Kerry too strong for Clare, Cork survive extra-time against Tipp to reach Munster MFC final
Cork came out on top of a thrilling clash with Tipperary after extra time, while Kerry were comfortable winners against Clare.
After a tight first half, Kerry finished strong to win 3-16 to 1-6 in Quilty.
The two sides traded points across the opening stages, with the scores level at 0-3 each approaching the 20 minute mark.
Clare then moved ahead when Conor Burke's pointed free was followed by the opening goal of the game, scored by Gareth Murphy.
Clare take the lead in the @MunsterGAA MFC Semi-Final! 🟡🔵
Long ball from Ruben Fallon finds Gareth Murphy who rifles it to the back of the net 💪@GaaClare | https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 🔗 pic.twitter.com/5aI764ofLW — Clubber (@clubber) May 12, 2025
Advertisement
That goal was the difference at half-time, with the Banner leading 1-5 to 0-5.
However Kerry made a blistering start to the second period, getting a goal back through Gearóid White before Kevin Griffin hit 1-1 without reply, pushing the Kingdom four points up within the first five minutes of the restart
From there Kerry drove on, and by the time White hit his second goal in the 55th minute they were 3-14 to 1-6 ahead, adding two further points as they powered to a 16-point win.
This evening's other semi-final went to extra time after Tipperary landed a dramatic equalising score against Cork with the last kick of the game in Thurles.
Ned O'Meara's late point brought Tipperary to 0-16, level with Cork's 1-13 at the end of normal time.
Tipperary fought from five points down in the second half, following a closely contested first half – with Tipperary one point up (0-8 to 0-7) at the break.
Donagh Flynn found the net for Cork with a stunning goal in 55th minute, moving his team five points up, but Tipperary wrestled their way back into the game to force extra time.
"Kinda like something Maradona would do!" 🤣
Donagh Flynn scores a Goal of the Year contender for @OfficialCorkGAA in the @MunsterGAA MFC Semi-Final. Incredible! 🔴⚪️
Watch Extra-Time live now on https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 🔗 pic.twitter.com/b05TZI2oOt — Clubber (@clubber) May 12, 2025
Cork scored the first two points of extra time but the sides were level again come the break at 1-19 to 0-19.
Cork then landed the decisive blow when they struck for another goal nine minutes into the second half, Joe Miskella's strike pushing the Rebels three clear, winning 2-17 to 0-20.
Cork's winning goal with just 35 seconds remaining through Joe Miskella!🔴⚪️
Heartbreak for Tipperary after 80 minutes of fantastic football. What a great game 👏👏@OfficialCorkGAA | @MunsterGAA pic.twitter.com/FJRmsi1Dt8 — Clubber (@clubber) May 12, 2025
The Munster MFC final takes place on 23 May.
Kerry and Cork went head-to-head just last week, with the Kingdom running out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 2-18 to 2-8 in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
29 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Paul Geaney's second-half masterclass inspires Dingle revival
Kerry Senior Club Championship Rd 2: Dingle 1-19 Milltown/Castlemaine 0-10 Trailing Milltown/Castlemaine by a point at half time, Dingle looked in trouble in this Kerry Petroleum Senior Club Championship Round 2 clash. The hosts were forced to introduce their Kerry star Paul Geaney, returning from injury. He proceeded to destroy the visitors with a vintage second-half display, ending up with a game-high 1-8, including three two-pointers. It was an incredible turnaround in Dingle's fortunes and barring an upset when Kenmare Shamrocks travel to Milltown next weekend, they will make the knockout stages. The win is all the more meritorious as it was a depleted Dingle side. They began without eight first-team regulars including four Geaneys — Paul, Dylan, Conor and Niall — as well as Tom O'Sullivan, Barry Dan O'Sullivan and Michael Flannery. Inevitably they struggled at times in an opening half that lacked intensity as Milltown/Castlemaine were happy to rely on a patient buildup, getting their shooters into position. Dingle, on the other hand, had Conor Flannery in the pocket playing the quarterback role just beyond midfield and he was the most influential player for the home side. In a slow burner, Flannery opened the scoring in the fourth minute. But Milltown/Castlemaine, despite David Roche winning primary possession at midfield, were dropping balls short. Eanna O'Connor's effort from outside the arc just drifted wide. Flannery was then fouled and Cathal Bambury converted the free to put Dingle 0-2 to 0-0 in front. But Milltown/Castlemaine eventually opened their account with a fine effort from David Roche in the 11th minute and this was followed by a two-point free from O'Connor. Leo de Brún replied for Dingle but after O'Connor had given the Mid Kerry side the lead, a crucial moment occurred when Cathal Moriarty had a point cancelled for a breach and Bambury leveled at the other end. O'Connor then pushed Milltown/Castlemaine two clear from a two-point free but two Bambury points leveled before Dara Hogan gave Milltown/Castlemaine a narrow 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead. But once Paul Geaney lined up at midfield for the start of the second half, Dingle were a different side, as they upped their intensity and went about dismantling the visitors. Bambury kicked two early points from Geaney assists and then Geaney kicked his first from play to give his side a 0-9 to 0-7 lead before O'Connor replied with another free. Tadgh de Brún, Mikey Geaney and a two-point special from Paul Geaney had Dingle 0-13 to 0-8 clear by the end of third quarter, a six-point turnaround since the resumption. Milltown/Castlemaine were now operating off fumes and while O'Connor closed the gap with another point, it was game over when Bambury threaded a ball through and there was Paul Geaney to rifle it to the net. Geaney then added two frees from outside the arc and another close in free as Dingle cruised to a 12-point win. Dingle also can thank Conor Flannery, Darragh O'Sullivan, Mikey Geaney, and Tom Leo O'Sullivan for this vital win but while the first half belonged to Bambury, it was the second-half Paul Geaney show which proved decisive. Scorers for Dingle: P Geaney (1-8, 2x2pf, 1x2ptp, 1f), C Bambury (0-7, 3fs), C Flannery, T de Brún, L de Brún and M Geaney (0-1 each). Scorers for Milltown/Castlemaine: E O'Connor 0-6 (2x2pf, 1f), D Roche, B Casey, D Hogan and C Moriarty (0-1each) Teams: DINGLE: G H Curran; C Keane , S Óg Moran, P Ryan; A O'Connor, C Flannery, T L O'Sullivan; D O'Sullivan, B O'Connor; T de Brún, M Geaney, N Ryan; C Bambury, B Devane , T L de Brún. Subs: R McCarthy for N Ryan (inj 20), P Geaney for R McCarthy (40), R McCarthy for B Devane (47), B O'Connor for C Keane (47), M Boland for C Flannery (54) Milltown/Castlemaine: C Leane; S Roche, P Wren, A Dinham; G Horan, M Lynch, A Kelliher; D Roche, D Dennehy; D Quirke, B Casey, K Kerins; D Hogan, E O'Connor, C Moriarty Subs: O Spring for K Kerins (38) Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk)
Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Irish Times
How Niamh Allen has combined motherhood with a sharp rise to the top of Irish women's distance running
The text from Niamh Allen lands at 6.37am. She'll be driving from Cork to Dublin for work and is leaving at around 7am. She suggests that once she's on the road, it might be a good time to chat. 'I've always been a bit of an early-morning riser,' she says, already close to Dublin by the time the call is made. 'Especially having been in Australia , where some people seem to have everything done by 5.30 in the morning. You start feeling lazy if you stay in bed past 6am. You just get into the swing of it.' Allen is clearly an athlete with no time to lose and there's lots to chat about. Since returning from a two-year spell in Australia in April 2024, then almost six months pregnant, she's been juggling motherhood , marriage, a return to work and a sharp rise to the top of Irish women's distance running. She wouldn't have it any other way. It's an impressive trajectory: Allen is arguably the most improved Irish athlete in the last year. After finishing second in the National Cross-Country in November, just 12 weeks after giving birth to daughter Lily, she went on to finish 11th in the European Cross-Country, her first international. In March, she won the National 10km road title in 31:44 – the fastest time ever clocked by an Irish woman on home soil. READ MORE She made some headlines in May when winning the Midleton five-mile road race in Cork by 22 seconds, beating all the other women and men in the field of 340 runners. A spontaneous return to the track saw her run 8:51.08 for 3,000m at the Cork City Sports, before she came out earlier this month and won the 5,000m at the National Track and Field Championships, beating plenty of younger and more experienced athletes. She's also a breath of fresh air. She turned 30 in April, her daughter Lily turns one at the end of August, and there's no moaning about lack of funding or facilities, or false modesty. Just an infectious enthusiasm to be the best she can possibly be. All while ensuring running stays fun. Niamh Allen on her way to winning the senior women's 5,000m ahead of Leevale clubmate Anika Thompson at the National Track and Field Championships in Dublin. Photograph: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 'Not having any pressure to perform, I think that does me the world of good,' she said. 'Just enjoying each race as it comes. It's working so far, so I'm just trying to keep that mentality. Rather than start setting any expectations. 'You just need to stay in your own lane, do the best you can do with your own ability. I'm still learning a lot on the job and that's why I love jumping into all the different kinds of races. 'I wasn't even thinking of running track this season. Maybe I was a bit too old. I'd kind of written myself off as a track runner, would stick to more cross-country and the road. My coach, Donie Walsh at Leevale, just told me to jump in, see how it goes. I was lucky to be able to keep training during most of the pregnancy — Niamh Allen 'I'd only done one 5,000m on the track before and ran 17-something. So there was definitely a chunk to take off that. But winning the national title also gave me confidence that maybe I do still have a bit of speed in these old legs.' It was a hard-won race, Allen dropping a 67-second last lap to win in 15:35.90. In doing so, she saw off the challenge of her Leevale clubmate Anika Thompson (22), who last month won gold in the 10,000m at the European Under-23 Championships, then added silver in the 5,000m. Allen made sure to get a photo of Lily sharing the medal podium with her afterwards, just like she did after finishing second in the National Cross-Country last November. She's also quick to point out that none of this would be possible without the support of her husband Will. Niamh Allen celebrates with her daughter Lily after winning the 5,000m race at the National Track and Field Senior Championships at Morton Stadium, Dublin. Photograph: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 'Lily's been with me now since my first race back in Ireland, so she's my lucky mascot. I'm still trying to find that balance, but that's the same for every parent. Some days you're just tired, but because running is not the priority, I think that's why you can enjoy it more. The family will always be number one. Running is just something I do for myself. 'Even today, I can't train because I have to collect Lily on the way home. I know I'm not a full-time athlete, I have a lot of balls to juggle, but I think that's a good thing. It puts a lot less pressure on my running. There have been days I've been super-exhausted and you just can't train. 'Even from a nutritional standpoint, you need to be a lot more mindful. But I'm lucky to have a very supportive husband and parents. Any high-level athlete, full-time or not, is a team effort. And I heavily lean on my support network. I couldn't do it without them.' None of this was exactly planned either. Allen says her running pre-motherhood and pre-Australia was more of a social thing. She admits to 'probably going out way too much for an athlete'. [ Ian O'Riordan: How the teen phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus broke my understanding of athletics Opens in new window ] [ Conor Kelly follows Rhasidat Adeleke's path as he commits to University of Texas Opens in new window ] She ran a bit while studying at UCC, then after moving to Dublin joined Crusaders AC, further encouraged by coaches Michael McGovern and Susan Walsh. The plan had always been to spend some time in Australia. With that in mind, and once the pandemic cleared, she headed to Sydney with Will in April. 2022. The move helped reinvigorate her appetite for running. Especially in the early mornings. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence that women can also return to distance running after childbirth with renewed vigour and strength. And well into their 30s too. Allen references Mayo-born Sinead Diver, who only started running competitively in 2010 at 33, following the birth of her elder son, after moving to Australia with her husband in 2002. Niamh Allen representing Ireland at the 2024 European Cross-Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho In 2022, Diver ran a 2:21:34 at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, at age 45. It was an Australian marathon record and the fastest time by an Irish-born woman – faster than the current national record of 2:22:23 held by Catherina McKiernan. Other women closer to home have inspired Allen too. Sonia O'Sullivan finished fourth behind a trio of world-class women in the 1999 Great North Run Half Marathon, just 13 weeks after giving birth to her first daughter Ciara. A year later, O'Sullivan won the Olympic silver medal in the 5,000m 'I was lucky to be able to keep training during most of the pregnancy,' said Allen. 'But there are a few factors. I suppose you never feel as old as you probably are. Maybe I still think I'm a spring chicken a lot of the time. And because I don't come from a running background, and would hang around with a lot of non-runners, you don't consider being 30 as that old. 'Maybe age will be a hindrance over the next few years, but I'm enjoying the process. And with the running technology, the improved running shoes, maybe the life cycle of the athlete is extending. So maybe you can still set ambitions and goals. 'The plan was always to come back from Australia after two years and it's worked out well timewise. I also feel I've got all that travelling and fun part over with, I'm more prepared to give the running and training a bit more now.' Ireland's Niamh Allen makes her way through the field at the 2024 European Cross-Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho The early-morning trip to Dublin is more a once-off, as Allen is working in HR with IT specialists Nostra, based just a few minutes from her home in Cork city. Still, everything about her day is based around flexibility 'Work are very supportive, and it's three days a week for now, up to four days when Lily starts creche, in October. The easy or steady runs, I would do a lot of those by myself. I can keep to my own pace, depending on how the day's going. So I throw on a podcast, keep to my own pace. 'In the training sessions, I try to meet up with the Leevale group, on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Because you'll definitely get pushed along in the group like that. But I'm always mindful of the need to be flexible. 'I suppose my whole family would be competitive. Like in Midleton, once I got in front of the men, there was no way I was letting them overtake me. That competitive nature is definitely in me. 'But next year, and long-term, it will be the marathon. All my coaches have said the marathon, and endurance, would be my strong point. Even if I do think I still have a bit of speed. But I'm definitely not a 1,500m runner. 'I do hope to give the marathon a good crack, and of course every athlete has the Olympics in their head somewhere as the ultimate goal. So I'll see how it goes next year, then maybe think about LA in 2028. Just putting that out there for now.'
Irish Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Watch: David Clifford adds another wonder score to his long list
David Clifford was at it again this weekend, but in the colours of his Fossa club. Fresh from his second All-Ireland title with Kerry, Clifford was firing two pointers for fun in the 4-16 to 0-18 Kerry Intermediate Championship victory over Firies. One of those was an outrageous effort against the breeze under serious pressure, which helped Fossa, playing on their own patch, to qualify for the quarter-finals. Clifford knew he had a free shot at the time as Fossa were on an advantage, and he sent it high over a block as it soared over the bar. The double Footballer of the Year, who looks poised to win the most prestigious individual award in the game for a third time, finished with 0-9 in a 10 point win. Paudie Clifford, who starred in the All-Ireland sat the game out. The older Clifford brother carryied an injury into the latter stages of the race for Sam Maguire, but was fit enough to start from half time onwards in the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Armagh. His return led to a surge in Kerry's form as they ran out impressive winners over Armagh, Tyrone and Donegal to land the All-Ireland.
