Kerry are back in the Munster Senior Football Championship final.
The Kingdom have won away to Cork 3-21 to 1-25 in the last four after extra time, at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in front of a crowd of 14,358.
Points from Ruairi Murphy and David Clifford had Kerry in front by 2 points to 1 after 5 minutes. After Cork equalised Clifford had Kerry back ahead, 3 points to 2. Dylan Geaney doubled that advantage before David Clifford had the Kingdom 3 clear. Kerry were 5 ahead by the 12 minute mark and led 9 to 4 at the midway point of the period. David Clifford’s 5th point of the encounter had the Kingdom in front by 10 points to 4 after 24 minutes. Cork then got it back to 11 points to 8 by the 33rd minute and made it 11 to 9 by the half time break.
A Brian Hurley 2 pointer had Cork level 2 minutes into the second period but half time substitute Sean O’Shea out Kerry a point in front once more. Paul Geaney doubled the advantage in the 42nd minute at 0-13 to 0-11. After Cork brought that deficit back to the minimum Paudie Clifford pointed the Kingdom two in front once more. That made it 14 points to 12 after 48 minutes. David Clifford then had Kerry 3 clear, then Dylan Geaney made it a 4 point game; 20 minutes left to go at that stage. Barry Dan O’Sullivan put 5 between the sides but Cork cut it back to 4. A 58th minute Paul Geaney goal, superbly set-up by Paudie Clifford, made it Kerry 1-17 Cork 0-13 to give the Kingdom serious breathing space. Paudie Clifford then received a red card, leaving the Kingdom down a man for the final 10 minutes. The subsequent free saw Cork register their 4th two pointer to make it 1-17 to 0-15. Another Cork two pointer brought them within 3. Kerry surrendered possession from the kick out, Cork netting through Chris Og Jones to draw level at 1-17 apiece with 8 to go. With 63 minutes on the clock Cork went in front. 2 minutes later a Kerry goal scored by Sean O’Shea, following a great run by Joe O’Connor, had the Kingdom 2 in front at 2-17 to 1-18. Cork halved the advantage with 3 minutes to go. Cork drew level in the last minute at 1-20 to 2-17. The dying seconds saw David Clifford put over for Kerry but play was called back. That meant extra time was necessary.
Cork had two wides to start the opening period of extra time. A brilliant Shane Murphy save then denied Chris Og Jones a Cork goal. Another Cork wide then followed and the Rebels were then reduced to 14 with the dismissal of Sean Brady. David Clifford pointed Kerry in front from the subsequent free midway through the half. Clifford made it a 3 point game with the Kingdom’s first 2 pointer of the occasion. Cork pulled a point back but that concluded the scoring for the half; 2-20 to 1-21.
The Rebels made it a 1 point game in the opening minute of the second period. A Cork two pointer made it 1-24 to 2-20 in their favour. Kerry went right up the other end, equalising through Killian Spillane. With 6 minutes to go Cork went a point in front once more. 3 minutes from time Kerry went ahead in style, a goal from a Joe O’Connor thunderbolt making it 3-21 to 1-25. Inside the closing two minutes a Cork 2 point effort sailed wide, to the relief of the Kingdom. Cork had the ball when the hooter sounded and were working up to another 2 point attempt. This effort also went wide and Kerry progressed.
The Kingdom will play Clare in the final on Sunday May 4th at 1.45 in Killarney.
