Three reasons Kerry beat Cork in Killarney

Rebels started brilliantly but couldn't turn their half-time lead into a Munster semi-final victory
Three reasons Kerry beat Cork in Killarney

Mattie Taylor battling hard against Kerry. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

Quick start

Cork got off to a great start and before Kerry knew what hit them the Rebels were 1-1 no score up and it could have been more. It was just what was needed if they were to have any chance of coming away with a win and at that point John Cleary would have been happy with his side.

But about 25 minutes in Cork seemed to slow down a little and let Kerry back into the game.

This allowed the Kingdom to finish the half strongly and from being four points down they hit three in a row to go in only one behind,

That gave them the boost that they needed at that stage as Cork were by far playing the better football to that point.

Experience

Kerry are an experienced side and it was one of the points that their manager Jack O’Connor made afterwards. He said at half time he told the players that they had been in this position before and were well experienced and knew how to turn it around.

That they did in the second half as they outscored Cork by nine points to five and that was the difference between the sides in the end.

Chances

Cork missed several chances, particularly in the first half when they were on top, and you can’t afford to do that against a side like Kerry. Had they gone in 4-5 points to the good, which was possible had they take those chances, then we could easily have had a different result.

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