Cork and Kerry renewed rivalry in the ESB Munster MFC decider at Killarney yesterday and it was the Rebel youngsters that tasted revenge by reversing last years result, recording a comprehensive 1-16 to 2-8 over the Kingdom. Cork ……………….. 1-16 Kerry ……………….. 2-8 After being on the receiving end of a Kerry defeat in last years provincial final, Cork showed an admirable appetite in tearing apart their fancied opponents on this occasion and were full value for their five-point victory. After choosing to play with the aid of a stiff breeze in the opening period, the Rebels gained an early stranglehold on the tie and had four points on the board before Kerry could offer a response. Cork's attacking unit caused numerous problems from the outset, with Ciaran Sheehan in particular catching the eye at centre-forward and he found his range with a couple of early efforts to help his side establish a 0-6 to 0-1 lead at the half way mark of the opening period. Barry John Walsh did manage to get Kerry off the mark in the sixth minute but they could do nothing to halt a more physical Cork side that threatened to pull right away with Derry O'Sullivan and Sheehan adding further scores. The Kingdom were offered a lifeline in the closing stages of the first half when JB Spillane sent Walsh through on goal and he sent a powerful drive to the net to reduce the damage to 1-3 to 0-9 at the interval. Eoin Kennedy and Patrick Curtin were guilty of glaring misses shortly after the restart and Cork took advantage of those let offs with Sheehan, Aidan Walsh and Eoin Buckley all pointing to edge the Rebels into a 0-14 to 1-6 lead with ten minutes remaining. Buckley then capped off a fine individual performance by netting in the 51st minute before Walsh raised a green flag for a second time for the Kingdom in the closing stages to add a look of respectability to the scoreline. Cork - B. Walsh; I. Jones, R. Buckley, L. Long; B. Kelleher, M. Minnis, D. O'Sullivan (0-1); C. O'Donovan, D. O'Callaghan; B. O'Driscoll (0-3), C. Sheehan (0-4), A. Walsh (0-3); E. Buckley (1-2), P. Honohan (0-3), C. Dunne. Subs - A. O'Reilly for Kelleher, M. Hickey for Dunne. Kerry - T. Mac an tSaoir; D. O'Sullivan, B. Shanahan, B. Russell; M. O' Sè, P. Costello, B. O'Leary; J. Buckley, I. Somers; K. O'Flynn (0-2), E. Kennedy (0-1), J.B. Spillane; B.J. Walsh (2-1), P. Curtin (0-1), J. Doolan (0-2). Subs - D. McElligott for Costello, T. Brosnan for O'Sè, A. O'Reilly for Buckley, T. O'Sullivan for Somers, A. O'Donoghue (0-1) for Curtin. Referee - D. O'Mahony (Tipperary). Tweet

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