Kerry boss Jack O'Connor expects another 'ferocious battle' with Cork

It only feels like yesterday that Cork and Kerry met in that epic Munster SFC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

No one on Leeside needs to be reminded how the game panned out. The Kingdom won after extra time, 3-21 to 1-25, in what was a game for the ages last month.

The old rivals meet this Saturday at 4.45pm, which will be six weeks on from the previous encounter. The Páirc is the venue once again, but a different competition.

This time it’s the All-Ireland series. The second game for both in Group 2 with both coming off contrasting results from the opening round games. Cork losing to Meath away last Saturday while Kerry hammered Roscommon at home the week before.

The Kingdom boss Jack O’Connor was full of praise for the Rebels after his side’s two-point win against them last month and his tune hasn’t changed.

“Look, we know what we’re going to get from Cork,” the experienced Kerry manager says.

“We got it a few weeks ago. Another massive, ferocious battle is ahead. At least everyone knows now that we will have a battle down in Cork.

“Let’s see who will improve the most from the last game, which I must say I thoroughly enjoyed. I am hoping a good Kerry crowd will travel up again because those who went last time certainly got value for their twenty quid, maybe the best few bob that they will spend this year.” 

Kerry are set to be boosted by the return of key forward Paudie Clifford. He was given a straight red card in the win over Cork back in April, which meant he missed the Munster final victory over Clare.

He sat out the 3-18 to 0-17 win over Roscommon last Saturday week due to injury.

“He’s nearly right but is not 100 percent,” the Kingdom boss said.

“He should be in the frame for the Cork game. He’s not too bad. He just has had a muscle injury there for a while and he’s nearly right.” 

Joe O’Connor is arguably Kerry’s most important player right now. The Austin Stacks powerhouse has been on top of his game this year. His thunderbolt of a goal proved to be the winner five minutes from the end of extra time against Cork.

“We saw how good Cork are in the meeting last month. We knew that day that it would be a tight game. We weren’t going in thinking that we were going to blow them away.

“We know that it’s going to be a serious battle again. Cork are probably an underrated team. We are ready for another huge battle.” the Tralee native said.