Performance against Kerry proved to us that we can beat anyone, says Murphy

FIFTEEN minutes into the second half of this year’s Munster SFC Final in Killarney, Kerry were looking good to end a 21 years spell without a home victory in the decider over Cork.

There was still plenty of time left for the visitors, but the omens didn’t look promising.

Doubting Thomas’s among Cork supporters were probably thinking of what happened in the previous two years in Croke Park in the All-Ireland series, dreading another collapse.

They needn’t have worried. Billy Morgan’s team came storming back. And at the end they might very well have stolen victory had captain Derek Kavanagh not been off target with a shot at goal in the dying moments.

Turning the game around, in this spirited fashion made manager Billy Morgan very proud and marked a very important point in the development of this Cork side according to former star, and team statistician, Sean Murphy.

He explained: “The last two years we were fairly trounced by Kerry. When they went five points clear the (Cork) players could have said, ‘here we go again’ Kerry could have run out winners by nine or 10 points, or more and it would have been very detrimental to the development of the team.

“The way they came back, it was great credit to them. I think Kerry were really up for this Munster final, more than they were last year. Hopefully our players can go on from that.’’

Murphy, a solicitor in Cork city, has had a chequered career. He was an outstanding wing-forward during Morgan’s playing days, featuring in the memorable 1976 draw and replay against Kerry in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and in four other Munster finals. He was also one of his selectors during Cork’s most successful spell (from 1987 to 1990, when they recorded the last All-Ireland double) and had a second term in management from 2002 to 2005.

Now, he is in his second year as a ‘stats man,’ keeping match statistics on the forwards, while Christy Kearney, another former Cork team-mate monitors kick-outs and defensive movements.

“They are not going to win or lose matches as such, but as the old saying going, every inch helps,’’ he explains.

Murphy makes a point of stressing that this is ‘a developing team,’ with the likes of Ger Spillane, Pearse O’Neill and Kieran O’Connor in their second year. And, he highlights the significance of having Graham Canty back. “He was a huge loss in Croke Park last year, but we were beaten by a very good Kerry team,’’ he adds.

Based on the positive attitude emanating from the Munster final recovery, he says that they are further encouraged by the belief that there is a growing respect for the potential of their team.

“People are talking about Cork as outsiders. They would not have talked of us this time last year as serious contenders. But they are now. It’s down to 12 teams. And Cork are capable of beating any one of them.’’

He acknowledges the popular view that they got the least difficult draw — with Louth, their opponents at O’Moore Park this afternoon (2pm). But, he has been around the block too often to be swayed by this talk. He reminds you Fermanagh ‘was supposed to have been the easy draw as well’ four years ago. Except it wasn’t. “That was a hard lesson. You hope that players learned from it.’’ Preparations for the game have gone smoothly. And the wait since the Munster final hasn’t affected preparations. The build-up has been ‘relaxing,’ he says.

“They are a very united, committed bunch of young fellows. There’s a great buzz about the group, they have matured together.”

And of course at the centre of everything is Morgan. Yes, he can be volatile, he can suffer an allergic reaction to refereeing decisions, he can often say the wrong thing but on the positive side, there are few people as passionate as him in the modern game and there is certainly nobody in Cork to match his coaching ability and experience.

Murphy says that he’s not just ‘extremely committed.’ For as long as he knows him, ‘he never ceases to be amazed’ by him. Amazed that at age 62 he still retains the same zest he has always shown for the game, for Cork football (and his club). Best of all, his ‘infectious’ enthusiasm rubs off on players. They share his belief in their ability.

Cork have to win two games to get back to another semi-final and Murphy doesn’t disagree that on paper they have the better chance of advancing.

“If they play well, fine. Then we should be in with a great shout. But, they have to perform.’’