Hard tackles and savage work-rate, Cork had the snarling attitude to upset Kerry

Gavin White of Kerry is tackled by Ian Maguire of Cork, who set the tone early on with physicality. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
John O’Rourke sacrificed any real influence on the ball himself to make sure Gavin White couldn’t attack the spaces.

Sean Powter seemed to be on the scene at every ruck, every dropping ball, hunting for turnovers, trying to make things happen, kicked a score, somehow managed to get possession back and work a free against four Kerry tacklers for the equaliser.

One score in the first half had over 20 passes and almost two minutes of possession. The score for the equaliser in normal time had 39 passes. The winning score had that combination of composure to work the chance properly, as Tomás Ó Sé mentioned on The Sunday Game how Connolly was the guy to get on the ball, willingness to make the break from Meehan and then ability to finish the chance from Mark Keane, who maybe hasn’t gotten enough credit for the finish actually.
