Cork rally to nick unlikely draw

Sagging on the ropes at 1-13 to 1-6 with six minutes left, the last rites were about to be administered to Cork’s challenge.

And rightly so, too. Up until then their lack of creativity, variation and miniscule scoring power had deserved nothing less than a speedy consignment to anonymity.

But in what will most certainly be recalled as the most sensational six minutes of action in the recent history of the All-Ireland series, Cork scored an astonishing 2-2 without reply to live to fight another day.

It was a stunning transformation in a game that was as much a war of attrition as a test of skills and tactics.

Yet this was a war Kerry were gutted not to win. Even after their midfield talisman Dara O’ Se had been sent off in the 37th minute, the Kingdom never lost their imperious demeanour, and having lassoed Cork’s efforts to make any headway, they appeared destined to cruise into yet another final.

They survived moments of danger, though, particularly when Cork enjoyed spasms of possession in the second quarter after Ciaran Donaghy fisted in Kerry’s goal a matter of seconds after Daniel Goulding had rocked Kerry with a 13th-minute pile-driver.

Kerry led by 1-5 to 1-4 at the break and after O’Se’s red card they appeared to, if anything, gain in composure, rattling over three quick-fire points before hoisting over four more to leave an eight-point gap between the sides.

Cork, laboured and indecisive, made heavy weather of foraging for scores and their attack never moved with fluency and cohesion.

But their numerous flaws and palpable lack of direction were dramatically erased in that thrilling closing segment.

A John Miskella point in the 66th minute was viewed as nothing more than a token gesture and even when John Hayes landed his first point from a free a minute later — this in itself a testimony to his inefficiency — Kerry were still

residing on Easy Street. But when substitute James Masters got a touch to a hopeful ‘Garryowen’ from Michael Cussen to flick the ball past Diarmuid Murphy in the 69th minute, Cork suddenly found themselves just three points in arrears.

Surely the impossible couldn’t happen? It didn’t — but Cork were more than delighted to settle for a draw when Hayes smartly drilled in a 72nd-minute penalty awarded when the lion-hearted Graham Canty was obstructed by Aiden O’Mahony, whose gamesmanship earlier on had resulted in the harsh dismissal of Cork’s Donnacha O’Connor.

Ulster referee Joe McQuillam, who had his hands full throughout, amazingly failed to send the previously booked O’Mahony off. Not that it mattered, as a matter of seconds later the final whistle sounded with the sides all square.

For Cork, this was an unexpected reprieve. For Kerry, a severe shock to their system after the authoritative manner in which they had controlled lengthy segments of the contest.

But their incursion into complacency has now saddled them with what they will view as a totally unnecessary replay while Cork will surely believe that they cannot be quite as ineffective the next day.

Dara O Se and Donnacha O’Connor are both, of course, unavailable for episode two given that they received straight red cards yesterday. But the loss of O Se could prove a severe handicap to a Kerry team still focused on making it three All-Ireland titles on the trot.

Kerry scorers: B Sheehan (0-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 "45"), K Donaghy (1-1), T Walsh (0-2), Darren O’Sullivan, E Brosnan, T O Se (0-1 each).

Cork scorers: D O’Connor (0-4, 0-2 frees), J Hayes (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free), J Masters (1-0), N Murphy (0-1).

Kerry: D Murphy; M O Se, T O’Sullivan, T Griffin, T O Se, A O’Mahony, K Young; D O Se, S Scanlon; B Sheehan, C Cooper, D Walsh; Declan O’Sullivan, K Donaghy, T Walsh.

Substitutes: E Brosnan for D Walsh (half-time), Darren O’Sullivan for T Walsh (56 minutes), S O’Sullivan for Declan O’Sullivan (67 minutes).

Yellow cards: D Walsh (15 minutes), O’Mahony (20 minutes), Sheehan (41 minutes), Cooper (44 minutes), T O Se (61 minutes).

Red card: D O Se (37 minutes).

Cork: A Quirke; D Duggan, D Kavanagh, A Lynch; J Miskella, G Spillane, K O’Connor; A O’Connor, P O’Neill; D O’Connor, G Campy, S O’Brien; D Goulding, M Cussen, J Hayes.

Substitutes: N Murphy for A O’Connor (20 minutes), J Masters for Goulding (43 minutes), K McMahon for O’Brien (46 minutes), N O’Leary for D O’Connor (57 minutes), M Shields for Spillane (58 minutes).

Yellow cards: McMahon (47 minutes), Cussen (52 minutes), Lynch (65 minutes).

Red card: D O’Connor (50 minutes).

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).