Patrick Kelly: Cork impress, but fade in the Killarney heat

Those of us with Blue Terrace tickets were instructed to join the queue for the Red Terrace. Thousands queued for eight turnstiles for up to half an hour as throw in fast approached. An organisational mess and a health and safety risk.

Cork raced out of the blocks and played with a zest and flair that reaped early rewards. The variety of Cork’s play was impressive. 

They ran at pace and carved Kerry open with a goal chance before Paul Walsh finished off a brilliant team move that started with a short kickout from Chris Kelly. Cork played expansive football. They kicked down the channels and over the top. They risked passes I would have said they have frequently turned down.

The opening 20 minutes was Cork matching a top tier team with a structured, yet expressive, style. They attempted to press Kerry’s kickouts with little joy but still maintained a high enough press which slowed Kerry down. 

Their plus one varied depending on where Kerry attacked from. Cork defended tenaciously and forced plenty of energy boosting turnovers. Cork had registered 1-6 and led by four points when they seemed to change tactics. 

Sean Powter dropped back to sit as a full-time sweeper from around the 20-minute mark and it did effect Cork’s attacking threat. They conceded almost every kickout from then on and their play began to tighten up, attacks slowed and became more predictable.

The logic was understandable. Kerry were doing what they do better than any other team. Their 30-40m kick pass down the wing to a lateral runner who is then within a handpass of feeding David Clifford close to goal was causing dangerous situations. 

Powter’s repositioning was an attempt to limit that danger. Despite scoring three points from play, David Clifford had another mixed afternoon against Cork. 

Daniel O’Mahony deserves massive credit for his tenacity but Clifford’s ball handling and basics were erratic all day by his exceptional standards. Kerry relied on Sean O’Shea for a spark in that first half as Cork kept their noses in front at half time.

A major factor in Cork’s ability to keep Kerry at bay was the variety from their own kickout. 

Chris Kelly deserves enormous kudos for his calmness and bravery throughout the game. Kerry pressed aggressively on most kickouts but Cork mixed it up enough to ensure they didn’t become penned in. 

Kelly’s ability to stand close to the tee and wait for a short option was a big improvement on their league and opening championship game against Limerick. Cork did lose seven of 14 long kickouts but vitally won all 12 short kickouts which gave them a chance to breathe.

Cork’s major concern following their exit in Munster will be how their challenge faded in the baking heat. The fact that following Brian Hurley’s point to push Cork to 1-6 after 19 minutes Cork managed just six points in the remaining 50-plus minutes tell its own tale. Cork’s shooting accuracy of 57% versus Kerry’s 60% highlights that Cork efficiency wasn’t a major issue. 

Instead, it was the lack of scoring opportunities created that was their downfall. Cork only created 14 scoring chances from play as opposed to Kerry’s more economical use of possession in creating 23 scoring chances. Cork’s lack of a serious press on opposition kickouts continues to contribute to allowing teams dominate possession.

Only Brian Hurley in the Cork forward line will look back with any satisfaction on their performance. 

Hurley remains Cork’s most dangerous forward but Cork need Conor Corbett and Chris Óg Jones to reach another level if they are to continue closing the gap to the top table. Both are well capable and have shown throughout the league that they can contribute handsomely from play. 

Saturday wasn’t their day and Cork badly needed something from somewhere else. 

It didn’t come from the half back or midfield runners and Cork became predictable. The trio of attackers Ruairí Deane, Stephen Sherlock and Mark Cronin who were summoned from the bench weren’t able to impact the game in any meaningful way and the game petered out to a deserved Kerry victory. 

Kerry found their spark in the form of Tom O’Sullivan and Graham O’Sullivan who showed the leadership to clip over vital scores. They didn’t look like All-Ireland contenders, but they don’t need to in April.

Attention for Cork will now turn towards the Sam Maguire group stages with a four- or five-week gap to ramp up the fitness and intensity levels. 

After last year’s positive summer showing, including victories against Louth, Mayo and Roscommon, Cork will face the challenges that await with a fair degree of positivity. 

The team and squad are experienced and settled, their game plan is well embedded and there is no doubt that they are comfortable amongst the group of nine or ten teams just below the top three. It is a huge twelve months ahead for Cork football. 

Next year’s league offers a major chance of promotion and this year’s championship is as open as it has been.