Former Kerry star Colm Cooper: I've been confused watching Cork over the last few years 

Former Kerry star Colm Cooper believes the rivalry is still strong between old foes Kerry and Cork.

The Kingdom have won the last 13 championship meetings with the Rebels across senior, U20 and minor. They have had a vice-like grip on this rivalry for some time now.

You have to go back to May 2023 for the last time Cork beat their near neighbours and that was in the Munster MFC quarter-final, a game with very little importance given both were going through to the last four anyway. 

"The rivalry is still there,” one of the greatest footballers of all time says to The Echo.

“Kerry have had the upper hand probably for the last while. Cork have come close though in recent years especially at senior level.

“There have been some very close games. I was at the Munster semi-final last season when Cork could have turned over Kerry. That could have gone either way.

“A couple of years ago in Killarney as well, Cork were very much in control for a lot of that game. They're not that far off the mark.

“The rivalry between Kerry and Cork will always remain. Kerry are in a position at the moment where we have the upper hand, but that can change at any point.

“It’s good for the Munster Championship and for this part of the world when Kerry and Cork are competing. I would say the championship is a better place when Cork are strong and everybody will say that.” 

With how the Munster SFC draw for 2026 has fallen, it’s likely that Kerry will welcome Cork to Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney for the final.

It would be a shock if that didn’t happen.

“The other counties will have something to say about that, but it’s shaping up that way,” the former sharpshooter said.

“I grew up in Killarney going to Munster finals with Kerry taking on Cork with 44,000 people inside in Fitzgerald Stadium. It has been a long time since we’ve had that.

“I’ve played in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in front of 50,000 for Munster finals. It is possible again.

“I don’t think we’re as far away from it as people think. Kerry are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, but Cork just may need to get over the line against Kerry to give them the confidence.” 

Cooper admits he is ‘confused’ with Cork at the moment.

“Look, I must say that I’ve been confused watching Cork at times over the last few years. I felt that they really turned the corner and John Cleary was doing a really good job and all of a sudden they can have a really bad performance or they can just get caught after a couple of good performances.

“I think the football is in them. Maybe not to win an All-Ireland right now, but to get back to Division 1. I think that should be the main aim for Cork.

“If you’re playing in Division 1, you’re playing at a really high-standard and I think that can only improve you.

“They’re well able for that level. It’s just to get that consistency and I think you create that consistency from playing Division 1 teams on a more regular basis.

“It will be interesting to see what 2026 brings for Cork.”

The old rivals, Kerry and Cork, meet tomorrow in the McGrath Cup final in Killarney with throw-in at 1.30pm.