Keane wary of impressive looking Cork side

AFTER a comprehensive victory in their first outing up in Ennis, the Kerry Juniors are on the road against next Tuesday when they face Cork for the fourth consecutive year in the Munster Final, bidding for a fourth consecutive title in the process. One has to go back to 2011 in the old Pairc Uí Chaoimh for the last time a Kerry side lost to the Rebels at this level but Kerry boss Jimmy Keane is wary of a Rebel backlash to the defeats that Cork have suffered at the hands of the Kingdom at both Minor and U-21 level in Pairc Uí Rinn already this year.

“I know our own supporters are going to have their own expectations after what happened there in the Minor and U-21 matches but we have to be cautious of the Cork Juniors using that as motivation to try and beat us on the night. Those wins (Minor and U-21) don’t count for much at this level and this will be a step up from what we faced against Limerick this first day,” Keane said.

Preparation is never ideal at this level, maybe ever more this year with the game on a Tuesday night as opposed to the traditional Wednesday staging, and Keane having to juggle the start of the County U-21 Championship tonight (Wednesday) and some back games in the County League this weekend around preparation.

“It will be the weekend before we have everyone together as the An Ghaeltacht players have to play Dingle in the County League on Friday night.

“We would be cautious in one way because despite how well we played in the first game we felt we weren’t really tested that much in one way. The one good thing overall is that the players that started saw there is genuine competition for places with the subs that came on.

“A lot of what we will try and do is try and prepare the players for situations where they find themselves under pressure as we expect we will be against Cork,” he said.

Logistical matters such as the timing of the game mean other headaches in terms of players having to take time off work, along with negotiating the traffic to Pairc Uí Rinn.

There are a number of injury concerns to deal with as well, Pa Kilkenny not playing for Glenbeigh/Glencar in the County League at the weekend, while DJ Murphy is also of concern, both with hamstring problems.

One potential bonus for the Juniors, however, could be the availability of Thomas Hickey but that depends on him coming through Castleisland Desmonds League game with Rathmore at the weekend, but Keane feels that Cork are in an advantageous position for next Tuesday night for a number of reasons.

“They were playing challenge matches before we were appointed as a management team. Cork had to in a lot of respects as they were starting the campaign earlier but from what we know of the game they had against Waterford in Dungarvan they looked very impressive once they settled into the match.

“Their forward line put up a big total and they had a strong midfield and someone like Bart Daly is a very formidable player to have in your ranks.

“I know you can debate about who is in a better position with us having played more recently or them for being able to see the game in Ennis but regardless we know that there will be little between the sides on the night,” the Kerry Junior boss said.

Bar the 2014 Final recent meetings between the counties have been close, the 2015 encounter a game that saw both sides trade dominance before Kerry took over in the second half.

Last year’s game in Austin Stack Park saw the Kingdom eek out a single point success meanwhile, as Keane feels the outcome will come down to what happens on the night in a lot of ways.

“It nearly always is the way in games like this but one thing we want to do more of next week is create more goal chances than the single one we did in Ennis. It is games like this that you need goals in.”

Considering he is working with a lot of the 2015 side that won in next Tuesday’s venue when the Kerry Juniors last went up there, Keane no doubt has the right personnel in knowing what it takes to win an encounter such as this.