Where Cork hoped, Kerry expected

A LITTLE for everyone at Pairc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. Kerry’s performance graph edged upwards again, and they will step out in Croke Park in four weeks’ time with more form to find — just how they like it.

But Cork will have a spring in their step if they approach the qualifier route in the right frame of mind. Their forwards made some novice mistakes at crucial stages of yesterday's Munster final, but such is inexperience. They will learn and get better.

He may not be there to guide them down the road, but Billy Morgan is building for the future of Cork football, and the foundations are strong.

They have capable defenders, a competitive midfield and attackers of considerable promise. But, as I suggested on these pages last Saturday, yesterday was a final too soon for some of the young Cork lads.

Whereas they hoped to dethrone the Munster champions, Kerry expected to win. The mantle of champions has its burdens, but it also invests players with a poise and a self-confidence that is crucial under pressure.

Kerry were second best for quite a bit of the game, and Morgan can justifiably feel aggrieved to have got nothing out of the final. But they capitalised on inferior quality possession to trail by only one point at half time.

Cork were worth a greater advantage, but when Kerry enjoyed spurts of dominance, they made it count on the scoreboard and those two points from Colm Cooper and Mike Frank Russell just before the interval were priceless.

Look what happened straight after half-time. Cork opened with a Micheál Ó Croinín free, but though they continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession at midfield, they had to wait another 20 minutes for a score.

Kerry, off considerably less possession and attacking opportunities, claimed 1-2, the goal from Declan O'Sullivan proving the decisive score of the day.

Indeed, it was one of the few decisive contributions by a forward from either side. Like the Connacht final earlier yesterday, it was a day for defenders in Munster, and Kerry's were especially formidable.

The full back line continues to improve as a unit O'Sullivan's pace, McCarthy's general soundness, and Aidan O'Mahony (though he was positioned at centre back yesterday) providing a real fire-wall for keeper, Diarmuid Murphy.

Tomás Ó Sé, however, was the pick of the bunch, not just defensively, but for his lung-busting ability to turn defence into attack. Yes, he scored two points as well, but it was the time he spent on the ball, carrying it deep into Cork territory, that ensured his defensive colleagues always had a moment's respite when they needed it.

Cork became increasingly desperate as the minutes ticked down, but people should not be too critical.

They might have been a little more direct in the closing stages, but even in possession around midfield, Nicholas Murphy, Derek Kavanagh and even Graham Canty found themselves boxed in and unable to find the pass when and where it was required.

Brendan Jer O'Sullivan was probably introduced with the idea of carrying the ball deep into Kingdom territory, but found himself in shooting positions when he didn't want to accuracy wouldn't be his forte.

Not that Kerry haven't anything to work on. But the improving form of Darragh Ó Sé, Seamus Moynihan, Declan O'Sullivan and Mike Frank Russell is a real plus point though they are still searching for the ideal centre-field partnership. I think Eoin Brosnan is worth another outing, even if it is not his preferred position.

Colm Cooper only finished with a point but had an assist in several other scores. There will be some comfort in Kerry that they can put 1-11 on the scoreboard when his contribution in that area was minimal.