Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Plenty for Cork to work on as Kerry survive proper stress test  

John Cleary was understandably disappointed on Saturday night but the Rebels can build on the performance against the Kingdom.

CLASSIC: Cork manager John Cleary congratulates Kerry manager Jack O'Connor after the Munster SFC semI-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

What a fantastic game of football in Páirc Uí Chaoimh Saturday night. In a week all about the build-up to the much vaunted Munster Hurling championship, the oft maligned football version puffed out its chest to show it too can still deliver serious entertainment. It was real championship fare, and refreshingly it had a right physical edge to it. The fitness levels of both sets of players was something to behold as they continued to go at it deep into extra time. Both teams will take a huge amount out of it and used appropriately it should stand to them big time as they move forward.

First to Cork. John Cleary was understandably gutted afterwards when facing the TV cameras. The genuine disappointment was etched on his face and audible in his voice. He knew Cork had left a golden chance slip through their fingers. As well as slaying Kerry he would have appreciated the opportunity to claim silverware in a fortnight in the Munster final.