Kingdom's class will conquer
Kerry's top scorer Colm Cooper signs autographs for fans in Killarney ahead of tomorrow's All-Ireland final.
HISTORY shows that if draws, plus an abandonment and a walkover from the 1890s, are removed from their 118-year championship rivalry Kerry have beaten Cork in seven out of every ten clashes.
It hasn't followed any distinct pattern -- for instance Kerry won 16-0 between 1909 and 1942 and Cork won seven of nine in the 1987-95 period - but overall the balance tilts very much the Kingdom's way. It's a dominance which they treasure and which Cork envy, yet all will change if Kerry lose tomorrow's historic first ever All-Ireland final war against Rebel forces.
This is different to anything ever previously experienced by Cork and Kerry teams in their 96 championship meetings, all of which were for Munster or, since 2002, All-Ireland semi-final prizes. Tomorrow, as the sides line up to meet President Mary McAleese, they will be reminded of the uniqueness of the occasion by the glistening shimmer of the Sam Maguire Cup on the Hogan Stand.
There's no way of knowing how either team will react to the challenge of facing the most important championship game ever between the counties. A Cork win would undo most of the damage inflicted on them by Kerry for over a century; a Kerry defeat would leave the players with a sense that they had betrayed the county's heritage.
That's quite a burden but nobody shoulders heavy loads better than Kerry which is why they are confidently tipped to land a 35th All-Ireland title and become the first county since Cork in 1990 to win the two-in-a-row. They will have to be at their sharpest to achieve that as Cork's progress has been under-stated but systematic even there have been justifiable question marks against the quality of the opposition they encountered since losing to Kerry by two points in the Munster final.
Overvalued
Louth are improving but remain in mid-range; Sligo were representing the worst Connacht championship for well over a decade and Meath were shown to be overvalued after their wins over switched-off Galway and injury-stricken Tyrone. Still, Cork dealt efficiently with the challenges as they arose and can also look back on the Munster final as a finely-balanced game decided by a single score. However, Cork's form against Kerry in three Croke Park clashes since 2002 has to be of concern. They closest they came was in last year's semi-final and even then they were six points adrift.
If Cork are to win tomorrow, they need to assert some key areas of dominance. Graham Canty has to stitch the full-back line tighter than they have ever been; the half-backs must get close enough to Declan O'Sullivan to prevent his runs widening the gaps for Colm Cooper to exploit; midfielder Nicholas Murphy needs to assert himself against Darragh O Se and the half forward will be required to run forcefully at their markers in the hope of making the first break.
It's quite a combination of difficult tasks, all of which must be completed if Cork are to give themselves a real chance. Kerry have to reach certain targets too to counteract Cork whose defence has been extremely tight. However, the absence of Anthony Lynch -- assuming of course that he doesn't start -- is a loss, not just in terms of marking duties but also as an experienced, intelligent leader in what will be a frantically-fought contest. Even without Lynch, this is the best defence Kerry have encountered so far. Cork midfielders, Murphy and Derek Kavanagh are formidable too, while Pearse O'Neill adds real power to the attack.
Tactical battle
Michael Cussen had a good day against Kerry as an orthodox full-forward in the Munster final but contributed even more as a ball-handling runner, playing just off midfield, against Meath. He may start close in, just as Kieran Donaghy will probably stay near the Cork goal early on but both full-forwards will be called outfield if midfield becomes a problem. It's certain to be a highly tactical battle, but there will also be a strong physical dimension which will require referee, David Coldrick to be assertive right from the start.
The prize has never been greater in Cork-Kerry battles and, in a situation like that, you look for players who can make a significant difference amid the tensions and the pressures. Led by the 'Gooch' himself, a proven match-winner in any company, Kerry look to have more of them than Cork
Cooper's clash can emerge as the tie-breaker in an expected 2-4 point win for Kerry.
