KERRY 1-16

CORK 0-8

CORK suffered a third consecutive Munster LGFA senior football championship loss following an 11-point humbling at the hands of Kerry in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

Joe Carroll’s side, despite a solid first-half display, managed only two converted frees during a one-sided second period completely dominated by Kerry. 

Outscored 1-9 to 0-2 following the short whistle underlines that point. 

It was a disappointing end to a provincial championship in which Cork failed to replicate the form that delivered this year’s national league Division 1 title.

‘Our first-half performance, I thought was exceptionally good,’ Caroll told The Southern Star.

‘Our workrate was very high but Kerry came up with a few quick scores after half time. We struggled getting the ball out of defence after that.

‘There were a couple of occasions in the second half, particularly when we did break out, we made one or two silly passes and did a few silly things up front.

‘When you are down, you are inclined to make those mistakes. We weren’t making those mistakes in the first half. (We are) disappointed, definitely, with our second-half performance. We have a lot of work to do to get ready for the qualifiers but it gives us a month off.’

Rosie Corkery kicked 0-1 against Kerry.

Ahead of the throw-in, Cork knew an unlikely 14-point winning margin was required to have any chance of making a provincial final.

The hosts began well with Leah McMahon forcing Caoimhe Richmond into a fine save. McMahon broke the deadlock shortly after. Next, Mary Ellen Bolger denied Katie Quirke a goal before Emma Cleary got the Rebels off the mark.

The scores kept coming as Niamh Carmody restored Kerry’s advantage until wayward shooting blighted both teams’ attempts prior to an Anna Galvin point after 12 minutes.

Katie Quirke replied with Cork’s second point but Niamh Ní Chonchúir quickly cancelled that effort out to make it 0-4 to 0-2 on the quarter hour. Cleary’s second white flag left the bare minimum in it.

Katie Quirke (free) brought parity to the score before Rosie Corkery handed the Rebels their first lead after 18 minutes.

Another Quirke free made it 0-6 to 0-4 as Cork looked to build on a positive spell.

Kerry remained a threat however, as evidenced by another excellent Caoimhe Richmond save from a close-range Leah McMahon shot.

Both teams hit the post from long-range attempts but it was Kerry who finished the half strongly as Jadyn Lucey and Niamh Ní Chonchúir points levelled matters.

Anna Galvin’s fisted effort made it 0-7 to 0-6 in the Kingdom’s favour at the break.

Ní Chonchúir’s third point extended that advantage shortly after the resumption. Centre-back Emma Costello and two Síofra O’Shea scores added to Cork’s woes to make it 0-11 to 0-6 after 35 minutes.

Unable to mount a response, Cork struggled to get anything going. Kerry had no such issues as a flowing move ended with Danielle O’Leary fisting over her side’s 12th point.

Síofra O’Shea slalomed through a wide-open defence and found the bottom corner to make out 1-13 to 0-6 after 45 minutes. Danielle O’Leary and Mary O’Connell added additional scores as Joe Carroll emptied his substitutes bench in search of a score. 

Instead, O’Shea (free) and Danielle O’Leary points moved Kerry 14 clear. 

Katie Quirke converted a free three minutes from the end, Cork’s first score in 36 minutes. Another Quirke free did little to lift Cork’s spirits at the conclusion of an eleven-point defeat.

So, the Kingdom progress to a Munster decider against Waterford whilst Cork must reflect on losses to the latter, Waterford and Tipperary.

The Rebels have a lot of improving to do ahead of an All-Ireland SFC group against the Ulster champions and Munster runners-up.

Scorers - Kerry: Síofra O’Shea 1-3 (1f); Danielle O’Leary, Niamh Ní Chonchúir 0-3 each; Leah McMahon, Anna Galvin 0-2 each; Niamh Carmody, Jadyn Lucey, Emma Costello 0-1 each. Cork: Katie Quirke 0-5 (4f); Emma Cleary 0-2; Rosie Corkery 0-1.

Kerry: Mary Ellen Bolger; Roisín Rahilly, Deirdre Kearney, Eilis Lynch; Aishling O’Connell, Emma Costello, Aoife Dillane; Anna Galvin, Mary O’Connell; Niamh Carmody, Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Caoimhe Evans; Jaydn Lucey, Leah McMahon, Siofra O’Shea (captain). Subs: Eabha Ní Laighin for R Rahilly (ht), Danielle O’Leary for J Lucey (ht), Leah Boyle for E Costello (53), Megan O’Connor for N Carmody (58), Niamh Quinn for C Evans (58).

Cork: Caoimhe Richmond (Glanmire); Melissa Duggan (Dohenys), Siobhán Callanan (Clonakilty), Shauna Kelly (Araglen Desmonds Buí); Aimee Corcoran (Erin’s Own), Sadbh McGoldrick (Éire Óg), Rosie Corkery (Naomh Abán); Máire O’Callaghan (Mourneabbey), Abbie O’Mahony (Glanmire); Rachel Leahy (Aghada), Kate Redmond (Kinsale), Emma Cleary (Éire Óg, captain); Leah Hallihan (Bride Rovers), Katie Quirke (Bride Rovers), Áine Terry O’Sullivan (Beara). Subs: Grace Murphy (Naomh Abán) for M O’Callaghan (38), Rachel O’Regan (Carrigaline) for E Cleary (46), Abigail Ring (Aghada) for R Leahy (50), Katie O’Driscoll (Clonakilty) for K Redmond (52), Emma Hurley (Ilen Rovers) for L Hallihan (58). 

Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary).