Cork U20 football boss Ray O'Mahony: We'll respect Kerry but won't fear them

The Cork U20 footballers will be looking to make it two wins from the first two games in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster Championship when they face Kerry this evening.

Austin Stack Park in Tralee is the venue with a 7.30pm start time and it will be live on TG4.

The Rebels face the Kingdom in the second round-robin game of Phase 2 with both teams coming off the back of opening round victories last Tuesday. Cork beat Clare in Quilty on a scoreline of 3-16 to 1-13 while Kerry were too strong for Tipperary in New Inn as it finished 2-19 to 1-10.

The Leesiders will be pleased with how the win over the Banner County panned out last week. It wasn’t a perfect performance, especially at times in the opening 30 minutes, but to record a nine-point win away from home in tough weather conditions, it’s a box ticked.

Reflecting on the success in West Clare, a pleased Cork manager Ray O’Mahony was naturally satisfied.

“It was a long journey up,” the Éire Óg clubman said to The Echo.

“You are always nervous with the first outing. We have a very young squad with 17-, 18- and 19-year-olds on the panel. We maybe showed that in the first 15 minutes. We had a strong wind in the first half and we probably didn’t capitalise on it.

“To be fair, Clare did play well at times and had players that were attacking us. We left gaps for them to run through. We were up five points at half-time, which wasn’t much with the wind that was there. The first 10 minutes of the second half gave us the platform to kick on. 

We adapted to their kick-outs and got a lot of scores out of it. We played much better in the second half.

“Look, overall, we are happy. It was an impressive display I thought all things considered. Our objective was to come up and get the win. Job done. Delighted for the bunch. We have achieved nothing yet though.” 

The first real indicator as to where exactly this Cork team are at will come this evening. The sight of the Kerry jersey gave the Rebels stage fright last year with two below-par displays against the old rivals. 

Tomás Ó Sé’s outfit won fairly comfortably in the round-robin meeting at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh by four points before prevailing by six points in the provincial decider at Austin Stack Park.

“Kerry are one of the favourites for the All-Ireland,” O’Mahony says.

RESPECT

“They have had a really good run in their challenge matches this year. I think they have won them all and played some northern teams. They have been tested and overcame Tipperary in the opening round. 

"We will respect Kerry but won’t fear them. All of our players have had some success in some shape or form playing against the green and gold. We will embrace the game.

“Whoever wins will be guaranteed a place in the Munster final, that’s the prize and it will give other players game time in the third round.

“The players referenced the final defeat to Kerry last season after the win over Clare. 

We went hiding down in Tralee last year, no point in saying otherwise. 

"We want to put in a big performance this time around.”