Kernan hails Crokes class

The meeting of the Munster and Ulster senior football champions in Portlaoise brings together the two favourites for the outright title regardless of what happens in the other tie in Longford’s Pearse Park.

But Joe Kernan, who managed Crossmaglen to their first threeAll-Irelands, doesn’t see it that way. He pointed out there will be no cuphanded out this weekend and theplayers, mentors and supporters from Garrycastle and St Brigid’s would no doubt agree with that assessment.

It is five years since the South Armagh side claimed their fourth national title at the Kerry club’sexpense. That was also in Portlaoise and came on the back of a replay win after the sides had drawn 1-9 apiece in the first encounter in Croke Park.

That second game was slightly soured by 10 yellow cards, two red and referee Eugene Murtagh’s failure to send John McEntee to the line despite brandishing two of the former at the county player.

That said, Crossmaglen were full value for their win but they required a late equaliser from Oisín McConville to give them that second chance in the first place and Kernan expects another close encounter this weekend.

“We’ll win by a point,” he said with a smile. “I’ll be very happy. Two good teams. We watched Crokes against UCC [in the Munster final]. In the first half they were poor. The second half they were devastating.

“They played the ball quick, they moved it, all the forwards played really well on the day and there’s more than one threat in their forward line.”

The same can be said for Crossmaglen but there is, nonetheless, an intriguing head-to-head to watch out for with Colm Cooper featuring at one end and Jamie Clarke — a man compared to him in style, size andpotential — at the other.

Kernan made the comparison between the Kerry gun-slinger and his clubmate years ago but has echoed the words of some of Clarke’s teammates this week by suggesting he has yet to reach the summit of his abilities.

“He’s gaining experience all the time. He played for Armagh in the championship last year and he had two days that weren’t great days and what he would have learned from that will stand him in good stead for years to come.

“Nothing’s ever going to work out perfectly with the way you planned it all the time but he has natural ability and if he grows in strength, mentally and physically, he’ll become a better player for that. He has the makings of the next Gooch.”

A repeat of last Saturday’s result in Tralee and Kernan won’t much care who supplies the scores.

Questions have been asked about Kerry’s performance in Austin Stack Park last weekend after their defeat to Armagh but Kernan believes hiscountymen deserve more praise than the Kingdom do criticism.

“People say Kerry had a bad day. Well I played for Armagh for a long time and I only remember winning once down there and we drew another day so don’t take away from the effort the boys put into it. Winning one and drawing one that no one would have been putting in their coupon for the two weekends and it’s great.

“Kerry were disappointed but that’s life.”