Championship

2010 Munster Semifinal in Killarney - Kerry Vs Cork

June 1st, 2010
by Weeshie Fogarty

Without a shadow of doubt there is something special building up around the clash of the old enemies in Fitzgerald Stadium next Sunday. There is something different in the air about this one despite the fact that it is "only" a Munster semi final and the losers will be still be involved in the championship. The previous recent meetings of the big two in Croke Park during the last five years have completely changed the history and expectations of both players and supporters. The semi-finals, drawn games and All Ireland Finals meetings in Croke Park have added a completely new dimension to the whole scene and this year and for the first time I must admit I feel that winning is everything and that the so called back door rout is to be avoided at all costs. Nevertheless having said that the extra little bit of pressure I believe is on the visitors. Any discussion about the two counties in recent years revolves mainly about the Croke Park meetings and it's amazing that in those five meetings (excluding the drawn game of course) but including the re-play Kerry have been victorious on each occasion. The Cork players will tell you (Michael Shields said this to me in a recent interview) that what has happened in the past has no bearing what so ever on next Sundays game. No so in my opinion, those Cork men are human too and that little niggling doubt about that dramatic and magnificent win by Kerry last year in the final will have left a scar that can only be erased by virtue of a comprehensive win by Cork next Sunday. 

And then on the other hand Kerry will have grave reservations in relation to taking the same rout to Croke Park as they did last year. Jack o Connor and his generals know full well how fortunate they were in meeting Sligo, Antrim and Longford in the qualifying rounds. None of these three counties had a snow balls chance in hell last year or indeed this year of winning the title. They were the minnows in the draw and if lady luck decides not to smile on the losers of next Sunday then a trip to the North or up West or some other hot bed of the game to meet far stronger opponents could well be the unwanted reward for the defeated side. It would appear that Graham Canty and Anthony Lynch those two great Cork stalwarts might miss out due to injury. There are great hopes for Corks young full back Jamie o Sullivan. Last year in the under 21 game he certainly had the better of Tommy Walsh and we all know what Walsh went on to achieve in Croke Park with the seniors. O Sullivan's clash with Kieran Donaghy should be fascinating and will have a massive bearing on the result. The Stacks man continues to improve with each passing year and has not yet reached his peak. This must be frightening prospect for all opponents and really it is difficult to see one so young as the new Cork full back curtailing Star. With Colm Cooper now returning to his brilliant best and timing his runs perfectly to take the passes from Donaghy and Brian Sheehan looking better than he has been for a long time we can expect the main scoring treat to come from here.

I sang the praises of our captain before the Tipperary game having seen him in training and he responded with his first brace of goals in championship football. Now it should be remembered by one and all that Brian is a completely different style of player that his two inside comrades. All three are like chalk and cheese and you can not compare like with like.  The mantel of captaincy has certainly spurred the St Mary's man on to greater efforts and his display will have a big bearing on the result. As always in Kerry/Cork games and in particular in Fitzgerald Stadium I have learnt down the decads that mid field more often than not decides the winning side. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there were wild parties and celebrations in Cork GAA circles when Dara o Se announced his retirement earlier this year. He has been the bane of their lives up there since he first came on as a sub for Connor Kearney against them in 1995 and stood up to Danny Culloty and Liam Hounihan. He out fielded, bullied, hit, tormented and outmaneuvered a string of Cork midfielders and there is no doubt but psychologically the Cork men lining out in the middle of the field next Sunday will have a lighter spring in their step.

Seamus Scanlon of course always gives of his best and the selectors will have to decide whether to start Michael Quirk or hold him in reserve until the pace of the game drops. The big man has never let Kerry down yet. Anthony Maher has still to make that big impact while David Moran is lacking match practice due to his hand injury. One man in tremendous form at the moment id Donnacha Walsh, he could be a big plus in the middle of the field. A great engine, highly experienced, has played there for club. And county and for Mid Kerry. Mobility and running in the middle will be I feel the order of the day. Cork has a choice of men to play in this vital area. Pierce o neill, Nicholas Murphy, Alan o Connor, Aidan Walsh, all big mobile strong running and attacking men. Then with Daniel Goulding, Paul Kerrigan, Colm o neill, Donnacha o Connor up front their attacking abilities from all areas is their greatest strength.

The game can go any way. A bad referring or umpiring decision, an injury to a key player, a soft score, a sending off. I have seen all these events affect Kerry/Cork games down through the decades. Cork are the favorites, they are league champions, have a better and deeper panel that Kerry this year and rattled up 3-12 against Kildare last week. Their hunger and determination to over come the All Ireland champions in their beloved Fitzgerald Stadium will drive them to great heights. Another defeat by Kerry especially after their stroll to the league title would be greatly demoralizing. However Kerry have the massive advantage of that opener against Tipperary. They looked in great shape that day, and most importantly of all looked fresh and eager, the team is settled, and they are the champions. The have absolutely nothing to prove to their supporters however they, the players and management don't want to enter the qualifiers. I take them to win, however we will learn so much from this game, a match in which we might be watching this years All Ireland potential winners. The pulse will race, the heart rate quickens, that knot in the stomach will get tighter, the roar of the crowd when the sides race on to the field will only heighten the tension and the anticipation. Munster championship day in Killarney is something special. The surging crowds on the way to the field. The mountains towering and then lakes shimmering majestically in the background. For a few moments we will pause, let the mind drift to other places and remember great players of the past, absent friends and relations and Liam Higgins all now gone to their eternal reward. This for me this is part of the meeting of Kerry and Cork. Yes it is special.



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