‘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.

“We have not played them in the McGrath Cup this year; it used to be a bit earlier in the League while this year it’s a bit later. So no, I don’t think that the games are any more bad tempered or bitter. There are new players on each team for Sunday, so while there is serious rivalry between Kerry and Cork, I would imagine there will be fair intensity. But I don’t think there is any undercurrent of bitterness or badness between the sides.”

Fitzmaurice has included Colm Cooper in his squad for the first time this season but remained tightlipped when quizzed if the Dr Crokes man will be sprung from the bench.

“It will depend on the match and how it’s going whether Colm will take any part or not but we are delighted to have Colm back in this week. He is in great form and we are delighted to have him back, he is a big presence in the dressing room.”

Kerry secured their first win of the League with victory over Down last weekend and Fitzmaurice accepts his side will be underdogs tomorrow. “Cork are in great form at the moment. Donegal gave us a fair trimming the week before and Cork beat them quite comfortably last weekend. So Cork are going well, so we will definitely have to be at our best. What we did in the first half the last day against Down would be good enough to compete with Cork, what we did in the second half, certainly would not. Again it was very important for the whole group to get two points on the board and give ourselves as good a chance as possible of staying up. So the same goes for this weekend it’s a championship match again, so we must try and win this weekend so that last game away to Tyrone is relevant.”