Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Who knows where Kerry are, who knows what Cork can achieve?

The Kingdom are locked in a series of matches, of the damned-if-you- do and damned-if-you-don’t variety. Win well and the opposition are useless. Don’t blow them away and you are going bad.

Cork's Colm O'Callaghan celebrates after the win over Donegal with a young fan. Pic: INPHO/Nick Elliott

When the draw was made for the All-Ireland SFC series, there was a mixture of disappointment and indifference in Kerry. 

There was no Division 1 team on the immediate horizon. Everyone started to look further down the road, presuming progress. Barring a major shock Kerry were going to comfortably beat each one of their 2025 Division 2 opponents.