.
Gavin O’Connor previews the Kerry v Cork EirGrid U21 Munster Football Final, Austin Stack Park, Thursday 7:30pm (live on Radio Kerry)
Matthew Flaherty of Kerry in action in last years Munster U21 semi-final between Cork and Kerry. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
THE most successful batch of young footballers to come out of Kerry in a generation have their sights set on conquering another grade.
Twelve of the side that will face Cork this Thursday evening have have All-Ireland minor medals in their back pockets.
Na Gaeil man Andrew Barry and Mark O’Connor are in an elite group of two in the side who won back to back minor crowns.
Continued below…
.
The pedigree is there and with that comes expectation. The route to the final has not exactly been a smooth one.
In the opening round against Tipperary before half-time, Jack O’Connor’s side were reduced to 14 making it a hard old slog to nab a one point win (0-11 to 1-7).
Limerick (1-14 to 2-8) had an ambush set for the semi-final and almost sprang what would have been the upset of the competition.
Against Limerick – with the two goals Kerry conceded – they were exposed at the back by Limerick, who exploited space left in behind by Kerry’s wing backs surging forward.
Jack O’Connor made a few switches and further crisis was averted. But you get the sense that despite being with this group of footballers from minor to U21, they are still giving Jack something to think about.
If Kerry took the rocky road, Cork grabbed the Orient Express. The Rebels have sauntered their way to the final dispatching Clare (0-23 to 0-8) and then Waterford (3-18 to 0-2).
Recent history between the pair makes bleak reading for Kerry. For the last five consecutive years, Cork have knocked Kerry out of the U21 championship.
Last year it was Cork who sealed Darragh O Se’s faith as manager when they dumped The Kingdom out in Pairc Ui Rinn (1-12 to 1-9) at the semi-final stage.
Six players who played in that defeat will line out on Thursday – Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Matthew Flaherty, Barry O’Sullivan, Micheál Burns, Dara Roche and Jack Savage.
On the night, Kerry were flattered by the three point loss. Cork, looking a much more developed side, muscled Kerry out of any hope of turning the tide of recent record.
Another year down the line, the bulk of this Kerry team is leaner and meaner so should hopefully have no issues there this year.
The tests against Tipp and Limerick will also stand to them. Jack learned a few things whereas Cork would have learned precious little during the walkovers they enjoyed.
Because of the unpredictability of the grade there has to be a degree of trepidation but you would have to fancy Kerry’s golden generation of minors to graduate with honours once more.
Verdict – Kerry by 3
