Kerrigan turns on the power for electric Cork
The Nemo Rangers man tapped into the electric form he showed earlier this year in aiding Cork’s NFL Division 2 victory and Cork IT’s Sigerson Cup success.
Kerrigan was eager to be involved in the action from the start of this All-Ireland quarter-final. He showed dead-eye accuracy when it came to taking points and capped it off by blazing a trail through the Donegal defence for a splendid 43rd minute goal.
Supplying 1-4 of Cork’s 1-27 ensured the match was a personal triumph for Kerrigan, but afterwards he was intent on stressing how this was an afternoon where plenty players shared the scoring load.
“It’s good to score but I’d take most confidence from the whole forward line chipping in.
“You don’t want to have an over dependence on the likes of Daniel and Donncha. It was grand for us all to chip in, that’s what I’d take most confidence from.
“I’m very happy that we all chipped in, especially in the half-forward line. Pearse got a couple, Paddy scored a few as well. We were practically non-existent against Limerick, so we’re all delighted for each other.”
The paucity of Donegal’s display surprised Kerrigan. They had a burgeoning reputation entering this match after impressively taking the scalp of Derry and Galway in recent weeks, but were lethargic from the start.
“I suppose it was tough on Donegal, this is their third game playing, maybe, the top three teams in the country so maybe they were tiring a bit. It’s nice to chip in but I suppose I’d be most happy with the way we all performed as a team. We paid them the utmost respect. They’d beaten Derry and Galway who are two first division National League teams.
“I suppose we knew if we started well it’d be important. We focused this week on getting the intensity up from the start. We got that and kept it up from the game. We always feel the best games are our A versus B games. They’re as good as a qualifier game, we think. We proved today that they are very competitive and you saw that in the subs coming on scoring.”
The return of John Miskella to the starting line-up also infused the camp with encouragement. The dynamic Ballincollig man had been central to Cork’s toppling of Kerry back in June, but a damaged knee forced him out of the Munster final against Limerick. Restored to full fitness, he produced a characteristically strong display here with his patented marauding runs forward yielding four tidy points.
“Four points was good and I was delighted that the opportunities arose for me to go forward. It’s just great to be contributing. I was out for a few weeks with the knee which was a blow. But I’d a good rest and got a lot of physio on it, so thanks to Colin Lane for that. I was raring to go really.
“Competition for places is very intense and it’s not hard to keep going. The five lads who came on, all contributed well and hit great scores. Even when we’re training in A versus B games, it’s very intense. When you’re coming from that situation, it’s pretty good.
“Donegal looked dead on their feet there from the start really. From half-time they were ten points down and they didn’t have much in them for the second-half. They got a couple of goals and we’ve a lot to work on now going forward. It’s going to be much harder in three weeks time.”
Centre-forward Pearse O’Neill believed that Donegal’s recent hectic schedule hampered their abilities to get going. In contrast Cork had enjoyed a four-week break since the Munster final and had plenty of hunger and energy.
“I think this game showed that Donegal’s four matches in a row caught them. We were that bit fresher. We played reasonably well but we conceded two goals there which we wouldn’t have liked.
“We’re in an All-Ireland semi-final now but conceding 2-10 in a game like that would put you under pressure. Knowing Conor being the kind of fella who’s always looking for an edge, he’ll be looking that we don’t concede any of those sort of goals again.”
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