Remember Kerry? After a suspiciously low-profile passage to the Munster final, the All-Ireland champions sprung to life yesterday in a classic against Cork.
Despite a torrential opening phase by the Rebel county in front of a passionate Pβirc U∅ Chaoimh crowd, Kerry came through with the mix of silky shooting and cool determination that saw them emerge last year.
Johnny Crowley put in an hour worthy of the great Kerry attacking luminaries of the past, while Darragh O SΘ had a storming afternoon at midfield.
While never a sour game, the Park rocked after a series of incidents near the sideline early in the second half involving the match officials and both managers. Cork's Larry Tompkins was seen to push a Kerry player - possibly in response to a shove he himself received and may face censure.
The manager was upset by a number of referee refereeing decisions afterwards.
"You would just wonder - it is very unfair to guys that they don't get fair play and this was the second year in a row. This was the second year in a row. These are good lads, good footballers - I suppose the media rates these lads as no good but, sure, you lads know all the stuff," he said with a wry grin on the field after the crowds of left.
And talk of Cork as a fading force was premature. Tompkins' men were persuasive against the champions, particularly Colin Corkery, who stuck 0-8 in a scintillating individual performance. An early Joe Kavanagh goal gave Cork a 1-2 to 0-0 lead and after Kerry struck back, an absorbing battle developed, with the scores level on six separate occasions. Cork had a half-chance to score a second goal late on but that was snuffed out by Mike Hassett and Kerry steadied to close out with a couple of points, finishing as 0-19 to 1-13 winners.
"I'd have to say that last year's hard games stood to us," allowed Pβidi ╙ SΘ afterwards. "I think that the sign of our success was in the unbelievable respect we gave them." And they can rest assured that it will be reciprocated - by all teams left in this championship.
