Cork 1-12 Kerry 0-12

KERRY MANAGER Jack O’Connor believes Paul Galvin’s bad-boy reputation contributed to his straight red card dismissal in the All-Ireland champions’ second league defeat of the season at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Galvin, the 2009 footballer of the year, was sent off along with Cork dual player Eoin Cadogan following an off-the-ball incident after 20 minutes. It meant Cork had to play with 13 men, having already lost newcomer Noel Galvin to a second yellow card only moments before.

O’Connor said: “I’m not sure, but by all accounts he didn’t do too much. Give a fellow a bad name and it follows him. We were saying to the players before the game, with the controversy of the four guys up north getting suspended, that we would have to watch out.”

Cork manager Conor Counihan suggested Noel Galvin’s initial booking, with Declan O’Sullivan joining him in the referee’s pad, didn’t seem justified.

“I wasn’t clear on the first yellow card. Okay, he pulled the Kerry player back for the second. I’m not sure. It’s very hard on referees. I’d have to look at it all on video again. As for the other incident, the first I saw was the two of them on the ground . . .” he said.

Tensions had been simmering in the opening stages of a game, which also produced seven yellow cards, though it settled down again quickly enough.

Paul Kerrigan gave Cork a great start firing home a superb goal in the fourth minutes after a decisive move involving Paudie Kissane, Nicholas Murphy, Donncha O’Connor and Paul O’Flynn.

But the disruption impacted as they went 21 minutes without a score, though Cork still managed to lead 1-4 to 0-6 at half-time, courtesy of a couple of late points from the outstanding Daniel Goulding.

The corner forward began the second half in similar style before Kerry enjoyed their best spell, restoring parity with two fine points from substitute Barry John Keane. Donnacha Walsh then edged Kerry in front after a short kick-out backfired on Cork.

Despite the extra man, the Kingdom didn’t score again for 15 minutes as Cork’s methodical possession game reaped dividends.

Goulding thrived on a quality service to kick some magnificent points off his left and when Michael Shields surged forward to land another from 45 metres, Cork led 1-10 to 0-10 lead.

Kerry substitute David O’Callaghan cut the deficit to the minimum with a couple of quick-fire points, Kerry’s last of the night, however. Cork finished strongly, Goulding racing through for his seventh point, his sixth from play, though it might well have yielded a goal. Kerrigan then added a great score from way out on the right.

Kerry now face a fight to preserve their first division status. The old guard cannot return quickly enough.

CORK: P O’Shea; R Carey, M Shields (0-1), N Galvin; G Spillane, P Kissane, E Cadogan; P O’Neill, N Murphy; P Kelly, D O’Connor (0-1 free), P O’Flynn (0-1); D Goulding (0-7, one from free), A O’Connor, P Kerrigan (1-2). Subs: C O’Driscoll for O’Flynn (47 mins), F Goold for A O’Connor (59 mins), C O’Neill for D O’Connor (64 mins), J Hayes for Kerrigan (67 mins), J Masters for Goulding (69 mins).

KERRY: B Kealy; P Reidy, T Griffin, A OConnell; A O’Sullivan, A O’Mahony, K Young; S Scanlon, M Quirke; P Galvin, D O’Sullivan (0-1), D Walsh (0-2); BJ Walsh (0-2, one free), K Donaghy, P O’Connor (0-2 frees). Subs: D Moran for A OSullivan 32 mins, BJ Keane (0-3, one free) for O’Connor half-time, J O’Donoghue for BJ Walsh (49 mins), D O’Callaghan (0-2) for Moran (60 mins), K OLeary for D Walsh (67 mins).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).