Cork were awesome in 1995 win over Kerry in Killarney

IT would be advisable to rewatch the Munster senior football final from 1995 to get you into the mood for the weekend.

Cork travelled over the county bounds to take on rivals Kerry and entered the bear pit that was Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney. Every vantage point was taken. The atmosphere was absolutely amazing and would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. 

Given the week that’s in it considering the Rebels are heading down to Killarney on Saturday for the Munster semi-final (4pm), it felt a good time to watch the match in full. 

It's hard to believe Cork haven’t won down there since. The Leesiders were the top dogs back in 1995, winning six Munster titles in nine years to 1995. It has been six in 29 years since. That win in 1995 was Cork’s third successive championship victory against Kerry, while it was also their seventh championship win over their neighbours in just nine seasons.

Cork have failed to win any of the last 14 championship games against Kerry in Fitzgerald Stadium. The Rebels have drawn five and lost nine. The last visit to the ground for a championship fixture was in 2021 when the Leesiders lost by 22 points as it finished up 4-22 to 1-9. The biggest ever defeat dished out by Kerry to Cork in championship football.

From watching the full 70 plus minutes from the victory in 1995, you could see the confidence and belief that the team had. It did help that they did have a good record prior to going down there, but that’s key, having that belief that you can go down there and win.

Niall Cahalane was simply awesome in the encounter and led by example at corner-back. He was so good John Horgan gave him a 9 in the player ratings in the Monday’s Echo. “Jack Charlton had Mick McCarthy as his captain fantastic. Niall Cahalane is ours.” said John.

Wing-back Ciarán O’Sullivan was another standout, kicked two great points and the Urhan club man was well supported by Steven O’Brien and Brian Corcoran in that line of defence. Midfielder Liam Honohan was RTÉ’s player of the match and it was hard to disagree with it. The forwards were on song for Billy Morgan’s team with the likes of Don Davis, Podsie O’Mahony and Colin Corkery impressing.

Corkery actually ended up with seven points including one massive kick from way out on the sideline. Cork won 0-15 to 1-9 and headed to an All-Ireland semi-final where they fell short against Dublin.

As Larry Tompkins said to this scribe in an interview that was in Monday’s Echo of this week, “Kerry get hurt when they lose in Killarney."

It’s time the 29-year wait for a win down there comes to an end at the weekend. This current crop have their own leaders in the likes of Brian Hurley, Ian Maguire and Matty Taylor. John Cleary’s side have their own silent ones too and the dynamism and pace of Conor Corbett, Seán Powter and Chris Óg Jones.