 1-0, D Moynihan, M Foley 0-2 each, B Friel 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: M Buckley 2-2, D Gore 0-4 (frees), C O’Callaghan 1-0, C Maguire 0-2

KERRY: B Courtney; G O’Sullivan, N Collins, M Reidy; M Potts, M Foley, D O’Brien; M Breen, M Ryan; D O’Connor, S O’Shea, D Moynihan; B Friel, D Clifford, B Sweeney. Subs: D Naughton for Reidy (half-time), C Linnane for Sweeney (41), D Shaw for Friel (44), C Teahan for Ryan (58), F O’Brien for O’Connor, S Okunbar for Foley (both 60).

CORK: M White; A McCarthy, A Browne, L O’Donovan; R O’Driscoll, N Walsh, T Ó Corcra; J Ryan, S Ryan; S O’Sullivan, K O’Donovan, C Maguire; D Gore, C O’Callaghan, M Buckley. Subs: C Foley for J Ryan (half-time), S O’Driscoll for O’Sullivan (48), G O’Donoghue for S Ryan (53), S Minihane for R O’Driscoll, C O’Mahony for K O’Donovan (both 59).

Referee: A Kissane (Waterford)