Cork City claimed the three points on their first trip to Tralee in the League of Ireland as Evan McLaughlin slotted a first half penalty enough to separate the Munster Rivals.

History was made between these two clashing for the first time at Mounthawk Park, a bumper crowd meeting them on a crisp Friday night. A night Cork keep their title hopes alive but Kerry will again rue not taking their chances.

Kerry certainly gave a great account of themselves but Bradley Wade had little to do in the tie and the three goal record of goals conceded by Cork this season remained unblemished. They were gutsy from first to last whistle. A comedy of errors became their downfall.

A lapse at the back between Andy Spain and Antonio Tuta gifted Cork some key possession outside of the area and a few phases later a hand ball led to McLaughlin netting the only goal of the game. 

Cork took the lead after ten minutes following a calamity between Andy Spain and Antonio Tuta. Cork played the ball long in behind and Spain did not clear the danger, instead hoping his net minder would claim the danger.

Miscommunication saw Tuta fail to deal with the ball and Cork were given a glorious chance but Joshua Fitzpatrick had his shot strike Jaden Umeh. The ball rebounded out to Cathal O’Sullivan and his shot struck the arm of Kevin Williams. Referee Daniel Murphy pointed to the spot and Evan McLaughlin rolled the spot kick past Tuta for the lead.

As the clock ticked toward 20 minutes again Kerry almost gifted Cork another goal from a defensive calamity. Spain again not dealing with it but Tuta had done enough to clear the danger before Umeh fired well wide.

It took 35 minutes for Kerry to register their first shot of the tie, a ball lofted over the top of the Cork rearguard was raced onto by Daniel Okwute, Okwute raced to the area turned inside and struck low on his left boot but Bradley Wade.

Kerry brought the game to Cork but inside the final five minutes Cork again threatened to double their lead. O’Sullivan with a pinpoint ball through for McLaughlin and the outstretched frame of Tuta raced out to block the effort at goal.

Into stoppage time and another scary moment for Kerry was dealt with by Sean O’Connell who cleared a goal bound effort off the line. Again the Rebel Army attacked with purpose as O’Sullivan raced clear down the left wing. The ball inside found Umeh and he lofted the ball over Tuta from close range, O’Connell racing back to prevent the ball crossing the line. 

Nine minutes into the second half and City again came close to grabbing their second goal. After a cagey start between the two a free kick was managed by the Kingdom but in the aftermath Umeh struck for goal and his shot cracked the underside off the crossbar. 

Tuta sprung into action shy of the hour mark as O’Sullivan made a swashbuckling run down the left channel and cut inside to shoot and the Croatian net minder had his fingertips to the ball to push the effort onto the post. 

Kerry were aggrieved after the hour mark to not have a penalty as Okwute went down in the area, Murphy booked the Kerry forward for diving, much to the dissatisfaction of the home support.

As the clock ticked into the last twenty Kerry kicked into life creating just their second chance. Okwute raced down the right wing and fizzed the ball low across the area and Sean McGrath almost netted against his former side. His shot blocked down and Kennedy Amechi a native of Mallow who also played for the Rebels, struck the rebound off a Cork defender. 

Wade was largely unthreatened except for one or two back passes in the final stages of the game. Tuta was a key part of Kerry not conceding more than one goal in the tie, Kerry can hold their heads up, the noisy unbeaten neighbours took the spoils in the finish.