Wayne Quillinan says Kerry and Cork the most disadvantaged counties in the country at minor level

FAIR SHOUT: Kerry manager Wayne Quillinan says Championship format puts his county and Cork at a serious competitive disadvantage. Pic: Ben Brady, Inpho

WAYNE Quillinan won’t need reminding that he managed the last Kerry team to lose to Cork at any grade over two years ago in May 2023, when the Rebel minors ambushed a highly-rated Kerry side, winning on a 2-12 to 0-14 scoreline. 

However, three weeks later, Kerry and Quillinan gained sweet revenge with 2-10 to 0-11 Munster Final win and normal order was restored.

This spring Kerry have stormed to an impressive Munster MFC win over Cork in Páirc Ui Rinn. So how does Quillinan think his youngsters will handle the psychological threat of complacency as they prepare to renew hostilities in the provincial decider in Tralee on Friday night (live TG4)?

“We've covered that off time and time again with them. And we refer back to three years ago when Kerry beat Cork here handily, and then went up the Cork and got beaten. So that's a reference back to that a lot. The good thing about our lads is that they're 15, 16, and 17. They're a mature bunch, and the message from the management is loud and clear. The only thing is when you have two championship games in, you get proper learnings and no more so than ourselves."

Wayne believes that Cork will be a different proposition at Austin Stack Park. “They're going to bring different things, they're more cohesive, they'll have learned things.

"So we're expecting a total different type of battle now and on Friday night.” 

What Cork and Kerry agree on is the lop-sided nature of the provincial format in Munster which gives the traditional powers less games and puts them at a serious disadvantage.

“I'm like a wound up record player. If you're in Connacht, Leinster, and Ulster, you have six or seven or eight games played at this stage. Cork and Kerry have two. Even Tipperary has played six or seven, and Clare the last day, they were in their fifth or sixth game.” 

“At the end of the day, particularly at minor level, it's games. Games will give you the learnings that you need. And unfortunately for Cork and Kerry, we're the two counties in the All Ireland series that could get the least amount of games.

I think you even look since I've been involved in the last three years. We played Limerick in the semi-final. We were 1-1 to a point down up in Newcastlewest after 21 minutes.” he explains. 

“We played Tipperary last year up in Semple Stadium. We were six points to 1-2 ahead. We were a point up at halftime. And in Clare the last day we were a goal down. Those test not only the character of players, but also test the decision-making of management amid a championship atmosphere.

"We played probably nine or ten challenge games this year against top quality counties, and there's plenty top quality counties. But you can't replicate the championship feel. You can't replicate that absolute edge that you need on championship day.” 

The Kerry manager still has concerns about his charges - not least the danger of someone going off script for what he calls 'me shots'.

“We just want them to play to their potential, then we have a chance. We definitely have a chance. It's the same, Cork will think the exact same way, and that's all you want to go out there and have a chance. I think if we work as hard as we possibly can, if we stick to what we know..

"And that's where we want to control the occasion, stuff like that. They don't try and go off and do things that they haven't been doing before. But this is a brilliant bunch of young fellas.”