First blood to Kerry. Tomás Ó Sé's Under-20 footballers laid down a marker for a potential Munster final rematch with a four-point victory away to Cork.
Cormac Dillon kicked 1-05, including two superb 45s into a bitter gale, in this clash which served up a healthy appetiser for Saturday’s main course in Killarney.
Cork were outscored 0-06 to 0-05 playing with the elements in the second half as they never held their form after a fast start.
The Kingdom must still get a result against Tipperary before their final berth is copper-fastened but they top the table, with Cork second, heading into the last round. The Rebels face winless Clare in their final game.
Luke Crowley, son of All-Ireland winner Johnny, was a late addition to the line-up but he kicked Kerry’s opening pair off his left and right, although the latter was just too high to find the net from close range. He would go on to assist a goal and a mark by half-time.
Cork were facing into the wind but they pulled three points clear by the end of the opening quarter. Captain Hugh O’Connor was pushed into the edge of the square and he slotted a quartet, comprising two frees, a mark, and a sublime stutter-step point. A tremendous Aaron O’Sullivan point and another from Ed Myers made it 0-06 to 0-03.
But they wouldn’t score again before half-time. Kerry began to turn over possession at will in the middle third and restricted them to two shots in that second quarter.
Roving corner-back Gearóid Evans landed a huge curler, Tomás Kennedy converted a mark, and Dillon added a free to level.
The lead goal arrived in the 29th minute. From an Eddie Healy turnover on his own 14, Kerry countered. Crowley, who had tracked back to assist the turnover, created the goal by slipping a perfect pass for Dillon’s reverse run. He did the rest. 1-06 to 0-06 at the break.
Cork were back within one after another fine O’Connor point and a tap-over Luke O’Herlihy free.
But Kerry made light of the elements against them with some clinical kicking for the next four. Substitute Maidhí Lynch, not long on, spun one over off the outside of his boot, midfielder Healy battled through for another, and Dillon nailed two placed balls. 1-10 to 0-08 now.
O’Connor’s sixth and Evans’ second cancelled each other out before Dara Sheedy and Ross Corkery, with his first touch from a free, brought Cork within a goal.
Kerry came closer to that clincher with John Kelliher’s shot saved by Mikey O’Connell before Dillon iced it from the 45.
Cork: M O’Connell; D Twomey, S O’Connell, M Óg O’Sullivan; C Molloy, D Buckley, S Copps; D O’Brien, M McSweeney; B Hayes, H O’Connor (0-06, 2f, 1m), A O’Sullivan (0-01); O Corcoran, E Myers (0-01), L O’Herlihy (0-01f).
Subs: D Sheedy (0-01) for O’Herlihy (42), N Kelly for Hayes (46), J O’Neill for McSweeney (53), R Corkery (0-01f) for Myers (56), R Kavanagh for A O’Sullivan (60).
Kerry: M Tansley; G Evans (0-02), R Diggin, D O’Callaghan; C Keating, D O’Connor, C Lynch; R Stack, E Healy (0-01); O Ferris, E Boyle, D Kirby; C Dillon (1-05, 0-03f, 0-02 45s), T Kennedy (0-01m), L Crowley (0-02).
Subs: P Lane for Ferris (26), J Kelliher for Boyle (37), M Lynch (0-01) for Diggin (42), F Murphy for Kirby (56), A Crowley for L Crowley (56).
Referee: N Quinn (Clare).
Tipperary still have an outside chance of reaching the decider after a 1-10 to 0-07 win over Clare in Ardfinnan.
Michael Freaney netted the only goal of the game on 27 minutes to see the hosts 1-05 to 0-05 ahead at the break.
With the wind at their backs for the second period, the hosts missed numerous goal chances.
Late points from Daithi Hogan and Paddy O'Keeffe eventually gave them breathing space, with Clare finishing the game with 14 men after full-back Sean McAllister was dismissed on a second yellow.
FINAL STANDINGS
— Connacht GAA (@ConnachtGAA) April 17, 2024
🔹@RoscommonGAA qualify for the final in two weeks time
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Roscommon are through to the Connacht U20 football final after a comprehensive 3-16 to 2-06 win over Leitrim in Ballinamore, an outcome that saw them edge out Galway on scoring difference at the conclusion of the round-robin phase, with the Tribesmen now facing Sligo in the semi-final.
The Yeatsmen accounted for Mayo 0-14 to 0-09 at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park to maintain their quest for a hat-trick of provincial titles. Finishing third in the table, Paul Henry's side will play Galway at a neutral venue on Wednesday next.
Goals by Goals by Niall O'Donnell and Shane McGinley had the Rossies in control - 2-07 to 1-03 at the break.
Further points after the break from McGinley, who finished with 1-06, pushed the visitors further clear.
Leitrim's cause wasn't helped with the dismissal of Darren Cox for a second yellow on 46 minutes. A Paul Honeyman goal ten minutes later did give the hosts hope but the Roscommon response was swift with Bobby Nugent finding the net and three more points landed in their 13-point victory.
A strong second-half performance was the catalyst for Sligo in Castlebar. Trailing 0-07 to 0-03 at the break, the Yeats County outscored their opponents 0-11 to 0-02 on the resumption, with Luke Marren accounting for 0-06 (3fs).
The hosts started well and were four points to no score up inside 10 minutes. Sligo's first score came on 12 minutes through Ronan Niland. Mayo, however, were quite wasteful in front of the posts, kicking nine wides in the opening half.
A black card for Mayo's Liam Maloney on 45 minutes gave further heart to a Sligo side who were now growing in confidence. James Donlon and Dylan McLoughlin got in on the scoring act and with Luke Marren continuing to lead the charge they eventually ran out five-point winners.
In the Ulster quarter-finals, Derry overcame Cavan 1-11 to 0-07 in Owenbeg, while at the Box-It Athletic Grounds Monaghan ran out 1-15 to 0-13 winners against Armagh.
Oisín Doherty kicked 1-04 in Derry's victory. Captain Patrick McGurk, Ruairi Forbes and Niall O'Donnell also chipped in with scores as Hugh McGrath’s side led 0-08 to 0-04 at the break.
Doherty's goal came on 44 minutes, shortly after sub Ciaran Chambers had hit the crossbar, and Derry pushed six points clear. Wasterful Cavan weren't able to convert their many chances and the hosts would run out comfortable winners.
Stephen Mooney kicked 10 points for the Farney, nine from placed balls, as they advanced. Full-forward Bobby McCaul got the only goal of the game just before the break, though Armagh responded with a couple of points to leave the half-time score 1-07 to 0-07.
However, the hosts would go 20 minutes without scoring during the second 35 as Monaghan exerted full control
Watch Derry v Donegal in the Ulster Football Championship quarter-finals on Saturday from 6.10pm, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Clare v Limerick in the Munster Hurling Championship on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Mayo v Roscommon in the Connacht Football Championship semi-finals on Sunday from 3.40pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
