O'Connor wants Kerry killer instinct

The Kerry juggernaut continued on its path to a second successive All-Ireland title yesterday at Croke Park, but manager Jack O'Connor is demanding more from his players.

The Kingdom's footballers, reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions, have hit 7-58 so far in defeating Tipperary, Limerick, Cork in their province, and Mayo in yesterday's quarter-final.

Just to prove that goals win matches, O'Connor's charges have only once gone 70 minutes in league or championship fare without scoring a goal this season.

Ironically enough, that major-less outing came on the opening night of the NFL Division One campaign when Cork - Kerry's All-Ireland semi-final opponents on August 28 - surprised them with a 1-12 to 0-8 defeat.

Colm 'Gooch' Cooper and Darragh O'Se both netted in yesterday's 2-15 to 0-18 victory over Mayo, but O'Connor warned his men to be on their toes for the Rebel re-match.

"I was happy with the performance but not too happy with how the game was finished up. We didn't kill off the game," admitted O'Connor, whose side conceded five points in the final 12 minutes against the Connacht men.

"We got very sloppy and allowed Mayo to get back within three points of us."

O'Connor, in his second year in charge, is looking forward to a repeat of this year's Munster final against Cork.

"Cork showed their battling qualities in the way they came back to beat Galway. It will certainly make for a very interesting semi-final.

"We have a good panel of players - we put in the substitutes and they did well. Paul Galvin stood out, kicking three points from play.

"This is all about the team though, and the team played exceptionally well until becoming sloppy in the closing ten minutes."