‘No Cork-Kerry bitterness’

Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice has rejected suggestions an “undercurrent of bitterness or badness” has developed between the Kingdom and Munster rivals, Cork.

The pair have produced a number of tempestuous affairs in recent seasons but Fitzmaurice insists that is due to more frequent meetings rather than any dislike between players who renew acquaintances in tomorrow’s Allianz League tie at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

Fitzmaurice reasoned: “Maybe in the recent past familiarity has bred contempt because Kerry/Cork clashes have become far more regular. The sides would meet in the McGrath Cup, the League, often times in the Munster Championship, you would have two games, a drawn game and the replay and possibly a Croke Park game as well so you might end up playing Cork four or five times. Whereas we lost to Cork in the League and lost to them in the Championship (last year) but we have not played them since.