Kerry will be keen to shake off the cobwebs

Cork v Kerry Of the three finals tomorrow the biggest possibility of an upset comes here because no matter who wins Connacht…

Cork v Kerry
Of the three finals tomorrow the biggest possibility of an upset comes here because no matter who wins Connacht or Ulster it's not going to be an earth-shattering result.

There isn't a huge difference between the teams competing in Pearse Stadium and Croke Park but the battle down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh has a more lopsided appearance.

At the start of this season a large gulf existed between All-Ireland champions Kerry and the rest of the country, particularly their old rivals Cork, who did nothing of note last year, when Fermanagh ended their season prematurely.

That result is not as bad as initially feared, given what Fermanagh went on to achieve.

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Kerry did not come out of the winter as the well-oiled machine that was expected to dismantle Limerick.

Instead, Colm Cooper saved them as Limerick did everything right except translate possession into scores. Only that Cooper was in such flying form it could have gone horribly wrong for manager Jack O'Connor.

Kerry will be worried about having to travel over to Cork. Manager Billy Morgan is going in the right direction with this group and they are a far better team than last year. That is not saying much but Morgan has discovered some very good young forwards like James Masters, John Hayes and Fintan Gould.

At centre forward, Conor McCarthy is another name for the future. If they can bring their scoring ability and natural talent up to the next level there is a basis for an upset.

Graham Canty goes back to full back after being troubled by injury in recent times. He is an excellent player, potentially the best defender in the country.

The problem Cork have had with Canty in the past is they wanted to play him everywhere, maybe needed to play him everywhere. It's interesting to see him moving back from midfield in a tactical switch that may upset the deadly Kerry attack.

Niall Geary is another sticky player and he will probably be picking up the Gooch Cooper. Although Cooper alone will not be enough to see Kerry progress to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Cork have a nice blend but O'Connor has been able to bring back Séamus Moynihan. Eamon Fitzmaurice can feel unlucky to miss out here. The fact a player of his ability and current form cannot hold down a starting position speaks volumes for the challenge facing Cork.

An upset is possible but I can't see it materialising. Declan O'Sullivan is more suited to centre forward than around the square, while Darragh Ó Cinnéide's introduction the last day at full forward gave the attack more focus. It looks a more balanced forward line this time.

There is more strength through their side. They are a more proven outfit. So, while Cork are coming again, it must be Kerry. Catching them cold isn't a likely scenario either, as that was an opportunity Limerick failed to take.

Also, nothing raises the Kerry game like the challenge of neighbours Cork. One presumes they will be on a much higher alert than in the Limerick game and will also be keen to remove the cobwebs and start playing like we all know they can. That motivation should see them through.