Cork will need to be at best to beat Kerry
Current form and problems endured by Kerry would suggest a Cork win, but the sight of the red jersey in Fitzgerald Stadium can do powerful things for the psyche of the green and gold.
Tomorrow will be no different. Kerry, the defending champions were very sluggish in shaking off the challenge of Clare in their semi-final, something that coach Pat O’Shea will be hoping was a once-off.
“I was not one bit happy with our display, particularly in the opening half. Had Clare taken their chances, they could have scored three goals in that period and it would have been curtains for us,” the Killarney native admitted. “Fortunately, we got it together a bit better in the second half and scored 1-8, which was good, but that victory has come with a enormous price.
“We’ve lost the services of our captain Dan Doona, which is a big blow to us. He was one of five players from last year’s team and his experience will be sorely missed, but Cork will be without Fintan Gould, so you could say one balances out the other.
“I’m not trying to shift the emphasis away from ourselves, but Cork will be favourites on the strength of their display against Tipperary in their semi-final. By all accounts they were outstanding, particularly in the first half against a team who I know had high hopes themselves of winning, but on the night they had no answer to the pace of the Cork attack, and that worries me.
“If we are to have any chance our backs must contain the Cork forwards. I’m happy enough with our defence, but I’m also mindful that Clare got through for a couple of goal chances, so we’ll have to be very tight in that area.”
Cork coach Diarmuid O’Donovan concedes that if his charges reproduce their semi-final form, they’ll be in with a great chance of victory.
“Midfield is going to be the key area. In our game with Kerry last year we failed to maintain our dominance in that area and it eventually cost us the game. Likewise, with Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, they lost that area to Meath and ultimately the match. With no senior team involved we’ll be at a loss for supporters, which won’t make it any easier for us, but I’m confident that if we play to our potential we’ll be with a good chance.
“What went on in the respective semi-finals won’t matter here. Games between Cork and Kerry at minor level are always one-offs with teams bringing the best out of the other.
“I’m genuinely sorry that Dan Doona isn’t playing. Munster finals are great occasions for young players. He’s be a loss to them, but Kerry have a very strong underage structure and they’ll produce someone who will more than adequately fill that vacancy.
“We have a score to settle with Kerry having been beaten on the last two occasions we’ve met.”
Over the last decade Kerry have won the title six times, two of them at Cork’s expense, (1996 and 2001). Cork have won the title three times in the same period, two of them against Kerry, (1999 and 2000).
On the strength of their comprehensive victory over Tipperary, Cork deserve to be favourites, but will have to play as well as they did in the opening half for the full 60 minutes if they are to succeed.
Meanwhile, the draws for the All-Ireland minor hurling qualifiers were made in Croke Park yesterday.
Beaten Munster finalists Cork will play Offaly. Connacht champions Galway will play Antrim.
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