Morgan eyes tougher test

BILLY MORGAN is expecting a much tougher challenge from Kerry in Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Munster SFC final replay in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

However, his belief that the holders may have been a bit complacent going into last weekend’s final in Killarney isn’t shared by Kerry selector Johnny Culloty. He insisted yesterday that they had expected a “hard battle”. More pertinently, he fears the worst for their team unless they achieve a major improvement on recent form.

While the quality of the Cork play caused general surprise, Morgan attaches no blame to the media or the public for criticism in advance of the game. “On face value, you could say we hadn’t been performing,’’ he commented. “Our last championship game against Kerry was a disaster and, in the league, we didn’t fare well. So, from our performances in the league and against Limerick, you couldn’t blame people for writing us off.’’

In mitigation, he pointed out that they went through the league with “practically half a team” and their poor performance against Limerick in the Munster semi-final could be attributed to the fact that they had very little match practice together.

“We were also coming off the trip to La Manga. We knew that they were sluggish going into to the game, but we kind of gambled. People might not have had much faith in us but we knew we were much better than that. With the younger players coming into the team I always felt they were very good prospects. My only doubt was that this year might be too soon for them. But, I have great faith in them.’’

Yet, for all the perceived lack of confidence in the side, Morgan said he had been reassured by the public support they got on Sunday. “I thought it was outstanding. There was a good Cork crowd there and they got right behind us from the word go. And when things weren’t going so well they lifted us again. When Cork supporters are in full voice it’s an intimidating factor for teams.’’

Moving Graham Canty to left-corner back made sense, because they put their best defender on Kerry’s best forward. “Colm Cooper is a great player. Graham did his job very well, but so did the other backs. Michael Shields rotated between full back and right-half back on Bryan Sheehan. The same with Kieran O’Connor, who is at home in any position in defence, even up front,’’ he added.

“Our plan was to take the game to them straight away. You would always expect Kerry to come at us just as hard and I was a bit surprised that we kind of cruised into a seven points to one lead and were very much on top. But, having said that, I’m sure with all the talk they may have been a bit complacent. But, they will be well ready for us next Sunday.’’

Unable to offer an opinion on the dismissal of Anthony Lynch (because his view on the sideline was impeded), he suggested that the Naomh Aban star had been “blackguarded” by his direct opponent prior to that. “I believe that the linesman saw that and did nothing about that. I was peeved by that because of the pulling and dragging off the ball and Anthony being stopped from going forward.’’

Clearly it came at a bad time, because having lost their momentum, Cork conceded three late frees. In different circumstances, they could have been several points further in front. But, it also meant that they were able to regroup during the interval, bringing in a defender (Eoin Sexton) and sacrificing newcomer Donncha O’Connor from the attack..

“We played quite well, kept the ball well, but we made two unfortunate mistakes that led to points — when we had possession and gave it away. You have to say that in the second half the players acquitted themselves well and battled to the end. When we fell a point behind against that breeze, you would have imagined that’s that but they battled back again to equalise. And probably could have won it at the end.’’

Agreeing that the contribution from James Masters had been crucial, he described him as a proven scorer, who wasn’t fazed by the occasion. However, it annoyed him that he had been yellow-carded.

Morgan is hopeful of a repeat performance. “There is more in our team. We had seven points on the board prior to Anthony being sent off and we only scored three more for the rest of the game. But, that was when we were down to 14 men. If we can keep 15 on the field next Sunday, the experience will definitely benefit them and bring them on.’’

Meanwhile, Kerry selector Johnny Culloty argues that any objective assessment of Cork, based on their success at U-21 level over the past three seasons, would show they have a lot to offer. He said it was easy to forget that only a goal separated the counties in last season’s final and that Cork have a good record of performances in Fitzgerald Stadium over the years.

“You must also take into account that we have not been setting the place on fire in our last two games,’’ he said.

In terms of how Kerry found it so hard to lift their game in the second half, Culloty pointed out that Cork’s defensive strategy had frustrated them. “You saw the way they played, like any Northern team, getting forwards back behind the ball. It’s very hard to counteract that and to get scores.

“It often comes down to running at defences and trying to invite frees and Cork were going stronger than us, at our defence. “They scored six points off frees. That’s what the game turns on,” said Culloty, who said Kerry must up their game to win the replay.