Kerry veteran Darragh O Se teamed up with new star Kieran Donaghy to help propel the Kingdom to a comfortable 0-16 to 0-10 win over a brave but rather impotent Cork side in a low-key All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park. The Kingdom held all the aces from the word go with seasoned campaigner Seamus Moynihan also shining to make sure Cork didn't nick the goals that they so desperately needed. Kerry seemed to be able to play well within themselves and still keep their noses in front in a surprisingly slow-paced derby duel. Cork had taken the lead when Conor McCarthy pointed after a patient build-up in the 2nd minute but it was largely downhill from there for Billy Morgan's men. However an injury suffered to key player Nicholas Murphy in the opening seconds didn't bode well for the match underdogs. The Munster champions proceeded to play second fiddle to their neighbours and they had a real let-off in the 5th minute when Kieran Donaghy outjumped Derek Kavanagh but his first time shot was saved at point blank range by the advancing Alan Quirke. Seven minutes later Quirke again had to be alert to intercept a Kieran Donaghy pass intended for the in-running Eoin Brosnan. It was nip and tuck in the first half hour as the sparring continued unabated with Mike Frank Russell easing the Kingdom into the lead by the odd point in five after a neat finish. The scores were level for the second time thereafter (0-4 apiece) by the 28th minute thanks in part to a Mike Frank Russell free. The sides were still deadlocked on the half-hour mark (0-5 apiece) but Kerry finished the opening moiety with a gallop, notching points from Colm Cooper (free), Mike Frank Russell and Cooper again - this time with an exquisite free. Trailing by 0-5 to 0-8 on the restart, Cork were clinging on but the ongoing dominancy of Darragh O Se in the middle of the field against the struggling Murphy left Cork with an uphill struggle. Even in the early stages of the second half, it became increasingly obvious that the Rebels needed a goal to get themselves out of trouble. However the chasing team lacked quality in sufficient numbers and their lack of penetration and consistent ball-winner in the centre of the field was worrying. Cork's concerns were manifest in the 44th minute when captain Derek Kavanagh was yellow carded for a foul on the influential Kieran Donaghy. Their frustrations were added to when Kevin O'Sullivan's penalty claims in the 40th minute were turned down. To their credit, Cork kept working hard to get back on terms and Gary Murphy turned provider and impressive sub Kevin O'Sullivan swivelled on the spot before curling the ball high and over the bar to cut Kerry's lead to three points, 0-10 to 0-7, after 46 minutes. Kerry showed a capacity to hit back each time Cork threatened to get within touching distance and Russell (free) and Paul Galvin were on target to sandwich O'Sullivan's effort. Cork kept digging deep and when Nicholas Murphy knocked down a high delivery, Donnacha O'Connor pounced to screw the ball over the bar and make it a four point game once again with just under 20 minutes remaining. The goal Cork yearned for seemed to be in the pipeline in the 53rd minute but after a brilliant series of passes, Kevin O'Sullivan had his goal-bound shot excellently blocked by the diving Michael McCarthy for a fruitless '45. It was all too comfortable from there to the climax of the game though for Kerry and the game limped to a predicable conclusion and even the finest fetch of the day by Donnacha O'Connor which led to team-mate O'Brien pointing and then a great James Masters score couldn't lighten Cork's hearts. It was a different story for Kerry however and the Gooch put the proverbial icing on the cake with his first point from play in the dying seconds sealing a workmanlike win for Jack O'Connor's charges. Kerry - D Murphy; M Ó Sé, M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé 0-1, S Moynihan, A O'Mahony; D Ó Sé, T Griffin; S O'Sullivan 0-2, E Brosnan, P Galvin 0-1; C Cooper 0-4, K Donaghy 0-1, MF Russell 0-6. Subs - Declan O'Sullivan 0-1 for Brosnan, Darren O'Sullivan for S O'Sullivan, E Fitzmaurice for Griffin. Cork - A Quirke; M Prout, D Kavanagh, K O'Connor; M Shields, G Spillane, A Lynch; P O'Neill, N Murphy; S O'Brien 0-1, C McCarthy 0-1, K McMahon; J Masters 0-5, D O'Connor 0-2, J Hayes. Subs - G Murphy for Shields, N O'Leary for Prout, K O'Sullivan 0-1 for Hayes, D Niblock for McCarthy, F Goold for O'Neill. Referee - John Bannon (Longford) Tweet

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