Eamonn Fitzmaurice not doing things by half

It might take more than a history lesson to beat Kerry but Brian Cuthbert need only look back on the past four seasons to see where Cork have lost to them: first halves.

He might have been partly responsible for one of the three Munster defeats since 2011 but they follow a similar pattern: Kerry lift out of the blocks and before Cork know it, they are all but over the horizon. In 2011 and 2013, strong second half revivals almost saved the day for Cork but the damage had been done.

As it was for Jack O’Connor in 2011, it’s been the same for Eamonn Fitzmaurice. On each occasion, Kerry have put together 13-point first-half totals. In both 2011 and 2014, the half-time margin was eight points. It mightn’t be a secret but Fitzmaurice accepts those positive beginnings have been key to those victories.