Interpros a hit with players, insists Cork’s Kelly

Cork’s Patrick Kelly believes the Interprovincials’ novelty value will continue to appeal to players.

Much is being made of the poor crowds at Sunday’s four games, but the Ballincollig man wholeheartedly backs the series.

“It’s a novel thing,” said Kelly. “We spend most of the year, ourselves and Kerry, thinking about how to beat each other.

“We’re that close to each other and to put our differences aside for 70 minutes there’s something different in that.

“For the lads in the other counties in Munster, in Division 4 they probably don’t have a chance to get the limelight as much and you see they’re as every bit as good as the Cork and Kerry lads so it’s nice for them to get that chance as well.

“It’s something novel and hopefully it does carry on because the players have shown an interest in it.”

With Munster facing Ulster in next Sunday’s final in the Morgan Athletic Grounds in Armagh, Kelly doesn’t need a reminder of how serious their opponents take the competition.

“Ulster in particular put a lot into it and it means a lot more to them but whether that’s a historical thing [I’m not sure].”

Kelly believes there could have been a better slot in the calendar chosen for Sunday’s semi-finals, especially for the Cork contingent, some of whom missed club games as a result of the game in Parnell Park.

“It was difficult enough as we all had club games this weekend and unfortunately some of us had to skip them.

“Most counties have given it a good backing and most of the players from the majority of the counties have played. I think by the standard of players in the game that players do have an interest in playing it.

“One of the ideas is to find it a fixed spot and leave it there for a few years and see can it take off but whether or not there’s space in the calendar with the inter-county season being so long it’s hard to know.”