Kerry 1-11
Cork 1-06
It took two matches, 140 minutes and five decisive points to separate these two sides as Kerry were crowned Munster football champions on Saturday evening in Fitzgerald Stadium.
The sides couldn't be separated in the first encounter two weeks ago, Kerry 2-15 to Cork's 3-12 the result after the final whistle.
Paul Geaney scored Kerry's decisive goal after some quick thinking from substitute Colm Cooper set away Donnchadh Walsh and after his shot was blocked, Geaney was on hand to apply the finishing touches.
This time around it was Kerry who looked the more dangerous from the outset, opening up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead in the opening 15 minutes and looking the sharper when it came to quick attacking ball.
Cork stayed in touch and just before the break came the games first big score.
The Rebels hit back and pierced through Kerry’s compact defence, when Paul Kerrigan latched onto Colm O’Neill’s pace and he fired into the back of the net.
The sides went in level at the break but Kerry emerged in the second half, displaying experience to take their scores in the wind and rain.
With 20 minutes to play, Kerry found the breakthrough and Geaney's goal put them three points clear.
Conditions were similar to that around the country but that didn't stop a 32,333 crowd pile into the floodlights-less Fitzgerald Stadium this evening.
Two extra points in addition to the goal was enough to give the green and gold yet another provincial championship.
Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney 1-3 (0-1f), Bryan Sheehan 0-5 (0-5f), Donnchadh Walsh, James O’Donoghue, Jonathan Lyne 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Colm O’Neill 0-3 (0-2f), Paul Kerrigan 1-0, Brian O’Driscoll, Kevin O’Driscoll, Donncha O’Connor (0-1f) 0-1 each.
KERRY: B Kealy; S Enright, P Murphy, M Ó Sé; A O'Mahony, K Young, J Lyne; A Maher, D Moran; D Walsh, B Sheehan, J Buckley; P Geaney, K Donaghy, J O'Donoghue.
Subs for Kerry: M Geaney for J Buckley (inj 30); C Cooper for K Donaghy (45); S O'Brien for B Sheehan (58); BJ Keane for P Geaney (63); P Galvin for D Walsh (66); P Crowley for K Young (68). Red: S O'Brien (70, second yellow).
CORK: K O'Halloran; J Loughrey, J O'Sullivan, M Shields; Brian O'Driscoll, S Cronin, Barry O'Driscoll; A O'Connor, K O'Driscoll; P Kerrigan, P Kelly, M Collins; C O'Neill, D O'Connor, B Hurley.
Subs for Cork: F Goold for D O'Connor (47); C Dorman for K O'Driscoll (55); D Goulding for P Kelly (60); T Clancy for Barry O'Driscoll (66); J Hayes for B Hurley (67).
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