On Saturday in Pairc Ui Rinn, about 4,000 brave souls turned out to see neighbouring teams on the same field but in different galaxies. Cork could not have been more flat had this game been fixed for the morning after the All-Ireland final, while Kerry smoothly fired the sort of long-range points their supporters were begging for in last summer's Munster final.
Cork, playing into a powerful wind in the first half, could only muster one attempt at an attack during that 35 minutes, a searing Philip Clifford run which he himself converted from 21 yards.
Kerry employed Seamus Moynihan at midfield and he clearly thrived on the freedom, feeding off Donal Daly and ambling through Cork with typical directness to finish with four points.
Mike Frank Russell was his usual imaginative self in the corner and John Crowley went into overdrive at the close of the half, blasting over two consecutive snow-capped kicks to warm Kerry hearts. O Se, Tom O'Sullivan and Finuge debutant player Enda Galvin performed with glowing composure.
Larry Tompkins took advantage of the extended substitutions in an attempt to kick-start his team, but it wasn't to be. There was nothing terminal in the symptoms - Mark O'Connor made an accomplished return at wing back and Jeremy Canty looks to have the bulk and wherewithal to trouble defenders next spring - but they do look like a squad who need rest.
Cork appeared to crumble relatively early in the first half when Moynihan bulldozed through Fachtna Collins to grab possession, left the full forward winded, and then breezily sauntered forward to lay off a pass for Liam Hassett to point. Up 0-4 to 0-1 after 14 minutes, they cantered away after that and retired at half-time with a 0-12 to 0-1 lead.
Kerry shredded the defence again at the restart, with Denis O'Dwyer pointing a neat crossfield movement. Thereafter, Cork slowly roused themselves with the help of the wind, Clifford drilling over a 45 after 55 minutes to leave matters at 0-6 to 0-14.
Comeback talk was scarce though and rightly so. Aodhan McGearailt entered the fray to raise Kerry's game again. Twice Kerry waltzed through Cork's back lines only to turn down goal chances, the brightest opportunity falling to Pa O'Sullivan who was content to palm a point.
Moynihan, appropriately, cut loose to lob the game's final score.
CORK: K O'Dwyer; R McCarthy, S O hAilpin, M O'Donovan; G Canty, O Sexton, M O'Connor; N Murphy, M O'Sullivan; B Walsh, P O'Mahony (0-2, frees), D Davis; P Clifford (0-2, free, 45), F Collins (0-1), F Murray. Subs: J Canty for D Davis (16 mins), C Crowley for B Walsh (34 mins), M O'Sullivan for C Crowley (42 mins), D Creadon for J Canty (53 mins),
KERRY: D O'Keefe; M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan, M Hassett; E Galvin, E Fitzmaurice, T O Se (01); D Daly, S Moynihan (0-4); D O'Dwyer (0-1), N Kennelly (0-4, 2 frees), J McGlynn; MF Russell (0-4, 2 45s, free), L Hassett (0-1), J Crowley (0- 2). Subs: A McGearalit for N Keannelly (46 mins), P O'Sullivan (0-2) for D O'Dwyer (61 mins), K Dillon for D Daly (62 mins), S O'Sullivan for MF Russell (65 mins).
Referee: B White (Wexford).
