Seven pages of Munster final preview coverage
Cork v Kerry
Saturday, June 23
Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork Throw-in at 7pm Referee: C Brannigan (Down) Live on RTE TV THE Munster Senior Football Final is almost upon us and it appears that the status quo has been restored.
After a couple of years where the great upstarts from Tipperary have been either spoiling or threatening to spoil the big two’s annual day in the sun it appears that Cork have put Tipp back in their box – for now anyway.
Cork will face the old enemy this Saturday at the revamped Pairc Uí Chaoimh and while the traditionalists may have some sort of problem with the timing it is clear that all involved are just delighted to be just that, involved.
Cork came into this season’s championship in seemingly bad shape after a League campaign that failed to sparkle and with some big names on the treatment table. The Rebels were ranked by many below the men from the Premier county and probably side by side with a Clare team that some felt had the edge on the men in red, but being written off seems to have been just the stimulus that Ronan McCarthy’s side required as they impressed hugely when they faced the aforementioned Tipperary in the last four.
Cork were magnificent on the day which has, as one might expect, started the hype off nicely for the upcoming showpiece game. That said, before anyone could get their hopes raised too high, Kerry went and blew Clare away without ever really getting out of third gear. The gulf that has existed for many years between Kerry and the rest in Munster seems like it may be as sizable as ever and that is a worry heading to the banks of the Lee this Saturday.
Cork have plenty to cheer about heading to the final with most players tipping along nicely in training and a great buzz around the camp after the Tipperary win however the loss of Sean Powter and more than likely Colm O’Neill means that the home side are depleted somewhat from the side that Ronan McCarthy would like to name.
The return of Paul Kerrigan is obviously a plus and his enthusiasm for all things Cork and attacking football is likely to play a major part in this weekend’s game.
From a local standpoint it is hard not to be excited to see James Loughrey out of crutches and back on the field and with the Mallow club man working his way back as a sub in the semi-final he should be in the reckoning for a starting place - but that one will obviously be up to the manager and his backroom team.
Loughrey’s club mate, Matthew Taylor, is another that should feature at some stage after impressing since starting with the side earlier this year but a berth off the bat this Saturday may be too much to ask for at this stage for this hugely talented defender..
Tómas Clancy of Fermoy, Donncha O’Connor of Ballydesmond will also likely be on the panel with Clancy a good bet to start but O’Connor has yet shrug off a niggling injury that has affected his appearances this season. O’Connor is a veteran of the Cork setup but has remained one of the most potent strikers available to Ronan McCarthy this year.
While all of the absent players, on or just off the treatment table, will be missed, the loss of Powter is most likely to be the biggest headache for McCarthy. Powter has been one of Cork’s best players when playing however the exciting talent has seen his appearances limited since tearing his hamstring early in the second half of the county’s league defeat to Tipperary on January 27.
Powter was making progress and was expected to be ready for this one but suffered a setback during a challenge match against Roscommon. Powter may make an appearance this weekend however the odds are definitely against that right now.
There is better news on Brian O’Driscoll who had an issue with his hamstring but seems to be ok and up for the game – if called.
Ian Maguire’s performance this weekend will have a huge bearing on the outcome with Mark Collins another that will need to be at his best.
Cork are most certainly the underdogs but that was always likely to be the case so whether this Munster Final is considered a free shot or not for a place in the Super 8s is just a matter of opinion Leeside.
Cork’s players will know that their display against Tipperary in the semi-final was really good however at the same token the way Kerry dismissed Clare should have put the task ahead into perspective. Cork need to start well, stay in the hunt and keep Kerry’s major figures at bay. Cork need to be clinical, resourceful and patient and have to stay calm when things aren’t going their way – which will happen for long periods.
Above all else, it is imperative that cork do not to let Kerry get the drop on them. Cork need to make sure Kerry don’t race into a five, six or even bigger lead before the quarter mark has been reached as that with invariably lead to an emptying of the stands well before the finish.
All told, it is hard to back against Kerry for this one but somewhere up in there in the ether there is a whisper growing, that few can hear now but may well fill the city this weekend “Rebels, Rebels,Rebels, REBELS...” Cork to win this one by the minimum.