Kerry forward power to polish off Cork

CORK supporters can expect a decent challenge from Billy Morgan’s team when they face holders Kerry in the Bank of Ireland Munster SFC semi-final in Fitzgerald Stadium tomorrow (2.15).

What happened against Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last year was hugely embarrassing, and Morgan will be keen to right the wrongs of that afternoon.

Limerick were everything that Cork weren't on the day totally focused, fiercely committed and well-balanced throughout the field. They won 0-16 to 0-6, with Graham Canty absent through exams, Fionan Murray being sent off in the second half and only one of the six scores coming from a forward from play.

A month later, Cork's season was over when they lost by a point away to Roscommon, losing both Colin Corkery and Brendan Jer O'Sullivan after red-card offences (which rules them out tomorrow). Another forward, Philip Clifford is also unavailable and key defender Anthony Lynch is also out of the reckoning due to injury.

"Colin and Brendan Jer are big losses," says selector Seán Murphy. "Philip Clifford is another loss and being without Anthony Lynch is an enormous blow. "We had him at centre-back and he was playing tremendous football. In a way, he's our Séamus Moynihan maybe not to the same extent but a great player to read the game."

In contrast, Kerry are able to field at full strength, assuming that both team captain Tomás Ó Sé and John Crowley have recovered from recent injuries. Crowley was back to his best in the League final (when he scored two goals), but has struggled with a knee injury sustained against Clare in Ennis. I would have given Cork a reasonably good chance of winning if they had been able to field at full strength. Lynch is a player of the highest quality, one who has also distinguished himself in the international series with Australia and the fact of his being ruled out at this late stage represents a bigger blow than Corkery being sidelined.

Martin Cronin now fills the number six jersey, as he did last year, but more interesting is the selection of Ciaran O'Sullivan another class performer, but nearing the end of his career at centre-forward. He started in attack once before, against Waterford in 2001, but it's more noteworthy that the outgoing management didn't bother with him last season.

From what I saw of Kerry in the League and in the game with Clare in Ennis, they are definitely stronger than last year. Without question, the restoration of Séamus Moynihan to wing-back has benefited both him and the team. The fact that Mike McCarthy has settled in at full-back has further consolidated the defence. Midfield has been boosted by the consistency of William Kirby and the use of Eoin Brosnan, and while Darragh Ó Sé may lack match practice, it's a fair bet that he will make an important contribution. One of the main features of the attack has been the strong play of Declan O'Sullivan at centre-forward, but the main power rests in the full-forward trio.

Cork have four players making their championship debut and, in terms of the first of the three games with Kerry in 2002 it's quite a changed formation, with just six players (compared to Kerry's ten) involved from the start. There's still a fair bit of experience in the side with Graham Canty, at midfield, as good as the best around but, on paper the attack does not offer as much of a threat. On the credit side, a more experienced Micheál Ó Cróinín has proved a reliable free-taker in Corkery's absence. Cork won't lack confidence in their ability and could very well win. But I don't see it happening unless Kerry fail to play up to expectations. They are the better team and, in form, they will advance.