A moral victory is no to Killarney knowing they can beat Kerry

IT might, perhaps, be overstatement perhaps to call Saturday’s game in Killarney a ‘Waterloo’ event for Cork’s footballers after an Allianz League season that failed to deliver in the first three games yet provided plenty of optimism from the last four.

Cork’s failings in trying to get up and running early enough in Division 2 to mount a credible promotion challenge had many fearing for the men in red’s chances of not only competing for the league but perhaps their place in the All-Ireland series was under threat. However, some backs to the wall defending and impressive attacking meant that the Leesiders stayed in Division 2 and don’t have to depose Kerry in Munster to retain their place in the All-Ireland series. In that slightly more generous light, perhaps one could say Cork have a free shot this weekend.

And as for that free shot, Cork manager John Cleary was quick to hit back when that proposition was put to him after Cork drew with Armagh three weekends ago.

Cleary said: “Kerry are one of the top three teams in the country, top one on their day, so we know that the challenge is big but that is what we signed up for.”

This trip to the Kingdom will obviously test a Cork side that has shown plenty in their last five games (the last of those being their win over Limerick two weeks ago) but one would be foolish in my opinion to write off a side that has more to prove than the side that are hosting this Munster semi-final.

Cork’s players have been at the butt of many a joke in Cork, Kerry and farther afield in recent years with a pretty abysmal record against the old enemy over the last decade or more.

Cork have had successes at underage, most recently in May 2023 when the county’s minors saw off Kerry by 2-12 to 0-14.

Kerry did come back to win the provincial final but Cork collected that honour in 2022 – signs were afoot that the younger guns aren’t as intimated as perhaps they once might have been.

At Under 20, which has more relevance, Cork did take Kerry down in 2021 but have struggled since as the Kingdom have dominated.

Of course, there is a big step up from the young grades to the adult competitions and it is no surprise that Kerry have almost had exclusivity in Munster since Cork last won in 2012.

Early this season few held out any hope that the Rebels would take down a Kerry side that looked good in the League and have plenty to prove themselves on the national stage, but the last six weeks may well raise a few eyebrows in Killarney as Cork have noticeably improved.

While the League was ultimately good to Cork, the Munster SFC quarter-final game with Limerick told a lot more about where Cork are right now.

A slow start is pretty usual these days for Cork, something that can’t happen this weekend if the Leesiders are to have any chance.

The manner at which Cork

opened up and on three occasions punished Limerick is important, Cork created nine or 10 chances in that game – on another day the pain could have been severe on Limerick.

Cork’s ability to make goal chances has been a feature this year but they need to have a higher conversion rate than 30% if they are to take the spoils against a Kerry side that may offer one or two genuine chances, and that is if the home side are feeling generous.

Limerick did put in a credible shift and went toe to toe with the Cork in the last game and were probably hard done by on the final scoreline but Cork would argue that they are building nicely for the semi-final and have plenty momentum on their side, something they have often been lacking in recent years heading into the provincial title race.

Cork can’t afford to turn the ball over this weekend, they will have to stay close to their men and likely man mark one, if not both, of the Clifford brothers.

Cork need to start stronger, take their chances when they arrive and counter-attack with pace and numbers. They cannot go completely gung-ho but in some sense they may as well lose by 20 as by four.

Cork won’t have as much of the ball as the home side, they won’t have the numbers of supporters at the ground and they will find themselves in their own half more often than not, but if they sit and let Kerry players shoot from 40 to 50 metres out then the loss will be by a thousand cuts as Kerry will rack up a score from out far meaning Cork will need to advance more aggressively.

Both camps have taken to the sun in recent weeks for training camps, Kerry got the sun, Cork got the rain – hopefully that is not a sign of things to come for fans of Cork football.

On the personnel front, Cork will make changes from the side that beat Limerick however Matty Taylor, Ian Maguire, Sean Powter and Colm O’Callaghan look certain to play with Micheal Aodh Martin a dead cert to return in goal.

Sean Meehan, Brian O’Driscoll and Chris Óg Jones and team captain Brian Hurley will start with Cork’s main threat Conor Corbett likely to lead the line against a Kerry back line that will look to snuff out any potential threats from the Clyda Rovers man before they begin.

Both Cork’s Walshs, Tommy at the back and Paul in the half forward line, have shown well and will likely play a part. The tried and trusted Ruairi Deane may start to keep things solid, as may be the case for Steven Sherlock who has been on the fringes of late.

The fitness of Killian O’Hanlon will be awaited with Luke Fahy at wing back a safe bet on the opposite wing to Taylor – one of the best half back lines in Ireland.

Cork have a chance this weekend - they always do against Kerry - but everything really does need to go their way, almost perfectly so.

Nobody in red will be looking for an honourable performance, a spirited display or a moral victory. Cork will be going to Killarney to win – Kerry will surely be aware of that by now.