Kerry can repel young pretenders

Jim O’Sullivan

Conversely, the All-Ireland champions will temper confidence with a healthy respect for their keenest rivals, aware of the their capacity to rise to the occasion, something which Billy Morgan has achieved more often as a manager than as a player.

Jack O’Connor achieved spectacular success in his first year in charge of Kerry, having served his apprenticeship at U21 level and as a selector with Paidí Ó Sé.

The advantage he enjoys over Morgan is that he is working with a considerably more experienced team. And, while he would be the first to say that they are not totally dependant on Colm Cooper, the fact of the matter is that without him they would hardly be as effective.

Cork’s recent history reveals a series of displays ranging from unimpressive to poor, starting off with a humiliating defeat in 2003 against Limerick.

In their last appearance in Croke Park, 12 months ago, they were outsmarted by a Fermanagh side whose amazing run almost gained them a place in the final.

Earlier in their campaign, Cork flopped against Kerry in Killarney, losing their way after a promising opening 15 minutes. On that day, Derek Kavanagh was one of the few players to enhance his reputation, playing at full-back. Tomorrow, he partners Nicholas Murphy at midfield, a position in which he had made his name before being moved back into defence.

On paper, the Cork team appears to offer an interesting mix of youth and experience, except that the inexperience is focused mainly in an attack where James Masters made a big impression in the League and Conor McCarthy showed a lot of maturity in his play.

Kerry’s team is interesting for the fact that Seamus Moynihan has won back his place (at centre-back) and that Mike Frank Russell is picked again after a poor start against Limerick seemed to drain away his confidence. Dara Ó Cinnéide’s selection was automatic after his excellent contribution as a second-half substitute. Eamonn Fitzmaurice is unlucky to be left out and once more William Kirby has to be content with a place on the bench, but what it means is that Kerry have more strength in their squad.

It remains to be seen if Cork will be capable of pushing the champions.

On the basis of form last year the answer would be a definite “no”, but taking account of more recent displays, there is the promise, if not the guarantee, of a much better display.

The outcome of this game will hinge largely on how well Kerry play, or looked at from the opposite angle, how successfully Cork can contain them in key areas. Cooper will pose his usual strong threat in the Kerry attack, but the main pressure on Morgan’s team may very well come at half-forward. Clearly, they will need to penetrate regularly here if they are to have any chance of causing an upset, which would mean big performances from their midfielders and the inspirational Anthony Lynch at centre-back.

There may very well be a surprise result, but while I expect Cork to put up a strong challenge, Kerry are a much more accomplished side. They will win if they play up to form.