CHAMPIONS Cork inflicted a third successive defeat on their old rivals Kerry as they advanced to the semi-final of the Cadbury's Munster under-21 football championship with a deserved threepoint victory at Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday.

In truth, though, the winning margin should have been much more as they were clearly the superior team on the day, but a combination of some poor finishing and Kerry's ability to poach goals at vital times kept the Kingdom in touching distance on the scoreboard when they were clearly being outplayed on the field.

Midfield, as ever, was the key and here Fintan Goold in the first half and Alan O'Connor in the second half gave Cork almost total control, and yet a superb goal by Paul O'Connor in the 11th minute put Kerry in front, ever so briefly.

Cork's response was excellent and despite playing against a strong wind they managed to kick six unanswered points, with Daniel Goulding getting four, to regain the lead and only sloppy play allowed Kerry to get two late points but it was Cork who led 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time.

It took Cork 11 minutes to open their account in the second half, John Hayes scoring after his side had hit some bad wides. Kerry were still in touch and their re-shaped team, with Bryan Sheehan now at full-forward was growing in confidence.

Sheehan pointed two frees, Kieran O'Leary added another from play and when a good move was finished to the net by wing-back Michael Curran in the 51st minute Kerry were in front 2-7 to 0-10, and a surprise looked on the cards.

However, as they did on conceding the first goal Cork hit back immediately, Kerrigan and Hayes combined to set up Goulding for a great goal.

He soon added two points and Hayes and Leahy also scored which meant Damien Breen's point for Kerry during injury time was a mere consolation.

Despite being a game played in the best of spirits referee Bryan Tyrell saw fit to issue nine yellow cards, some of them for the most trivial of fouls.

CORK K O'Halloran; C Murphy, S O'Donoghue, R Carey; D Limerick, M Shields, E Cadogan; A O'Connor, F Goold; P Kerrigan, P Kelly, P O'Flynn; R Leahy, D Goulding, J Hayes Subs B Cotter for Kelly, 52 mins

KERRY B Kealy; K Young, M O'Mahoney, D O'Connor; M Curran, C Kelleher, L Quinn; P Reidy, B Sheehan; A O'Sullivan, M Murphy, D O'Sullivan; K O'Leary, M O'Donoghue, P O'Connor Subs N O'Mahoney for Kelleher, 23 mins; D Bren for O'Donoghue, 40 mins; P O'Connor for Murphy, 56 mins Referee B Tyrell (Tipperary)