
Munster final Sunday has become no more than a box-ticking exercise for all in green and gold
KERRY 4-20 (4-3-14) CLARE 0-21 (0-2-17)
Munster chairman Tim Murphy, writing in the match programme, said the 'exhilarating' nature of the recent Cork-Kerry semi-final was 'a badly needed boost' for the often maligned and too often non-competitive Munster football championship.
There was no second boost here, no second spectacle. There was nothing remotely exhilarating about this Munster final. Served up instead was apathy and another Kerry annihilation.
The crowd of 13,181 was the smallest in living memory for a provincial decider at Fitzgerald Stadium. The Kerry majority within that number couldn't even be bothered to encroach the pitch afterwards.
And fully understandable was their post-match muteness. Equally so was the understated behaviour of their players on the field.
Munster final Sunday has become no more than a box-ticking exercise for all in the green and gold corner. The numbers bear out this argument. This latest Sunday was the fourth time in the last five years where their margin of victory on the concluding day of provincial business sat in double digits.
Try these for lotto numbers: 22, 23, 14, 7, and 11. Has a five-in-a-row ever been so comfortably achieved? A stroll-in-the-sun 86th Munster crown. A stress-free 12th in 13 years.
After Clare had the temerity to come within seven last May, they and their former Kerry boss were duly whipped here. Embarrassed, even, at times in the opening half when the gap ran to 15 points and threatened to run out of control.
The Kerry and Clare players march behind the Millstreet Pipe Band in the parade before the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship final. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
No surprise sprung by Peter Keane against his own. No getting one over on Jack, or anyone else from back home for that matter. His knowledge of local weaknesses from his three years at the helm did not lead to any exploitation of such.
Indeed, such was the utter one-sidedness that the absence of the injured Shane Ryan, Paul Murphy, Diarmuid O'Connor, Graham O'Sullivan, and suspended Paudie Clifford was neither lamented nor felt. There was ample breathing space to hand championship debuts, off the bench, to Mark O'Shea, Evan Looney, and Keith Evans.
Among those drafted in for the aforementioned missing quintet was a first championship start since 2021 for Micheál Burns. He finished a first-half goal and finished the first half itself by preventing an Eoin Cleary goal at the far end.
Seán O'Shea started his first game since the League defeat to Dublin on February 15. It was as if he'd never been away. Inside 22 seconds, he'd kicked only Kerry's second two-pointer in five games.
'Seánie has had a frustrating time with a knee issue, but it just shows the reservoir of fitness he's built up, because he doesn't have a huge amount done. I was amazed he was going as well as he was for fifty minutes, but he's a great lad and got a great attitude,' said Jack, post-match.
Kerry's so-called problem department in the middle of the field looked no problem at all. Barry Dan pinched 1-1 and pulled down kickouts. Joe O'Connor again broke restarts and broke perfectly-timed onto attacks.
Because there is so little of a contest to reflect upon, let's instead focus on the reality ahead for the Kingdom. Unless Cork unsettle them for a second time at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on the June Bank Holiday weekend, Kerry will once again land into the last eight of the championship significantly less examined than their fellow Sam Maguire frontrunners. Deep down, the Kerry camp knows as much. So, how will Jack stir the juices?
'I'll tell you now, the best way to keep fellas' feet on the ground; there were four or five fellas who missed out today, and they'll all be training next week. Bobby Knight said long ago, if a fella thinks his arse is going to be on the seat, that will focus his mind pretty quick.'
The reverse of that is the fellas who missed yesterday must have been getting anxious in the stand at how they were going to dislodge teammates from a side that kept Clare to five points in the opening 26 minutes, while at the same time posting 4-7.
Suspense had been unforgivingly removed by the sixth minute. Kerry already had two goals on the board. Tony Brosnan and Tom O'Sullivan with the risk-reward passes. David Clifford, both times, with the finish.
Clare did not help themselves. Keelan Sexton blazed over a first-half penalty. They converted only five of 13 first-half scoring opportunities from play. Emmet McMahon committed a stupid black card foul on 16 minutes after Paul Geaney had been stripped of possession.
But instead of a Clare turnover won, O'Shea kicked his second two-pointer and Kerry enjoyed numerical advantage for the ensuing 10 minutes. It was a 10-minute period where Kerry doubled their goal count through Burns and Barry Dan.
Their lead peaked at 15. That was the interval difference, 4-10 to 0-7. Their second-half easing off was, in keeping with the afternoon's theme, expected and understandable.
An exhilarating semi-final, an evisceration of a final. Local business again taken care of. Now comes the real business.
Scorers for Kerry: D Clifford (2-5, tp, 0-1 free); S O'Shea (0-8, tp free, tp, 0-3 frees); BD O'Sullivan (1-1); P Geaney (0-4, 0-1 free); M Burns (1-0); D Geaney (0-2).
Scorers for Clare: E McMahon (0-8, 2tp frees, 0-2 frees); M McInerney (0-6, 0-2 frees, 0-1 '45); K Sexton (0-1 pen), B McNamara (0-2 each); M Doherty, D Walsh, A Griffin (0-1 each).
Kerry: S Murphy; D Casey, J Foley, T O'Sullivan; B Ó Beaglaoich, M Breen, G White; J O'Connor, BD O'Sullivan; T Brosnan, S O'Shea, M Burns; D Clifford, P Geaney, D Geaney.
Subs: T Morley for Foley (27-32, temporary); R Murphy for Brosnan, K Spillane for O'Shea (both 52); T Morley for Breen (54); M O'Shea for BD O'Sullivan (55); K Evans for Burns (59); E Looney for Ó Beaglaoich (64, temporary).
Clare: E Tubridy; M Doherty, R Lanigan, C Brennan; A Sweeney, C Rouine, I Ugweuru; B McNamara, D Walsh; A Griffin, E McMahon, D Coughlan; M McInerney, K Sexton, E Cleary.
Subs: C Meaney for Sweeney, S Griffin for Walsh (both 54); E Cahill for Sexton (58); R McMahon for Rouine (62); D Burns for Cleary (68).
Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Matthew Bradley fires late winner to give Muskerry winning start in Cork Premier SHC Divisional/Colleges
Muskerry 1-23 Duhallow 2-19 It was lucky 13 for Matthew Bradley as he fired the late winner for Muskerry against Duhallow in the opening phase of the Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC divisional section at Coachford on Tuesday night. After Duhallow had battled back to wipe out a four-point gap as the game ticked into injury time, Aghabullogue man Bradley replied with his 12th point of the night only for Cian Crowley to set up Brandon Murphy for another Duhallow leveller. There was still time for more, however, and when Muskerry won a free at midfield, Bradley converted to give Muskerry the points. While the mid-Cork divisional side – finalists in the divisions and colleges segment of the competition last year, losing to Imokilly – were picking from a reduced pool and had not had any time together, victory sets them up nice for the round-robin section, with a clash against Carbery next. For much of the first half, they were in control, with Bradley to the fore as they amassed an 0-8 to 0-3 lead that was augmented as Matt Brady's delivery was kept in by James Foley, who then drove goalwards along the endline before finishing well. With seven minutes left until half-time, they were up 1-10 to 0-5 but early Duhallow sub Evan Murphy pointed and then linked with Jack Murphy to set up Luke Philpott for a fine goal. By half-time, Duhallow were within three, 1-12 to 1-9, despite having had eight wides in the first half to their opponents' two, and they pushed on further on the restart. Excellent free-taking from Fionn O'Connor saw them reel Muskerry in and then push ahead, with Brandon Murphy's excellent point making it 1-15 to 1-13 on 42. While O'Connor answered a James Lane point for Muskerry, Duhallow would then endure a ten-minute scoreless spell as Muskerry settled again, with Bradley, Mark Lucey and Foley helping them to regain the upper hand. They looked safe when David Casey made it 1-21 to 1-17 in the 58th minute, but, after an O'Connor goal attempt from a free was saved, Cian Crowley's follow-up was brilliantly touched over by Muskerry goalkeeper James Walsh. Then, Rory Lynn managed to claim possession after a scramble in the Muskerry goalmouth and fired home to level. Muskerry kept their heads, however, and Bradley was on hand to be their match-winner. Scorers for Muskerry: M Bradley (0-13, 7f), J Foley (1-2), J Lane, O O'Driscoll (0-2 each), M Lucey, D Twomey, D Casey, J Devine (0-1 each). Scorers for Duhallow: F O'Connor (0-7, 6f), R Lynn, L Philpott (1f) (1-1 each), C King (0-3), E Murphy, B Murphy 0-2 each, C Crowley, C O'Keeffe, S Howard (0-1 each). MUSKERRY: J Walsh (Grenagh); P Fitton (Ballinora), M Brady (Éire Óg), P O'Sullivan (Aghabullogue); J Galvin (Éire Óg), C McGoldrick (Éire Óg), W Ahern (Cloughduv); O O'Driscoll (Cloughduv), M O'Connell (Dripsey); D Twomey (Grenagh), J Foley (Aghabullogue), J Devine (Cloughduv), M Bradley (Aghabullogue), J Lane (Aghabullogue), A Dinan (Donoughmore). Subs: M Lucey (Donoughmore) for Dinan (36), B Horgan (Kilmichael) for O'Sullivn (46), D Casey (Éire Óg) for Twomey (49), C Cotter (Kilmichael) for Devine (51), M O'Sullivan (Dripsey) for Ahern (58). DUHALLOW: B Newman (Newmarket); A Coughlan (Banteer), C O'Callaghan (Dromtariffe), R Heffernan (Kilbrin); B Linehan (Meelin), J Murphy (Dromtariffe), C Curtin (Meein); S Howard (Dromtariffe), F O'Connor (Kilbrin); C O'Keeffe (Newmarket), R King (Kilbrin), C King (Kilbrin); B Murphy (Dromtariffe), L Philpott (Banteer), R Lynn (Newmarket). Subs: E Murphy (Dromtariffe) for Curtin (9, injured), C Crowley (Newmarket) for Philpott (49), J Harrington (Kilbrin) for E Murphy, R O'Connell (Banteer) for Linehan (both 57). Referee: D Twomey (Shanballymore).

The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
August All-Ireland senior finals could make a return in 2027
The 42 Reports from Kilcormac, Offaly GAA PRESIDENT JARLATH Burns has revealed August All-Ireland finals could be back in place for the 2027 season. The timing of the showpiece games in the inter-county championship has sparked heated debate with successive weekends in July currently used. Burns, speaking today at Offaly's GAA training centre 'The Faithful Fields' in Kilcormac, outlined how August All-Ireland finals may return in two years time. 'We have an amateur organisation that is also working alongside Croke Park, which is a commercial organisation. Croke Park operates with regard to its priorities and how it does its business, a year in advance. So, already, August 2026 is taken up. 'That puts August 2027 into the mix. I'm around the country all the time, in clubs and counties every single day of the week, and the thing that I get most debate on are the timings of the All-Ireland finals. 'And there is a school of thought that is saying that first and third weeks in August, leave everything as it is and just have a bigger space between the semi-finals and the finals, three weeks instead of two weeks. GAA President Jarlath Burns. Leah Scholes / INPHO Leah Scholes / INPHO / INPHO 'That means then that there's only the two teams that are being affected. The disadvantage of that is that you're into the bank holiday weekend, and that can create difficulty as well. 'You might have heard me saying that this isn't going to happen during my presidency. The decision might be made during my presidency, but it might not actually occur during my presidency. But I am certainly open to first and third weeks in August from 2027 on. 'At the end of the day, we are a games organisation. We also have to factor in replays. We have to factor in camogie and LGFA, and replays for those as well. So Croke Park could be very, very busy in that month of August. But that's great. The more games we can have in it, the better.' Armagh's Aidan Forker and John Maher of Galway in action in last year's All-Ireland senior football final. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO Clare's Diarmuid Ryan and Seamus Harnedy of Cork in action in last year's All-Ireland senior hurling final. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO With concerts already likely to be booked in for August 2026, a shift in timing of the All-Ireland finals in 2027 would create a window earlier in the summer for the stadium to be used for such events. 'One of the jobs you get when you're President of the GAA, you're chair of the Croke Park board so you get to understand the cycle of touring acts and it would have been perfect for them to finish their tour in Ireland and then go on maybe to Australia or wherever for it going into the summer. 'Now it might be to start the tour in Ireland and that's doable. You know, everybody wants to play in Croke Park. That's one thing. All of the biggest acts in the world, they do want to play in Croke Park.' In the wake of last Saturday's dramatic Munster final, the debate has surfaced as to whether a replay would have been a fairer solution. Burns would be in favour of replays if there was sufficient room in the calendar. Advertisement 'You don't have to talk to me above anybody else about replays and provincial finals. We've lost three now (and) two quarter-finals, on penalties. I would be very much in favour of replays where at all possible.' 'At the end of this championship, because it's a three-year phase, we're going to review all aspects of it. I agree with the split-season for all of the reasons that I've given before, but I definitely think that any review should consider the possibility of replays, particularly in provincial finals. Limerick's Cian Lynch and William O'Donoghue dejected after the game last Saturday. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'I just think that was such a game of drama, it was just a pity the way it ended. The Armagh-Donegal game could have gone the same way for the third year in a row, so I'm totally in favour of replays.' The GAA President admitted the preliminary hurling quarter-finals are a barrier to faciltating replays in the current schedule. 'We did bring a motion to Congress this year. Ironically, it was Munster GAA who stymied it. For good reason as well, because they know that they have it very tight with the preliminary quarter-finals. 'Those mean a lot to the counties that are in them. Every time CCCC have gone to Ard Chomhairle to try and end the preliminary quarter-finals, the counties themselves who would be in that position have always come back and said, 'No, this preliminary quarter-final means an awful lot to our team and our county, and we want to keep it.' 'If you do away with the preliminary quarter-finals, there are advantages to that because you could stretch out the Joe McDonagh Cup and you could make that a longer competition. 'But because they have to be ready for the preliminary quarter-finals, you end up then with all of those Joe McDonagh counties ending at the same date as the Leinster final. There are lots of considerations there but certainly I'd be open to doing whatever has to be done to get replays in for provincial finals.' Burns was also asked for his views on penalty shootouts being employed to deliver a winner in championship ties. Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins saves a penalty during last Saturday's shootout. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'That's what's in rule and that's what we have at the moment. It's not too often that you have penalties in a hurling match for obvious reasons. There are many people who say it adds to the drama as well, and that it can assist in the narrative of the game, that there was a winner on the day, there was a cup presented. 'Whenever we used to have replays, people gave off to the GAA that we were just doing it for the financial gain. And remember, the 83 per cent goes back. We need every penny we can get for all those good reasons. And now we have stopped replays to allow for the club season. We're getting, not criticism, but debate over it. 'So there are all of these points that you have to consider. The GAA do not take these decisions lightly. They are all voted on. We're a very democratic organisation and if people want to change it, we'll be in favour of that.' No decision has yet been made on the International Rules returning laser this year with suggestions of games in Croke Park and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 'We haven't really made any decision on that,' stated Burns. 'We have a Management meeting on Friday night and that's on the agenda. We have to be mindful of lots of things because that's coming in the middle of a closed season, which we are very protective about and that's why we did away with the pre-season competitions last year because we wanted our county players to have a genuine closed season. If we are going to start now with International Rules at that time, we know that that would compromise that principle that we have brought in, giving our players that rest period. So it's something that we have to do a little bit deeper thinking on, to be honest, before we make an actual decision on it. Personally, I would love to see the International Rules back, the players would love to see it back, but we have to be very careful about the consequences of bringing it back. Written by Fintan O'Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .


Extra.ie
5 hours ago
- Extra.ie
'It was a pity' - Munster final drama prompts GAA rethink
GAA president Jarlath Burns said replays will be considered in light of the drama-packed Munster hurling final between Cork and Limerick that was decided on penalties. After the match ended level following extra time, Cork won the first provincial hurling final to go to a shoot-out 3-2 – and with it a first Munster title since 2018. But with various calls for the compressed inter-county calendar to be changed to allow for provincial final replays, Burns yesterday opened the door to such an option – especially after the former Armagh captain witnessed his own county losing back-to-back Ulster football titles on penalties. And he also suggested All-Ireland finals could return to August rather than July. Uachtarán Tofa Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns during the GAA Congress at Canal Court Hotel. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 'You don't have to talk to me above anybody else about replays and provincial finals. We've lost three now, two quarter-finals, on penalties. I would be very much in favour of replays where at all possible.' He was speaking at the official launch of the All-Ireland hurling series at Offaly's Centre of Excellence, The Faithful Fields. Asked if he thinks it might be revisited, he replied: 'These things are always revisited. At the end of this championship, because it's a three-year phase, we're going to review all aspects of it. 'I agree with the split-season for all of the reasons that I've given before, but I definitely think that any review should consider the possibility of replays, particularly in provincial finals. I just think that was such a game of drama, it was just a pity the way it ended. The Armagh-Donegal game could have gone the same way for the third year in a row, so I'm totally in favour of replays.' A motion relating to replays was actually brought forward and debated at the GAA's Annual Congress back in February but was ultimately withdrawn after significant opposition and the fear it would impact negatively on the club window. 'Well, we did bring a motion to Congress this year,' added Burns. 'Ironically, it was Munster GAA who stymied it.' His words will feed into the possibility of a motion being brought to the Special Congress that is taking place in early October. On the question as to whether penalties is a fair way to decide a championship game, he said there are pros and cons. Cork won the first provincial hurling final to go to a shoot-out 3-2 – and with it a first Munster title since 2018. 'Well, that's what's in the rules and that's what we have at the moment. There are those who would say that winner on the day means winner on the day. And whatever that comes to, it has to come to. It's not too often that you have penalties in a hurling match for obvious reasons. We had it on Saturday evening. 'There are many people who say it adds to the drama as well, and that it can assist in the narrative of the game, that there was a winner on the day, there was a cup presented. Whenever we used to have replays, people gave off to the GAA that we were just doing it for the financial gain. And remember, the 83 per cent goes back. We need every penny we can get for all those good reasons. 'And now we have stopped replays to allow for the club season, which obviously in the dual counties, and that's what we're trying to promote, dual counties, and we're getting, not criticism, but debate over it. 'So there are all of these points that you have to consider. The GAA do not take these decisions lightly. They are all voted on. We're a very democratic organisation and if people want to change it, we'll be in favour of that.' Burns too opened the door on the possibility of the All-Ireland finals returning to August rather than July. Uachtaran CLG Jarlath Burns. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane 'You might have heard me saying that this isn't going to happen during my presidency. The decision might be made during my presidency, but it might not actually occur during my presidency. But I am certainly open to first and third weeks in August from 2027 on. At the end of the day, we are a games organisation.' With the Munster Council raising the price of a stand ticket to €50 for last weekend's Munster final while the Leinster Council offered up 20,000 free tickets for under-14s to the Leinster hurling final, Burns admitted that Croke Park are looking at dynamic pricing for big Croke Park days. 'We do have a ticketing workgroup set up under Declan Woods from Cavan. They are coming up with all sorts of ideas around dynamic structures, dynamic pricing. 'If you look at the URC final on Saturday, they have a dynamic structure. Even the corners of the stands, it's cheaper to get into them than the main part of the stand. It's interesting what they're charging to get into Ard Comhairle as well, if any of you have seen that. 'So, I think the future of that is if we could get, I think it was 10,000 this year, why could we not get 20,000 young people to come this year and create that culture, where the more empty seats you have in the stand, the more we have to fill with young people who we want to come into our games.'