Cork regained their Munster U21 football title in dramatic style on Thursday night, an injury time point from substitute Cian Dorgan securing a deserved victory over Kerry in Tralee, writes Tony Leen.
It was a thrilling final that see-sawed throughout, but Cork goals at crucial times provided them with the buffer to stave off Kerry's second half pressure.
No goal is more important than another, but Cork's third from midfielder Sean White 13 minutes from the finish came at a juncture when Kerry had edged in front for the first time since the opening exchanges.
Two Kerry midfielders failed to collect a kick out and Cork captain Stephen Cronin showed admirable poise in teeing up the onrushing Sean White for the emphatic finish.
That edged Cork 3-7 to 1-11 in front, but if they thought that would kill Kerry's resistance, they hadn't factored in that it was 2008 since the Kingdom last won a provincial Under 21 title.
A remarkable stat.
Cork's Kieran Histon blocked a goal-bound Kerry effort from Dara Roche with ten minutes left, but points from the impressive Jack Savage and sub Tony Brosnan looked to have given Kerry extra time, as they tied it at 1-14 to 3-8.
Not so. Cian Dorgan is a county championship winner at the senior grade with Ballincollig and he showed the necessary poise to clip over the winning point as the clock ticked over into injury time.
A sweet success for the Rebels, built on the foundations of an organised defence, a serious work rate, and an ability to break at pace and with intent.
Their attacking raids became more sporadic as the second half progressed, but Peter Kelleher - quiet in the first period - was more prominent at full forward in the final quarter.
Strangely both sides played better against the breeze, which was significant, in Tralee. That Kerry were three points down at half time was no surprise to anyone in the crowd of 4,683 who watched an organised Cork side show the better poise and shape in the first period.
If Cork were knocked out of their stride in any way by Kerry's lightning start, they betrayed no signs of it in the way they set about their task. Mallow's Ryan Harkin was causing endless problems with his movement, and the tall but mobile Brian Coakley (Carrigaline) was proving an effective focal point of the attack.
The net result was a fluidity to the Cork attack that Kerry's defence struggled to counter. Such link play was in evidence as Michael Hurley danced his way around the Kerry cover to set up Coakley for the game's opening goal on 11 minutes, catapulting the visitors to Tralee into a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.
Dara Roche pivoted well to claim a Kerry point but he was only keeping par with Michael Hurley at the other end.
Then in the 19th minute Sean O'Donoghue found the run of Seanie Powter, and the 18-year-old burned the Kerry rearguard and finished to the net with a maturity that made a mockery of his debut status at this grade.
2-4 to 0-4 for Cork, and the huge - and expectant Kerry crowd were shuffling uncomfortably in their seats. Burns missed a goal chance for the Kingdom, but three points before the interval would give the Kingdom a foothold they badly needed.
They stepped it up significantly in the second period, and must have thought they'd have extra time at least to put the seal on their comeback. However, a determined Cork side had other ideas.
Scorers for Kerry: J Savage (0-6, 4 frees), M O'Connor (1-0), K Spillane, D Roche (0-2 each), M Burns, B O Seanachain, E O Conchuir, T Brosnan (0-1 each)
Scorers for Cork: B Coakley (1-1, 1 free), S Powter, S White (1-0 each), R Harkin, M Hurley (0-2 each), S O'Donoghue (free), S Sherlock (free), P Kelleher, C Dorgan (0-1 each).
KERRY: E O’Brien (Churchill); T O'Sullivan (Dingle), J Foley (Ballydonoghue), T Leo O'Sullivan (Dingle); M Flaherty (Dingle), B Ó Beaglaoich (Gaeltacht) G White (Dr Crokes); B O’Sullivan (Dingle); M O’Connor (Dingle); B Ó Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue) M Burns (Dr Crokes) E Ó Conchúir (Gaeltacht); D Roche (Glenflesk) K Spillane (Templenoe) Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys)
Subs: G Horan (Austin Stacks) for O Seanachain (half time); D Foran (St Senan's) for O'Connor (41); C Coffey (Kerins O'Rahillys) for O Beaglaoich (43); J Kiely (Dr Crokes) for O Conchuir (47); T Brosnan (Dr Crokes) for Roche (55); F Clifford (Waterville) for White (56)
CORK: A Casey (Kiskeam); M McSweeney (Newcestown), J Mullins (Eire Og), D Quinn (St Finbarrs); K Flahive (Douglas) S Cronin (Nemo Rgs) K Histon (Cobh); S White (Clonakilty)S O'Leary (Bantry Blues), S O’Donoghue Inniscarra), S. Powter (Douglas), R Harkin (Mallow); B Coakley (Carrigaline), P Kelleher (Kilmichael), M Hurley (Castlehaven).
Subs: S Sherlock (St Finbarr's) for Powter (inj, HT); D O Duinnin (Cill na Martra) for O'Donoghue (45); C Dorgan (Ballincollig) for Coakley (50); C Kiely (Ballincollig) for Quinn (51); E Lavers (Dohenys) for O'Leary (52).
Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary)
