Ian O'Riordanfinds selector John Corcoran quietly confident ahead of Sunday's decider
"We're going to beat Kerry next Sunday, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind about that." It's not often you hear statements to this effect ahead of a Munster football final, especially coming straight from the opposition. Yet such words are irrevocably linked with Cork selector John Corcoran.
Before anyone in Kerry starts to curse it's important to add they are in fact a year old, spoken by Corcoran - in a buoyant manner, nonetheless - in the aftermath of last year's 0-10 draw in Killarney. And of course his words rang true, with Cork fairly walloping Kerry in the replay, 1-12 to 0-9.
Corcoran is more cautious about making such statements this week, but there is still a hint of confidence in his voice ahead of what will be the 62nd Munster football final meeting between the two oldest of rivals.
"I did make that bullish remark alright last year," he says, "and even though I was proven right, in hindsight maybe that inspired Kerry later on in the year. But still we're as confident again as we can be going in against Kerry. We'll have to be at our very best, we know that, but we're looking forward to it.
"It's the first time that the All-Ireland champions have met the Munster champions in a Munster final, so that's something else unique about it, and probably adds an extra bit of spice."
While their rivalry remains unbounded, there are subtle changes within it. When the sides later met in the All-Ireland semi-final, Kerry had found a fresh force in the form of full forward Kieran Donaghy, while Cork had lost their All Star full back Graham Canty. This Sunday, Canty gets his chance to put the shackles on Donaghy, while Cork also do a first full test run on their Donaghy-esque full forward Michael Cussen.
Cork supporters will have noted that Donaghy looked somewhat off his best when Kerry eased past Waterford a month ago, although Corcoran is wary of the dangers in underestimating his likely role.
"Well you couldn't judge him on that," he says. "He was just coming back from injury and suspension, and I mean it was only last July that he really found his feet, so we can't be thinking that way about Kieran Donaghy on Sunday."
As for Cussen - who certainly looked threatening in Cork's two championship games so far - Sunday's game in Killarney should prove a more telling baptism: "In fairness the real test will be on Sunday," says Corcoran. "I mean our two games against Limerick and Tipperary were quite a limited test, and I think the gap has opened up again between Kerry and Cork and the rest of the counties.
"And I think both of us are coming into form now, at the right time. One of the differences as well from last year is that the winning of the Munster title means that bit more with the way the qualifiers are this year. There are a lot of very good teams out there, like Armagh, Donegal, and Mayo, so you don't want to be going up against them."
Cork have made one alteration from their semi-final win over Tipperary, giving under-21 standout Fintan Gould the starting place at right half forward in place of Conor McCarthy, a switch actually made at half-time in the 14-point win over Tipperary back on June 3rd. Goalkeeper Alan Quirke is still recovering from a shoulder injury, which means Paddy O'Shea takes over - one of just two Munster final debutants for the reigning champions.
"Paddy O'Shea kept a clean sheet for us the last two days," says Corcoran, "and did well for us during the league, so we're not too worried about that. And everyone bar himself and Cussen have played before in the Munster final."
Cork have been far from idle during the four weeks since their semi-final, taking in a six-day training spell at the Spanish resort of La Manga from June 11th to 17th - a trip Corcoran says was put to very good use: "The way it fell for us this year we had the month's break . . . We got a lot of work done, the weather was perfect, but one of the big advantages is that all the players are together, and away from club activity which always carries an injury risk."
All things considered it seems Cork will be at full mental and physical strength on Sunday - and they'll need to be to beat Kerry.
CORK (SF v Kerry): P O'Shea; M Shields, G Canty, K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Spillane, A Lynch; D Kavanagh, N Murphy; F Gould, P O'Neill, K McMahon; J Masters, M Cussen, D O'Connor.
