Self-examination will propel Kerry unless Cork can find consistency

AFTER the dramatic outcome to their Munster final meeting, when Kerry were ambushed in the second half, we could hardly have anticipated the drama that unfolded in Croke Park last Sunday when those two injury-time goals earned Cork an incredible draw in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The circumstances in which they rallied, the manner in which the champions lost ground to such a remarkable degree and now the fact of them being without Darragh Ó Se while Donncha O’Connor earned a reprieve, has created an almost surreal build-up to tomorrow’s replay in Croke Park (2pm).

Notably, between the provincial and All-Ireland series, this will be their 16th championship clash in the current decade. For Cork it’s their first semi-final replay since 1987, while Kerry were taken to two games both in their 2000 semi-final with Armagh and the decider against Galway.