Cork boss pleased with Rebels’ underdog status

Cork are well aware of the challenge posed by the Kingdom, but remain confident in their own ability, writes Noel Horgan

CORK have been the dominant force in Munster at Under 21 level in recent times, winning nine provincial titles since 2004.

Only Tipperary, in 2010 and 2014, and Kerry, in 2008, have got a look-in in the meantime, but the Rebels’ bid to extend their impressive record will be under serious threat when they throw down the gauntlet to the Kingdom in the Munster final at Pairc Uí Rinn next Wednesday evening.

Having lifted the last three All-Ireland minor titles, it’s generally accepted that Kerry’s current crop is one of the most accomplished ever to represent the county and they will be going in as warm favourites to register a first win over Cork in the Under 21 grade since 2010.

With about seven players just out of minor ranks on board, they ran Cork to three points in the Munster semi final in 2015, and the vast majority of the present squad were involved when they went under by the minimum of margins, 3-9 to 1-14, in a memorable decider in Tralee 12 months ago.

They were at a disadvantage to a certain extent in terms of physicality on that occasion, but that isn’t a problem now, and team manager Jack O’Connor will no doubt feel that everything is in place to enable his side to garner a long-awaited victory over the Rebels.

Perhaps it’s a slight concern for O’Connor that Kerry will enter the fray without the benefit of a serious test, as they were seldom under real pressure in the first round against Clare while Waterford never laid a glove on them in the semi final, but it’s impossible to quantify just how much of a handicap that’s likely to be.

It certainly wasn’t a factor in last year’s Munster final when Cork, having cruised through at the expense of Waterford and Clare, managed to edge out Kerry, who had been put to the pin of their collar to prevail in their two previous outings against Tipperary and Limerick.

Still, the fact that Cork were forced to battle hard for a 2-10 to 0-10 semi-final win over Limerick will be no load going into the latest showdown with Kerry. It was no surprise that Limerick performed so well, given that they had been boosted by a quarter final victory over Tipp, and that the Shannonside county had also competed admirably against Cork and Kerry in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

So, it didn’t reflect badly on Cork that their triumph over Limerick wasn’t especially convincing, but, at the same time, they will be fully aware they will facing far more formidable opposition in the final and that a major improvement on their semi final display will be required in order to deliver the goods against Kerry.

It’s fairly safe to say, however, that Cork have the potential to step up a few gears, bearing in mind that the squad is liberally sprinkled with players who were involved last year when they came within a whisker of achieving All-Ireland glory, losing out in the final to a Mayo side that grabbed a couple of late goals to earn a five-point win.

In Michael Hurley (Castlehaven), Sean Powter (Douglas), Brian Coakley (Carrigaline) and Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra) possess four forwards of unquestionable quality, while Stephen Sherlock (St Finbarr’s) and Maidchi O’Duinnin (Naomh Aban) also featured over the course of last year’s campaign, and, along with the highly-rated Gary Murphy (Castletownbere), provide the management with plenty of options in attack. Cian Kiely (Ballincollig), Kevin Flahive (Douglas), Eoin Lavers (Dohenys), Sean O’Leary (Bantry Blues) and stalwart fullback John Mullins (Éire Óg) are other survivors from the 2016 panel. Cork manager Sean Hayes, who won All-Ireland Under 21 medals in 1980 and 1981, has an unblemished record against Kerry as both player and mentor in this grade. Now in his fourth year at the helm, he is under no illusions about the task that lies ahead, although he’s satisfied that Cork won’t be easily relieved of their provincial crown. “Kerry have a super team, and I’m sure Jack O’Connor will have them well-prepared for Cork this year. It’s obviously going to be a big challenge for us, and if we don’t step up on our display against Limerick, we might as well not turn up at all, but I was happy enough with the way that game went, considering it was our first match in the championship. “It took us about half an hour to get up to the pace of it, but we were much more competitive in the second half and it was pleasing to come on top against a useful and well-organised Limerick side.” Hayes believes that game will stand to Cork, and he feels the team is well capable of improving, not least because it’s expected they’ll have a full squad available, which wasn’t the case for the semi-final. “Michael Hurley, who made a huge impact when he came on, Sean O’Donoghue and Liam O’Donovan (Clonakilty) had niggling injuries and that’s why they weren’t started against Limerick, while Kieran Flahive was sick. “We’re delighted they are all ready to go again now, and, while Kerry are overwhelming favourites, we won’t be going out just to play a game on Wednesday night. “We realise we are up against it, but I’m quite happy with the players I have, and, to be honest, I wouldn’t be afraid to take anyone on with this team,” said the Nemo Rangers man.