Byline: Liam Maguire
Munster SFC final: Kerry 1-19 Cork 3-10
KERRY manager Peter Keane said he knew Saturday’s Munster final was going to be a “tight humdinger of a game” as Cork battled all the way at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The Kingdom came out on top to clinch their seventh Munster SFC title in succession, but there was to be no repeat of last year’s Rebel collapse as they kept the final deficit to three.
"Cork are proud and they weren't going to lie down for us," Keane said after Saturday evening’s decider.
"They are a good team and were always going to come back at us. I would have said before the game that this was going to be tight.
"There was no question in my mind. We have a lot of young players on this team, a lot of players playing in their first Munster final today and a good share had only played in their first Munster final last year.
"There was no doubt in our heads that this was going to be a tight humdinger of a game and that’s what it turned out to be."
After seven minutes, it looked it was going to be a long night for Cork as a Tom O’Sullivan goal and points from David Clifford and Seán O’Shea (2) put Kerry six in front. But the rot stopped there as a Luke Connolly goal steadied the Cork ship and, while Kerry were six in front at the interval, there was plenty left in the Rebel tank for the second period.
By the 47th minute, Kerry’s lead had been wiped out after a converted Connolly penalty and a Brian Hurley finish pulled Cork level. Kerry’s nerve didn’t falter, however, as two Stephen O’Brien frees edged them back in front and, with the lead back to three in the closing stages, Cork couldn’t find another response.
While the Kingdom were, ultimately, deserving winners there are aspects of their game Peter Keane will be studying before the Super 8 series begins in earnest.
"The concession of the three goals is something that we are going to have to look at," he added.
