Ray Keane praises resolve as Cork U20s edge Kerry and take a real step forward

Cork manager Ray Keane said his side “just got over the line” but fully earned the right to enjoy a rare victory over Kerry after the Rebels edged a tense Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 2 clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Thursday evening.

The 0-10 to 0-9 win ended a six-game losing run to the Kingdom at this grade and marked Cork’s first victory over their neighbours since 2021 at this level.

It's also a first victory for a Cork football team over Kerry in the championship since winning a Munster minor quarter-final in 2023.

In front of a small crowd, those inside the stadium made their voices heard at the final whistle, chanting “Rebels, Rebels, Rebels” as the Cork players headed down the tunnel.

This was a step in the right direction. After a draw away to Clare on the opening day, this was a marked improvement in every department.

Keane, typically measured in both victory and defeat, refused to dress the result up as anything more than what it was: a narrow win and hard won.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say it was a big win — it was a win,” the Éire Óg clubman said post-match. 

“Delighted to get over the line. Kerry left a lot after them, to be fair. Beyond all illusions, we probably just got over the line — that’s what we did. 

“Coming out of Quilty last week, we were just a bit frustrated really. I said to you about a lack of rhythm. To be fair to them, we worked hard this evening — worked extremely hard. If you work hard, anything is possible after that.

“Coaches can build performance, but I just want the lads to work. If you work, the performance will happen. With this group, there’s enough football in them to get enough out of them then if they can get that going.” 

Cork’s defensive structure was disciplined, their tackling honest, and their willingness to stay in the fight — especially during a strange, low-scoring first 30 minutes that ended 0-3 apiece — impressed their manager.

“You take the first eight minutes — Billy Curtin, our goalkeeper, was the only Cork man to touch the ball and that was kicking it out,” Keane said. 

“It tells you an awful lot about the new rules and the unfairness of them at times. If you pin a team in, the momentum is very hard to swing. But we got our hands on the ball, went up the field, got a score, and gained back a bit of momentum.” 

The biggest concern of the evening came after 21 minutes when Dara Sheedy — one of Cork’s most influential forwards and a key senior player— was forced off. Keane was cautious in his assessment.

“He has a bit of a knock. We’ll see where it goes. To be fair to the physios, you’re talking about the best of the best from the physio department. If he’s available for our next game, we’ll see and take it from there.

“Dara’s only one of 35 or 36 players, give or take, and he’d tell you that himself. This is all about the collective one way or the other.” 

That collective spirit was evident in the second half as Cork’s bench and supporting cast stepped up in Sheedy’s absence. There wasn’t one particular player driving it on — and that, from a Cork point of view, was the most pleasing aspect.

“A lot of them would have been very frustrated with themselves last Thursday against Clare,” Keane said. 

“But if you put the head down and grind away, anything is possible. The great thing about sport is there’s always tomorrow.

“A lot of this is about survival. But you just have to be happy with the win.” 

Asked whether beating Kerry would give his players belief, Keane broadened the point.

“Kerry or Dublin or Clare or Waterford — regardless of who it is, there should be no reason why they shouldn’t have belief. They’re at this level for a reason. They’re playing the sport they’ve loved all their lives.

“Some of them — like Cathal McCarthy — comes up an hour and a half from West Cork for training, and he goes farming before he comes up. This is the stuff people don’t see.

“You’re putting all that effort and work in — what are you doing? You want to perform and if you perform, results will happen.” 

The Rebels will face Waterford next Wednesday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7pm), where a positive result will send them into the Munster final. It’s effectively winner-takes-all.