‘Magic in the air when Cork and Kerry meet’

The red and white brigade came in their thousands with quiet intent to defy the pundits and the bookmakers.

There were no wild predictions from the Cork crowd as they calmly supped pre-match pints in the heart of bustling Killarney on Munster football final day. “But we have a chance,” many were heard to say.

Clearly, the war of words during the build-up was to Cork’s advantage as the underdogs put the heat on the All-Ireland champions and hot favourities. It took a contentious penalty and a point as the clock ticked down to snatch a draw for Kerry in a thriller at sun-baked Fitzgerald Stadium before a 35,000-attendance.