Jack’s joy as defence makes solid case
With revenge for the Munster final and a place in a third All-Ireland decider both in the bag, the Kerry manager ushered the media throng into the team’s warm-up area, cracking jokes and beaming a very contented smile.
This wasn’t as sweet a performance as that which accounted for Joe Kernan’s men but it had as much to recommend it, particularly the performance of the Kerry defence which tightened a few nuts and bolts since the last game to good effect.
“We kind of gave ourselves a target,” O’Connor explained. “If we could hold them to around ten points we were giving ourselves a very good chance of winning the game. We were halfway there at half-time. We kept them to five and five again in the second half, so we’re delighted with that.
“We put a lot of emphasis on the defence going into this game. We scored 3-15 in the last game but we felt we conceded 1-13 which was a big score that would win a lot of games. Thankfully, (the work) paid off.”
There were positives in every line of the field, truth be told. Darragh O’Sé gave another thunderous 70 minutes, while Sean O’Sullivan again contributed a handful of points from a previously arid half-forward line.
Even better, there were encouraging signs from the full-forward line, where Mike Frank Russell gave a display that suggested the last few years of frustration may well be finally behind him.
“I’m delighted for Mike Frank. I suppose he has been the fall guy maybe for a couple of years. He missed out on playing in a couple of All-Irelands but, in fairness, he has shown great resolve in hanging in there and he has come good at the right time ... I’m delighted for him.”
While Russell’s return to form may have been a tad unexpected, Kerry’s win — any maybe even the margin of it — wasn’t. Billy Morgan’s side was an eye-catching 4/1 approaching this one. Madness, said O’Connor.
“It was a tough game. The odds were a bit ridiculous because Cork were never going to lie down. We were a bit anxious early on. We were well souped up for the game but a bit over-anxious. The kicks going in to Donaghy were a bit strong but they were a bit more measured in the second-half.
“There was only six more points in it in the end. Cork had one or two goal chances. It was a game we wanted, to be honest. We went into the All-Ireland final last year without being tested. We have certainly been tested this year.”
Patience has been tested too. When Kerry were struggling against Waterford, Tipperary and Cork earlier on this summer, their fans weren’t shy about letting them know about it. Some showed their displeasure by staying away, others by venting their spleen when they did show up.
“We would have been a bit agitated with them for a while because we thought it was a bit disappointing in Cork (for the replay),” said the manager. “They didn’t show up in any great numbers there and they were a bit negative but I suppose it works both ways. You have to give them something to cheer about and we had fantastic support today.
“Maybe it has to do with every team needing a hero and Donaghy has taken on that mantle. He has lit up a fair few faces. He has an infectious enthusiasm that has given us all a lift.”
Donaghy and his colleagues have four weeks now to build on this success. Dublin or Mayo will be their next and final hurdle and, if the neutral would like to see a clash between the blue and green, O’Connor isn’t about to state a preference.
“I wouldn’t care who we play. I’m just delighted to be there. This is this team’s third All-Ireland (final) in three years. It’s going to be a great few weeks. There’s nothing like the month preparing for an All-Ireland final.”
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