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Gavin O’Connor looks at the Kerry v Cork, Allianz National League Division 1 (Round 7) fixture at Austin Stack Park on Sunday at 2pm…
Kieran Donaghy, closes down Cork’s Stephen O’Donoghue in last year’s league encounter at Pairc Ui Rinn. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
IS it just me or has this been one of the most enjoyable instalments of Allianz National League football we’ve seen in a while?
With all four Division 1 games throwing in at 2pm, there’s a ‘Super Sunday’ feel to these final round of league fixtures.
Counties will fight it out at both ends of the table with a number of outcomes possible.
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A bit of gloss has been slapped on the campaign following Kerry’s four-in-a-row wins which have virtually guaranteed a first league semi-final appearance since 2012.
The permutations to not make the semi-finals are unlikely. First, Donegal must beat Monaghan and Cork have to sink Kerry by more than 13 points – a result that doesn’t bear thinking about.
Tommy Walsh rises high against Cork in the league encounter last year in Pairc Ui Rinn. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
It makes you wonder though if the league was incorporated into the championship and these were All-Ireland series places up for grabs, what an exciting day we would have?
Imagine live footage from around the grounds interspersed, with every score potentially making or breaking a number of counties’ year – it would be incredible drama.
But I digress. After Cork were embarrassed by Roscommon (3-10 – 4-25) it looked like their season was in tatters before it ever got going.
But Peader Healy has managed to stabilise a sinking ship and now the Rebels are in with a decent shout of heading to Croke Park for the semi-finals.
Cork’s three wins have come against Mayo (1-18 to 0-12), Monaghan (1-20 to 1-13) and Down (0-12 to 0-7) last weekend. Of those sides, Down are already relegated and one of the other two are for the chop this Sunday.
Despite those triumphs, Cork still boast the worst defensive record in the Division. In five games they have shipped a combined (112) points. To put that into perspective an abject Down side from the start have conceded 12 less points.
Top of the table Dublin have conceded (70) and Kerry are the next best having left (77) points through.
Unlike previous weeks, there are no Kerry players returning from injury. James O’Donoghue, Anthony Maher and Paul Geaney remain sidelined, but are expected to be inching towards a return to the fray in the coming weeks.
A big crowd can be expected in Austin Stack Park on Sunday for a match that will mean a great deal to both sides before they inevitability meet again in the summer.
Cork will want to destroy any thoughts that they are a fading force in football and Kerry need not look any further than putting right that 10 point loss to the Rebels at ASP in 2014.
The stage is set for drama and subtext with a Cork side out to prove a point. But you just feel Kerry, led by a resurgent Colm Cooper in attack will find the holes to exploit a leaky Cork defence.
It should be a cracker of a weekend whatever the result. If only we could have the ‘Super Sunday’ style switching of the codes for the day.
Verdict – Kerry by 5
