McGrath Cup Final

CORK 0-16 KERRY 0-15

A strong second-half showing from Cork was the key to their narrow victory over Kerry in today’s McGrath Cup Final.

It was a sweet win for the Rebels who hadn’t defeated their great rivals in Fitzgerald Stadium in a competitive match since the 1995 Munster Final.

Kerry looked the more likely winners in the first half and led at the break by 0-9 to 0-5 with forwards like Sean O’Shea and Tony Brosnan looking sharp.

But there had been warning signs that Cork could trouble the Kerry defence in the first half too when they passed up two very good goal chances.

They were more clinical in the second half and got an early boost when Chris Óg Jones and Colm O’Callaghan kicked points.

By the three-quarter mark they were level courtesy of a Brian Hurley two-point free and it was nip and tuck from there to the final whistle.

Brosnan put Kerry ahead again with a classy two-pointer but Cork responded with scores from Mattie Taylor and Seán McDonnell.

The Kingdom looked like they might take the spoils when points from Brosnan and Killian Spillane edged them ahead in injury-time, but Cork came with an impressive late burst as points from Hurley and Jones clinched a great victory.