GAA: U-21 FOOTBALL MUNSTER FINAL: Cork 2-24 Kerry 0-8:CORK SWEPT to their 22nd title with a record 22-point win over their fierce rivals at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

The home side had the game wrapped up at the interval, when they led, 2-13 to 0-3 – both goals coming inside seven minutes.

Barry O’Driscoll claimed the opener following a sweeping move involving Alan Cronin and Ciarán Sheehan and a quick free by Paul Honohan sent Donal Óg Hodnett in for the second in a blistering 60-second spell.

Cork’s forwards were in sparkling form and kicked eight points without response in the second quarter after Paul Geaney landed a Kerry free.

Midfielders Aidan Walsh and Micheál Ó Laoire continued to dominate on the resumption, though Kerry substitute Barry John Walsh rattled the Cork crossbar after 37 minutes.

A James O’Donoghue free was Kerry’s fourth on the spin, but Cork responded with another eight points, O’Driscoll and Mark Collins unerring in their free-taking before Walsh completed the visitors’ tally.

Kerry’s miserable night was reflected in Geaney sending a last-minute penalty left and wide of the posts after he was fouled by Liam Jennings.

CORK:S Mellet; L Jennings, D Cahalane, A Cronin; P Daly, T Clancy, J Wall (0-2); M Ó Laoire (0-1), A Walsh; C Sheehan (0-3), M Collins (0-7, five frees), J ORourke; B ODriscoll (1-6, 0-1 free, one 45), D Óg Hodnett (1-4), P Honohan. Subs: D O'Donovan for Cronin (inj, 40 mins), E Buckley (0-1) for O'Driscoll (48 mins), S Beston for Honohan (51 mins), B Coughlan for Sheehan (54 mins), D Nation for Walsh (55 mins)

KERRY:B Kelly; P Crowley, M Griffin, D OLeary; J Sherwood, B Shanahan, J Lyne; T Ladden, E Walsh; J ODonoghue (0-3, two frees), BJ Keane, A Fitzgerald; S OBrien, D Casey (0-1), P Geaney (0-2 frees). Subs: J Walsh for E Walsh, BJ Walsh (0-1) for Fitzgerald (27 mins), P Kilkenny for Shanahan (half-time), K Hurley (0-1) for O'Brien (34 mins), C Moriarty for Sherwood (50 mins)

Referee: D OMahony (Tipperary)