A quarter-final of no fatal consequence in Tralee so, but an entertaining contest no less, and one in which both teams will know there is room for improvement, and that improvement will be needed.
Kerry deserved the win, just. They found 12 scores from nine players, and all but a Ronan Carroll free from play, while Cork created plenty of chances but had to settle for just three points from play. And yet the Rebels were never out of it, and were still hunting a game winning goal beyond the 60 minutes.
Kerry were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after 19 minutes but Cork won a somewhat fortunate penalty that Danny Miskella despatched for the game’s only goal to put Cork ahead for the only time.
Kerry responded with four unanswered points and led 0-7 to 1-2 at half time. Corner back Ruadhan Donovan kicked Kerry into a three-point lead in the 34th minute but in wet conditions scores were at a premium.
A Sean Whelton free and a point from play from Cork’s best forward, Dylan O’Neill, brought the visitors to within a point, 1-4 to 0-9, but Kerry found an extra gear and two points from substitute Cian MacGearailt nudged Kerry through the winning door and into next week’s semi-final, where Cork will be too.
Scorers for Kerry: G White 0-2, J McCarthy 0-2, C MacGearailt 0-2, R Donovan 0-1, B Murphy 0-1, R O’Connell 0-1, J Joy 0-1, M Horan 0-1, R Carroll 0-1 (f)
Scorers for Cork: D Miskella 1-0 (pen), S Whelton 0-3 (2f), D O’Neill 0-3 (2f), C McCarthy 0-1
Kerry: Kacper Robak, Fionnan Ryan, Michael Lynch, Ruadhan Donovan, Sean Ó Cuinn, Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich, Gavin O’Keeffe, Ben Murphy, Killian Dennehy, Gearoid White, Joey McCarthy, Ruairi O’Connell, Jack Joy, Ronan Carroll, Michael Horan.
Subs: Eoin O’Flaherty for Ó Cuinn (38), Oisín Fleming for R O’Connell (44), Cian Mac Gearailt for J McCarthy (52), David Sargent for G O’Keeffe (56), Eanna Murphy for R Carroll (60)
Cork: Denjoe O’Riordan; Oisin Harrington, Aaron Keane, Joe Mouret; Cathal McCarthy, Cian O’Connor, Cian Ahern; Harry Cogan, Ben O’Shea; Danny Miskella, Danny O’Donovan, Sean Whelton; Humphrey Canty, Finn O’Dwyer, Dylan O’Neill.
Subs: Euan Lehane for D O’Donovan (36), Daniel Mellerick for S Whelton (50), Padraig McGrath for F O’Dwyer (50),
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford)
