Stephen O’Brien: Kerry braced for Cork side with something to prove

Having been battered and bashed in recent weeks, Kerry’s Stephen O’Brien is expecting a backlash from the Cork footballers when the counties meet on the first Sunday of next month.

Cork boss Peadar Healy claimed in the aftermath of their one-point win over Tipperary that his footballers have been hammered by the media since the county’s championship opener away to Waterford and O’Brien knows full well they’ll be out to prove a point on Munster final afternoon.

“They’re going to respond, definitely, so we’re going to have to be ready for them,” said O’Brien, who kicked 1-1 when sprung from the bench at half-time in Kerry’s Munster semi-final win over Clare.