Larry Tompkins: Cork must seize their chance in Killarney

Cork football great Larry Tompkins is a confident figure ahead of this weekend. 

As the Rebels head for Killarney on Sunday for the Munster SFC final against Kerry (1.45pm), Tompkins believes this Cork team is better placed than any in recent memory to finally end a wait that stretches all the way back to 1995 — the last time Cork won a championship match in Fitzgerald Stadium, with Tompkins himself at the heart of it.

Two years ago, Cork pushed Kerry to the brink in a Munster semi-final over county bounds, and again last year on Leeside.

Now, he sees a team that has grown in confidence, hardened by a strong league campaign that delivered promotion to Division 1, and no longer satisfied with honourable defeats.

“Cork are in a much better position to face Kerry than the last time they went down there in championship in 2024,” Tompkins says.

“In saying that, they could have been well up at half-time that day. They had numerous chances. But two years on, they’re a better team, more experienced. They’ve come through a very competitive league, they’re coming in with confidence and wins behind them. I could see them getting over the line here.

“The players won’t be settling for another boost-your-performance-and-narrow-defeat job. They’ll want to turn Kerry over this time.” 

Tompkins knows the significance of winning in Killarney. Cork’s breakthrough victory in 1987, he says, was the spark that lit the county’s golden run through the late ’80s and early ’90s.

“It was a long time since Cork won there back then too,” he said. 

“But once we did in 1987, that was the start of a run. We got great confidence from winning in Killarney. It’s a hard place to win, everyone knows that. That’s why this is a huge opportunity — for the team’s development and for breaking that hoodoo that’s there in Killarney.

“I just look at this Cork team now and it’s very settled. You could nearly name their team for Sunday now. You look at the full-back line — settled. Half-back line the same. Midfield strong. Up front, they have threats.

“Tommy Walsh has been very consistent in defence. A great leader. He has stepped up, excelled, and really driven it on. Great young fella with a great attitude.

“Colm O’Callaghan in midfield has been enormous. A scoring machine. A few years ago that wasn’t there, but now you’re expecting him to kick two or three points a game. He’s that influential.

“Up front, Cork have so many threats. Chris Óg Jones was unlucky at times with goal chances, but now he’s getting them. If Cork get a goal or two, they could well win on Sunday.” 

But the biggest addition, Tompkins says, is the return of Steven Sherlock, whose accuracy has transformed Cork’s attacking threat. He took a break from inter-county football for the 2025 season.

“When I heard Steven Sherlock was back, I said that’s massive. He’s probably the best kicker in the country. Incredible kicker. Every day he can kick 15 or 16 points. In the modern game, you have to have a scorer like that. He has been the big difference.

“He’s up there with David Clifford in my view.” 

Cork have been close to Kerry repeatedly in recent years, but Tompkins is clear about what must change if they are to finally finish the job.

“You have to stay in the game as long as possible and take your opportunities. The last couple of games against Kerry, maybe they sat back, maybe Cork held possession a bit too much. But they need to drag Kerry’s defenders around, create space, and then pick them off.

“When you get opportunities, you have to take them. Kerry won’t miss much at the other end. So Cork need to be calm and focused. Don’t do anything stupid. Play like you’re playing for your club — just focus on your own game.

“This is a big opportunity, especially with Kerry’s injury problems. Some people are saying Kerry might not even be at full strength. But Cork shouldn’t get carried away with the opposition. Don’t be mentioning Kerry too much. Focus on themselves. Focus on all the good players in Cork and what can be achieved.

“A win in Killarney would give them massive confidence. It could be the start of something.”