Jack O’Connor warns wrong to write off Cork

Jack O’Connor is busy preparing the Kerry minor squad for a Munster final meeting with Tipperary on July 5, but while he fancies Kerry to win the senior final against Cork, he believes that it will be a lot closer than some pundits think.

He explained: “Strangely enough, I think that Cork are in a good position this year, because they have been written off a bit. The pressure will be on Kerry to perform. I suppose you would have to say Kerry are a small bit undercooked with James O’Donoghue not having a huge amount of football played. David Moran and Paul Murphy have also been injured, the Gooch is not back that long, and Tommy Walsh and Donnchadh Walsh having been carrying injuries. So it would be hard to see Kerry going as well this time last year.

“Then you can throw in the surprise element as that will be gone too.”