Defiant Kerry keep meeting the challenges

THERE are two distinct tales from this compelling tussle, and they fork in different directions, just as the two counties now set off on their respective routes to September.

Kerry have reached almost every dramatic pitch in a decade of Championship dominance but they’re beginning the new one with a defiance and grittiness that should be well beyond them at this stage.

Jack O’Connor is correct: at times yesterday they were hanging on by their fingernails, at times one haymaker away from the smelling salts.

But for one reason or another, they wouldn’t stay down. Get up, they kept whispering to themselves. It was the seventh minute of extra-time before the All-Ireland champions led for the first time, and the guttural roar from the small travelling support when Barry John Keane made it 1-13 to 1-12 told its own story – much like the reaction of the Kerry players at the final whistle.

“It would be up there with the Armagh All-Ireland quarter final win in 2006,” beamed O’Connor afterwards. “We were facing a mountain at half-time, we were four points down, facing a strong wind and Cork were playing serious football and appeared to have the legs on us. But from somewhere we just dug it out.”

For Kerry it was a first win in five years in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, a first replay victory there for 34 years. It also delivers another sickening blow to Cork’s solar plexus, and for those who prefer to pick over the carcass of victims, there’s plenty of raw meat.

For the second time in seven days, Conor Counihan’s players seemed to have Kerry’s measure. Turning around after playing into a first half breeze with a four points lead (1-6 to 0-5), not even a superbly worked goal for Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy appeared to unduly disturb Cork momentum. Yet again, though, the closer the end line came and as long as Kerry stayed in touch, there was a sense Cork were faltering.

There’s something amiss then. Cork are bigger and more powerful, have younger legs with, theoretically, more running. They shouldn’t be seizing up against Kerry – or anyone – down the stretch.

However, yesterday they had more than their own insecurities troubling them as the tide slowly turned. Kerry’s Colm Cooper was enjoying one of those mesmerising afternoons when it all looks impossibly easy.

It took Cork until extra time to try something different than Jamie O’Sullivan on the Kerry corner forward, but it looked a job for a ranger, not a defender, yesterday.

If Gooch offered the guile, Paul Galvin provided the guts. Introduced before the half hour, the semi-fit Footballer of the Year was the touchstone for this drama and was the beating heart, along with Marc O Sé, of Kerry’s recovery. Galvin was the Kingdom’s first sub, but every replacement answered a question – from Keane’s finishing to Mike Quirke’s fielding to Darran O’Sullivan and Daniel Bohan, the latter careering head first into contact to secure the possession that led to Marc O Sé’s stunning 72nd minute equaliser (making it 1-11 apiece).

O Sé spent most of the day keeping Paul Kerrigan scoreless, a trend repeated elsewhere. Paddy Kelly struggled to make a yard on Killian Young, as did Daniel Goulding on Tom O’Sullivan. Donncha O’Connor and Ciarán Sheehan had dominant moments, but when the fat was in the fire, Kerry’s Mike McCarthy had O’Connor where he didn’t want to be: on the back foot.

The Ballydesmond man landed a stunning left footed point in the 40th minute to re-establish Cork’s three points lead (1-8 to 1-5), but most of the creative attacking in the second half was at the other end, and involved Cooper, Donaghy, Galvin and an improving Declan O’Sullivan.

Cork’s 14th minute goal from Goulding was a direct result of a fumble from Kerry keeper Brendan Kealy, not his first time to look suspect in the air. But with the wind in their sails, Cork claimed only five second half points and they suffered a critical morale blow when Graham Canty was yellow-carded for the second time with six minutes remaining. On live viewing Pat McEnaney’s decision (after consultation with the umpire) looked harsh, as Canty clipped Cooper who was running past him on the blind side. Either way, Gooch’s free levelled it up at 1-10 each.

For the third time in the past two seasons, Cork then put themselves in a late winning position when Ciarán Sheehan improvised after Mike Quirke spilled possession to claim a lead point, but Marc O Sé epitomised Kerry’s defiance with that injury time equaliser.

Though Cork returned to a full complement of players for extra time, they were wilting visibly. John Miskella, who came on instead of Canty, hadn’t the match fitness to mind Darran O’Sullivan and no-one in red seemed able to keep tabs on Galvin, Barry John Keane and Mike McCarthy.

Meanwhile Cooper, fouled once again, cancelled Fintan Goold’s point before Keane gave the Kingdom a two point cushion heading into the final 10 minute extra time period. With bodies succumbing to the intensity, starters were returning as replacements, Noel O’Leary for Cork, Donnchadh Walsh for Kerry. The former pointed to reduce it again to 1-13 to 1-14 before Cooper pointed a free off his right. John Hayes replied in kind, and a buccaneering Eoin Cadogan had a late shout for another free which Pat McEnaney waved away.

“This team,” said the Kerry coach, enjoying where they are now. They have won a lot and this was a massive test for them. These are the challenges they need at this stage.”

Limerick await in a Killarney Munster final on July 4th. For different reasons, it may prove just as taxing a challenge.

Kerry: Brendan Kealy; Marc O Se (0-1), Tommy Griffin, Tom O'Sullivan; Tomas O Se, Mike McCarthy, Killian Young; Seamus Scanlon, David Moran; Anthony Maher, Declan O'Sullivan (0-2), Donnacha Walsh; Colm Cooper (0-6), Kieran Donaghy (1-1), Bryan Sheehan (0-3). Subs: Paul Galvin, Micheal Quirke, Barry John Keane (0-2), Darran O'Sullivan, Daniel Bohan. Extra time: Adrian O'Connell, Donnacha Walsh.

Cork: Alan Quirke; Ray Carey, Graham Canty, Jamie O'Sullivan; Noel O'Leary, Michael Shields (0-1), Paudie Kissane; Alan O'Connor, Aidan Walsh; Pearse O'Neill, Donncha O'Connor (0-4), Paddy Kelly (0-1); Daniel Goulding (1-3), Ciaran Sheehan (0-2), Paul Kerrigan. Subs: Derek Kavanagh, Eoin Cadogan, Colm O'Neill, Fintan Goold (0-1), Kevin McMahon. Extra time: John Miskella, Noel O'Leary (0-1), John Hayes (0-1).

Referee: P. McEnaney (Monaghan).