Ladies out to repeat win over Cork

LADIES MUNSTER SFC FINAL Kerry v Cork Sunday, July 10 Legion GAA club, Killarney at 7pm

LEGION GAA ground in Killarney will play host the latest chapter of what is fast becoming one of Ireland’s greatest sporting rivalries. We all know that there is little to separate the counties of Cork and Kerry except a wavy imaginary border line and over 100 years of healthy rivalry / one-upmanship however that never stopped people on either side of the border from ramping up the tension when the counties clash – regardless of the occasion.

This weekend the counties will again lock horns, in the now familiar battle ground of the Munster Ladies football final - and this one will be a humdinger.

Cork, probably one of the greatest and most successful GAA teams to ever grace a GAA pitch, step into the Kingdom to take on a side that look to have their measure. Kerry are hot right now. After seeing off Cork earlier in the year in what looked like a meaningless league encounter, the Kingdom girls travelled to Macroom a few weeks back and gave a wonderful display, beating off a near full strength Cork side by six points in the Munster Championship proper.

Now, thanks to a win over Waterford last time out, Kerry will again face the red and white and will again go in search of the win, this time to retain the Munster Crown they won well, beating Cork, this time last year. Kerry have been on the rise in recent years and now are not just a credible threat, but they are The Threat, to Cork’s ambitions of dominating the sport for the next decade.

Kerry won’t fear Cork next weekend, why should they, Kerry are the reigning provincial champions and are the form team right now. Players of the calibre of Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Amanda Brosnan, Laura Rogers and Caroline Kelly have already shown this year that they are well able to go toe to toe with the old enemy and come out on top. Others like Lorraine Scanlon and Jane Lynch know exactly where the posts are and are not shy about putting the ball over the black spot. Despite the obvious importance attached to scoring, it is not all about Kerry’s threat up front as Cork will undoubtedly bring their attacking ‘A’ game to the table however with Kerry keeper Edel Murphy in good form there is plenty confidence at the back.

Bernie Breen in the middle of the park is also going to have a big say the next day with surging runs and an eye for goal that could prove to be the deciding factor this weekend.

For the Rebelettes, the names of Bríd Stack, Breige Corkery, Rena Buckley and Ciara O’Sullivan just roll off the tongue with a host of others ready and willing to stand up and fight off what will be a huge challenge from the girls in green and gold.

Annie Walsh, Orla Finn and Doireann O’Sullivan will also bring a huge amount of experience to the table with Finn in particular showing well this season.

Cork won’t be found wanting on the skill, desire and tactics front with new manager Ephie Fitzgerald leading from the front however this year will be seen in the Kerry camp as their year. They have already showed in earlier rounds that they have all the attributes to make them great, now they just need to be great.

Cork will be desperate to put Kerry in their place and wrestle back the Munster Crown however there is no doubt that their main focus will be on the big prize later in the year which means that this could be a great chance for Kerry, a chance they are unlikely to pass up.