Hurley stars as Cork sweep Kerry aside

Allianz Football League Division I: Kerry 1-11 Cork 2-18

The scoreline suggests that Cork were the team needing the win to make it to the league semi-finals and Kerry the team already there. Not so. This was a resounding victory for Cork, who were already assured of their place in the top four, and who now face Dublin in next weekend's semi-finals. For Kerry it was a humbling defeat that sends them into an 11-week hiatus until the Championship with many questions still left to answer.

The pre-match talk was of whether or not Brian Cuthbert and his players would ease off and make Kerry's task a little easier. Not likely. Goals in either half from Paul Kerrigan and Colm O'Neill helped Cork to an impressive 10-point win, but it was the performance of Brian Hurley that caught the imagination.

Hurley helped himself to eight points - seven from play and a converted free that he won for himself - in a masterclass of full-forward play that will make a Castlehaven man a handful for any full-back come the summer. He gave Mark Griffin a torrid time but there was much to admire in Cork's collective performance, and much to fret about in Kerry's.

For Kerry it wasn't so much about getting through to a semi-final - something that was out of their hands - rather it was about ending their league campaign with a sound performance and some momentum. They failed on both counts.

At half-time they trailed by just a point - 1-6 to 1-7 - with Paul Geaney's 29th minute goal nudging them 1-5 to 0-6 ahead after a lacklustre opening 25 minutes in which James O'Donoghue's blazing shot over the bar was as close as either goal was threatened.

As Kerry clung to a slight lead heading for the break Kerrigan burst through and beat Brian Kelly at his near post to leave Cork 1-7 to 1-6 ahead at the break. It was a portent for more trouble ahead for Kerry.

Buckley replaced Maher in the Kerry midfield at half-time and they lost Darran O'Sullivan to injury three minutes into the second half but it was all about Cork on the scoreboard.

Hurley continued to torment the hosts with his audacious scoring as Cork pushed for home with a 1-13 to 1-7 lead after 50 minutes, embellished by scores from Damien Cahalane and Kerrigan.

Colm O'Neill's first touch after coming on in the 52nd was to fire the ball past Kelly to send Cork nine points clear and into a semi-final showdown with Dublin.

Kerry head to Portugal in two weeks for a training camp with much to ponder and work on. Cork have a rematch with Dublin next weekend and after that, who knows?

For now, though, the Munster bragging rights reside on Leeside.

---

Kerry: Brian Kelly, Paul Murphy, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright, Peter Crowley (0-1), Fionn Fitzgerald, Marc O Se, Anthony Maher, David Moran (0-1), Donnchadh Walsh, Daithi Casey (0-1), Kieran O'Leary, Stephen O'Brien (0-1), Paul Geaney (1-2, 0-2f), James O'Donoghue (0-4, 2f).

Subs: Darran O'Sullivan for D walsh (31), Johnny Buckley for A Maher (ht), Bryan Sheehan (0-1f) for D O'Sullivan (inj, 38), Jack Sherwood for M O Se (44), Aidan O'Mahony for M Griffin (53), Barry John Keane for P Geaney (58)

Cork: Ken O'Halloran, Michael Shields, Jamie O'Sullivan, Tom Clancy, James Loughrey, Patrick Kelly, Damian Cahalane (0-1), Fintan Goold (0-1), Andrew O'Sullivan, Colm O'Driscoll (0-1), Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan (1-2), Barry O'Driscoll, Brian Hurley (0-8, 1f), John Hayes (0-2).

Subs: Colm O'Neill (1-1) for J Hayes (50), Donncha O'Connor (0-1) for A O'Sullivan (52), Daniel Goulding (0-1) for C O'Driscoll (54), Tomas Clancy for M Shields (59), Micheal O Laoire for B O'Driscoll (63), Rory O'Sullivan for P Kelly.

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)