Don Davis: Time for Cork footballers to finish the job against Kerry

Cork selector Don Davis says the Leesiders’ performance in the drawn Munster final was no surprise, given how well they’d prepared.

“Training had gone exceptionally well, the lads were in great form, the league had gone well for us and we had taken the positives out of that,” he explained.

“We said that before the first game, and we believed that, it was a very good campaign. The group has matured, generally, a huge amount over the period of time that we’ve been there, and we genuinely went down to Killarney with huge belief and confidence.”

Davis added that the “overriding emotion” for Cork was of having a job to finish: “Immediately, your initial feeling is disappointment, of course, but the overriding emotion then was that the job wasn’t completed, and that it’s up to us now to go and finish the job off. Which is great.

“I wasn’t being flippant when we spoke before the first game and I said that Kerry could come with whatever they could come with, though I’m probably being as flippant now when I say that I’m not even interested in discussing whatever it is they might come with the next day.

“We’re just interested in what we can roll out and in our own camp. That was the case the first day and it’s the same now.”

That said, the Skibbereen man added that he and the rest of the management team will study Kerry closely: “Of course you have to try to cover every eventuality but you can also get completely distracted by sideshows if you don’t have your focus on getting yourself right, and that’s where we’re at.”

Davis was impressed by Cork’s spirit in the drawn game in Fitzgerald Stadium, and moving on from the controversial penalty decision is part of that.

“As far as I’m concerned that’s the place you want to be on Munster final day — it’s just one of those special venues, and it’s a festival, really, Cork against Kerry.

“We didn’t have any fear going there the last day and I thought that showed, and I have no doubt they’ll be the same the next day. That’s a good thing.

“It’s important we don’t get into discussing incidents like that (the penalty) and whether they had any influence on the result, but on a personal basis, in relation to incidents like that it might be time for the GAA to have a fourth official up in the stand who could inform the referee of what he can see. That would certainly take the pressure off the officials, who are only human beings who have to make a split-second decision.

“It’s important when you get positives that you don’t get carried away. This group has heard a few negatives in recent times but they’re very close, and those who’ve spoken to them are the same individuals, so that hasn’t changed.”

Davis paid tribute to his charges’ dedication. “I played inter-county football, but the levels, the standard that it is at now is incredible.

“I said it before the first game and it’s important to say it again now — these guys are absolutely fantastic. I don’t think people understand the sacrifices involved for these guys — work-wise, with family, with their social lives.

“A person has never put on a Cork jersey in order not to perform, and I was delighted for all of them the last day.”