Cork Football Talking Points: Lack of creativity in attack and midfield struggles proved costly

Cork last beat Kerry in Killarney in 1995.

In the period since, they’ve met their most familiar foe 15 times and lost on 10 occasions. The five draws did yield three replay victories but there’s a reason the Rebels haven’t delivered at Fitzgerald Stadium. For the most part, they simply haven’t been good enough.

That was certainly the case on Sunday afternoon in front of a bumper crowd of 32,961. All week the build-up was framed around it being Cork’s best chance to beat Kerry in recent years. That was based on John Cleary’s side getting promoted from Division 2 and the hosts’ injury crisis.

There was a perception in some quarters that Cork were in the box seat to win. Crazy stuff.

The reality is that Kerry’s second 15 would wipe the floor with Cork’s reserves, so even shorn of a host of big names, their replacements had talent and were eager to impress. People seemed to be forgetting that Cork are 14 years and counting since lifting the Munster trophy and have only contested two All-Ireland quarter-finals this decade. Kerry are holders of Sam Maguire and, despite a league final collapse against Donegal, favourites to retain it.

BIG LOSSES

Cork also had two major injuries of their own, losing Bantry tyro Dara Sheedy and spiritual leader Brian Hurley in recent weeks.

As a consequence, Cork’s bench was very light on proven quality. Kerry got a return of 0-5 from Tony Brosnan and a goal assist, while Killian Spillane, Gavin White and Dylan Geaney also split the posts. Only David Buckley raised a flag from the bench for Cork.

That lack of firepower was painfully obvious across a second half where the Rebels only managed 1-2. 

And the goal was a sensational blast to the roof of the net by Brian O’Driscoll, who was comfortably Cork’s best performer.

Sheedy is only U20 but his influence as a playmaker across the spring was critical in reaching Division 1 for next season. When he went off with a knock in the league final, Cork weren’t able to move the ball quickly enough into the attacking third.

With a half-forward line of Paul Walsh, Seán McDonnell and Ruairí Deane in Killarney, strong, honest players but too similar in style, Cork lacked creativity.

What was most galling for Cork was they started with real purpose, moving 0-8 to 0-3 up, helped by three two-pointers from O’Driscoll, McDonnell and Mark Cronin, who was Cork’s most consistent inside threat. Chris Óg Jones was lively, as always, but Steven Sherlock just couldn’t replicate his league final heroics and ended up with four missed kicks in the second half.

Cork lost 10 of their own kick-outs but Kerry simply had too much power and dynamism at midfield. Patrick Doyle, recalled ahead of Micheál Aodh Martin, was decent in goal but made a fine save from David Clifford.

Defensively, Cork battled away but Clifford was irrepressible despite Daniel O’Mahony’s best efforts and Brosnan’s introduction completely unsettled Cork’s half-back line. He was electric.

The main advantage of reaching a provincial final in the new system is home tie in the first round of the qualifiers. Meath again, on Saturday, May 23 at Páirc Uí Rinn, where Cork badly need a win to reboot.