Sport
Munster masters Kerry trounce Cork
Kerry sent us all searching through the record books after defeating Cork 3-18 to 2-4 in a runaway victory in the magnificent revamped Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday last. It’s the biggest winning margin since 1938 and Kerry were complete masters in the one-sided match.
Cork got off to a dream start playing into the city goal in the first half. The game was just 80 seconds old when they worked the ball up the left wing. Following good work by Ruairí Deane and a nice ball across the Kerry goalmouth, it was an easy tap-in for Jamie O’Sullivan and there was little Shane Murphy could do about the inevitable goal. It was the dream start for Cork, but it did not rattle Kerry. They responded well in the 5th minute when David Moran made a mark with a clean catch from the kick-out and parted to Stephen O’Brien, who set of on his trademark runs through the Cork defence and scored Kerry’s opening goal. Cork bounced back for their second goal in the 9th minute and once again it was Ruairí Deane who did the good approach work. It was a replica of the first goal with Mark Collins adding the final touch.
At this stage it looked as if Cork were going to make a real game of it as they led 2-0 to 1-2. They added a point and it is hard to believe that they went to 2-1 and that was their last score until the 45th minute when they added another point. They scored three more points late in the game and that was all Cork could manage. Just six scores in total over 70 minutes tells its own story for a bewildered Cork team as they were brushed aside by a rampant Kerry side who took complete control and scored at will. They chalked up the points with good support play all-round and led 1-11 to 2-1 at the interval.
They lost the influential Stephen O’Brien to a black card in the 27th minute and he was replaced by Kevin McCarthy. Cork also lost two players to black cards. Sam Ryan gave way to James Loughrey in the 19th minute and Deane was replaced by Paul Kerrigan in the 32nd minute. They seemed to be harsh calls. Ruairí Deane in particular was a big loss to Cork, as was Stephen O’Brien for Kerry.
Darran O’Sullivan came on for Micheál Burns at half time but he made little contribution. He was a good player in his younger days but last lost that dash. The same can be said for Donaghy and Killian Young who came on in that second half. Once again I was impressed by Seán O’Shea and David Clifford. They are blending in well . O’Shea ended with four points and Clifford scored two points, but once again it was Paul Geaney who shone brightest of all, ending with a remarkable tally of 2-5 and all of these scores were from play. The Dingle man is invaluable for the Kerry attack.
Kerry did well at midfield as they were up against Aidan Walsh and Ian Maguire. When the Cork goalkeeper Mark White went long with the kick-outs, David Moran and Jack Barry were able to win clean ball. White also tried the short kick-out but Kerry were so dominant that they pressed up on these and for the most part they were able to deny Cork possession.
The Kerry defence settled well after the first 10 minutes and once again Gavin White was the outstanding defender. He can solo with both legs and his up-field sallies, especially in the second half, were a joy to behold. He has a wonderful turn of speed which is so much part of today’s game. He scored a point from one of these long runs out of defence. Kevin McCarthy did well when he came in but I would like to see him take his own score instead of passing it off. He is unselfish but needs to score more himself to nail down a place in the starting 15.
My match notebook showed a succession of Kerry points including two from Paul Murphy who was caught for the first goal but recovered well. James O’Donoghue was on the ball quite a lot and ended with three points, one from a free. Barry John Keane kicked a point after coming in late in the game for O’Donoghue in the 59th minute.
How good are Kerry? They have done what has been asked of them and brought in huge scores against Clare and Cork. They have not been tested in a close contest so the next game in two weeks’ time against Galway will provide a closer examination of their progress. They have exceptionally good scoring forwards and there is an intensity to their game in the tackle which will stand to them throughout the field. The two goals they conceded early in the Cork game would have knocked another team but Kerry have youth in their side. Remember there is no one over the age of 30 in the starting 15.
Last week alone, the Kerry U-17s, the juniors and the seniors all recorded big wins. Meanwhile, the Dubs are winning by big margins also and what we have seen to date suggests that Kerry are the only team capable of taking on the All-Ireland champions. Well done to Kerry.
The newly revamped Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a credit to the Cork County Board.
KERRY: S Murphy (c); J Foley, P Murphy, T Morley; B Ó Beaglaoich, P Crowley, G White; D Moran, J Barry; M Burns, S O’Shea, S O’Brien; D Clifford, P Geaney and J. O’Donoghue.
Subs for Kerry: K McCarthy for S O’Brien (black, 26); D O’Sullivan for M Burns (h-t); M Griffin for J Foley (54); K Donaghy for D Clifford (55); BJ Keane for J O’Donoghue (59); K Young for T Morley (64).
Scorers for Kerry: P Geaney (2-5); S O’Shea (0-4, 1 free, 2 45s), J O’Donoghue (0-3, 1 free); S O’Brien (1-0); D Clifford, P Murphy (0-2 each); G White and BJ Keane (0-1 each).
Sport
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)
As we reach the midway point of the 2025 season, Adam Moynihan takes a close look at Kerry’s strength in depth
As the Kerry players, management team and backroom staff huddled together for a photo with the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup in front of the Hogan Stand, one of the photographers raised his fist in the air, trying to illicit something resembling a celebratory scene. No joy.
Victory over Mayo had been secured in convincing enough fashion but winning the league has never been grounds for buoyant celebrations as far as Kerry are concerned. Retaining Division 1 status and unearthing some new talent is generally enough to tick the springtime box ahead of the serious business of the championship. Once that has been achieved, anything else is gravy.
Going by the disappointing loss to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, the need for new blood was especially great heading into the 2025 season. The team faded badly down the stretch and into extra time against the Orchard County with overdependence on core players glaringly obvious. It wasn’t the only reason they lost but Kerry simply didn’t get enough from their supporting cast on the day.
With that in mind, Jack O’Connor knew he had to work on the depth of his squad during this league campaign, and you’d have to say he made a pretty good fist of it.
Starting in goal, the situation here is clear with Shane Murphy providing back-up to Shane Ryan.
Moving out the field, in recent years Kerry have generally gone with Jason Foley at full back, Tom O’Sullivan at left corner back, and one of Paul Murphy or Graham O’Sullivan at right corner back.
After making his debut in the league in 2024, Damien Bourke has emerged as a genuine right corner back alternative with some strong performances that have vastly enhanced his reputation. Not many Kerry players came out of the Dublin defeat with extra credit to their name but Bourke was brave and tenacious, bursting out of defence and using the ball wisely. He was replaced as a starter by the experienced Murphy in later rounds but the Tralee man capped his league with a goal off the bench against Galway in Salthill.
Dylan Casey also got extended game time in the absence of Tom O’Sullivan and he acquitted himself professionally. He has a solid head on his shoulders and you get the impression that Jack O’Connor would now be comfortable throwing him into any given situation without hesitation.
The versatile Graham O’Sullivan is also an option at corner back and it looks like he’ll need to slot in somewhere other than his natural position of half back as Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White are nailed on starters at 5 and 7. O’Sullivan lined out at half forward against Galway and Mayo, underlining his flexibility and importance to the team.
There could be a changing of the guard taking place at centre back with Mike Breen seemingly shaking off the injury woes that have held back his progress with Kerry to date. With regular number 6 Tadhg Morley unavailable for selection for most of the league, Breen slotted seamlessly into that crucial central role, and he looked really confident against Mayo on Sunday. As things stand, Morley will be doing well to displace Breen but either way Kerry should have two good centre back options heading into the summer months.
Midfield has been a head scratcher for Kerry for a number of years but in Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor they appear to have found a winning combination. Diarmuid was playing the best football of his career up to his injury against Armagh in Round 6 so getting his shoulder right for championship is of paramount importance to Kerry’s chances.
Joe is a guaranteed starter too but his assured display at wing forward against Armagh was interesting in that it opens the door for a third midfielder to start. Seán O’Brien and Barry Dan O’Sullivan both applied themselves admirably when called upon in the league and the manager should feel like he can trust them more now than he did 12 months ago.
Joe O’Connor’s arrival as a half forward candidate has improved Kerry’s options to the extent that it’s difficult to predict how they will line out from 10 to 12 in the Munster Championship. Micheál Burns has done quite well upon his reintroduction to the team after being dropped from the panel in 2024, and Paudie Clifford is looking sharp at centre forward. Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney are options along this line too, although Dylan has been operating as a withdrawn inside forward to date – a role Tony is also capable of playing.
Of course, Seánie O’Shea will have to fit in somewhere in this department when he fully recuperates from his knee ligament injury, so it will be interesting to see how Jack O’Connor works this conundrum out. File under ‘good problems’.
Dara Moynihan is still recovering from a hip injury and has not yet featured in 2025. He would naturally be an option at 10 if he can get back up to speed. Meanwhile, Darragh Lyne, Ruairí Murphy and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich all featured at half forward in the league.
David Clifford and Paul Geaney will play at 13 and 14 with Dylan Geaney in pole position to start at 15 on the back of a really good run of form, perhaps excepting the league final in which he was relatively quiet. Tony Brosnan is a prime candidate to challenge Dylan for that spot; the Dr Crokes player has kicked some fantastic scores in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
As for out-and-out inside forwards, Conor Geaney and Killian Spillane are likely to be used as impact subs.
All told Kerry do appear to have better depth than they had last year, particularly with the emergence of second season players like Bourke, O’Brien and Dylan Geaney as legitimate options, and with Breen beginning to fulfil his potential. Burns’ comeback and Joe O’Connor’s newfound ability to play the 12 position also help.
As always, though, the proof will be in the eating. We will have to wait for the suffocating heat of do-or-die championship matches to find out if this squad is as deep and dependable as it looks on paper.
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