Sport

Kerry caught by late Cork charge

Kerry sustained their second successive defeat in the McGrath Cup in the space of eight days when they lost to Cork at Fitzgerald…

Mon Feb 01 1999 - 00:00

Kerry sustained their second successive defeat in the McGrath Cup in the space of eight days when they lost to Cork at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney yesterday.

In fact, it was Kerry's third defeat in that time as they also lost to Cork in a charity game last Sunday. It was a particularly galling defeat for the Kingdom who led for three quarters of the game. But they could not cope with a late flourish from a fitter Cork side.

With Dara O Se and William Kirby on top at midfield and their backs rock solid, Kerry led by 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time. Maurice Fitzgerald kicked three points including two frees while Gerry Murphy scored two neat points from play and then John Crowley completed Kerry's first-half tally.

Cork relied on their nippy corner forward Philip Clifford for all their first-half scores.

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In the second half Crowley and Fitzgerald added points, but Clifford (two points) and substitute Michael Cronin (with an angled effort) kept Cork in touch.

Then in the 48th minute Cork struck for the decisive score when Joe Kavanagh availed of a Barry O'Shea error to find the Kerry net and soon after Clifford put Cork a point in front.

Fitzgerald struck two massive points to put Kerry back in front but Cork seemed to stay the distance better and in the 55th minute centre back Steven O'Brien raced up-field to shoot the equaliser (1-8 to 0-11).

Then Padraic O'Mahony scored two late points to give Cork a narrow but deserved win.

Cork: D McAuley; M O'Donovan, R McCarthy, A Lynch; D Wyseman, S O'Brien (0-1), M Cronin; L Honohan, N Murphy; A Dorgan, P O'Mahony (0-2, one free), F Collins (0-1), P Clifford (0-5, two frees), J Kavanagh (1-0), A O'Regan. Subs: M O'Sullivan for Murphy (25 mins), M Cronin (0-1) for O'Regan (half-time), P O'Regan for M Cronin (35 mins).

Kerry: D O'Keeffe; M McCarthy, B O'Shea, C Drummond; T O Se, S Moynihan, M Hassett; D O Se, W Kirby; A MacGearailt, L Hassett (0- 1), D Daly; G Murphy (0-2), J Crowley (0-3), M Fitzgerald (0-5, three frees). Subs: J McGlynn for MacGearailt (42 mins), R McGearailt for Murphy (54 mins).

Referee: M Ryan (Limerick).