Cork feeling the pain, says Nolan

ANY All-Ireland final defeat is a dejecting experience but for the Cork camp yesterday’s defeat was even more wounding.

The identity of Kerry as their conquerors in the All-Ireland series for the fifth year in a row was tough to absorb and also the manner in which the high levels of optimism the Cork camp held before the game were dashed. Cork selector Jim Nolan admitted the mood was downcast.

“It’s very disappointing how we performed. We got a good start and got that goal, so were playing well. Kerry came back straight away though and were leading at half-time. But we were still only two points down and I felt we were doing okay and in contention. We got it back to a point in the second half and were playing well.

“We just couldn’t get back into the game. I don’t think we played with our usual fluency. I think Kerry probably deserved their win. On the day Kerry just performed that little bit better. We’ve been playing very well all the year and it was probably our poorest performance of the year. But credit Kerry, they seemed to have their homework done. On the day we’ve no complaints. We’re all down and we’ll probably be further down tomorrow. But we’ve a good bunch of young fellas and I think they’ll face up to it again.”

Fellow Cork selector Ger O’Sullivan searched for reasons for this defeat. Cork’s positive start heightened hopes of success but they could never replicate that form for the remainder of the match.

“Strangely enough we’d a very good start. But we lost our way a little bit. Kerry got on top in lots of positions, started winning 50-50 breaks and just powered through. They got the few points and breaks then.

“They were a stage when we came at them in second half. But I suppose wind in the second half was a factor. I was near the goal on a few occasions and the wind was swirling about. Some of the shots we took just went wide, whereas Kerry got a few frees in the first half and converted them all. I would say over 70 minutes Kerry were the better team. We’ve no complaints whatsoever. We felt overall they were the better team.”

O’Sullivan insists Cork can recover from this setback.

“We’ll go back to the drawing board now and start all over again for next year. But look, this team has had a fair amount of success this year. We blooded a lot of new players. If someone said at the start of the year we’d win promotion, win Munster and get to an All-Ireland final, we’d have said great. Now we’re not 100% happy of course with the year. But the Cork team of the 80s lost two All-Irelands before they went back and won two. That’s what we’ve to do now. We’ve to get back training over the winter and not hang our heads.

“Give the younger players more experience, maybe find a few new players and just get on with it.”