Off The Ball are down in Killarney this Sunday, bringing you live coverage of the Munster football final, Kerry vs Cork. Colm Parkinson, James Horan and Oisin Langan will be on commentary duty!
How the tables have turned. Rewind to June 2014 and Cork were favourites heading into the Munster final. It was all set-up for Cuthbert’s men, the last Munster final in Pairc Uí Chaoimh. They had hammered Kerry in the league as Fitzmaurice men avoided relegation on the last day. The Gooch was injured, James O’Donoghue was out of match practise and Kieran Donaghy wasn’t even on the horizon. Kerry were written off, hadn’t a hope. That September tells us how wrong we were.
So this Sunday it’s Cork who are battered and bruised, written off and derided and they travel to Killarney. It’s Cork who haven’t a hope. In terms of an All-Ireland they don’t, but this side isn’t as bad as it’s being made out. They’ve beaten all four of last year’s semi-finalists already in the spring, they’ve added a bit of steel into midfield and possess some serious threats up front. Don’t forget that they’ll have words like “leaderless”, “rudderless” and a picture of Tomás Ó’Sé hanging in the dressing room too.
The Teams
It’s says a lot when the most striking aspect of the two teams named last night is Kerry’s bench. Fitzmaurice has fostered a squad of incredible depth since he took charge, only seven of this side started the 2011 All-Ireland final.
On Sunday, Kerry's bench will include: 21 All Irelands 17 All Stars 4 Al final MOTM awards 2 Players of the year 1 Young Player of the Year
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) July 2, 2015
Mark Griffin, who has played every minute of the year so far, has been dropped. Fionn Fitzgerald comes into the corner and Marc Ó’Sé has moved to full-back. It’s a solid defence which would only be improved by the inclusion of Aidan O’Mahony and Paul Murphy.
In midfield, it’s David Moran and Bryan Sheehan. It’s a pity we won’t be seeing Maher and Moran doing their thing, but Bryan Sheehan has been flying this year. He’s kicked 0-28, and started all but one of Kerry’s games. Johnny Buckley will naturally be an option at midfield too, while Maher will come in at some stage.
On the other hand, one massive problem position for Brian Cuthbert has been midfield. This Sunday will see the eight different Cork combination in centre-field for 2015. Of last year’s duo, Ian Maguire hasn’t been seen since February and Aidan Walsh has defected to the hurlers.
The Eoin Cadogan experiment seemed to have worked pretty well as he played four league games in midfield. He’s full-back this weekend though, and in the middle Fintan Goold will be joined by Alan O’Connor, who emerged from an 18-month retirement to go straight into the side against Clare.
Inside, for the first time since the All-Ireland final we’ll see James O’Donoghue feeding off Kieran Donaghy. Barry John Keane keeps his place and then at half-forward Stephen O’Brien is joined by Johnny Buckley and Donnchadh Walsh. There is serious firepower on the bench in Paul Geaney, Colm Cooper, Darran O’Sullivan and Tommy Walsh.
Inside Cork can do damage and they have to target goals. It kept them in touching distance of Mayo last August and Kerry have been leaking them in 2015, 11 in eight games.
Colm O’Neill has hit 5-45 this year. Brian Hurley has been quieter, shooting 2-12 but on his day he’s as dangerous as anyone in the province. Mark Collins will drop deep, he’ll play a sweeper role and look to create attacks too. Donncha O’Connor is back in favour and will operate around half-forward. Kevin O’Driscoll and Paul Kerrigan, two runners, will have to drop deep too you’d imagine to negate Kerry’s threat and suffocate their attacks.
Cork XV: Ken O’Halloran; Michael Shields, Eoin Cadogan, James Loughrey; Barry O’Driscoll, Brian O’Driscoll, Stephen Cronin; Alan O’Connor, Fintan Goold; Paul Kerrigan, Donncha O’Connor, Kevin O’Driscoll; Colm O’Neill, Mark Collins, Brian Hurley
Kerry XV: Brendan Kealy; Fionn Fitzgerald, Marc Ó'Sé, Shane Enright; Jonathan Lyne, Peter Crowley, Killian Young; David Moran, Bryan Sheehan; Stephen O'Brien, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh; James O'Donoghue, Kieran Donaghy, BJ Keane
Cuthbert’s Changes
In October 2013, Cuthbert was appointed Cork manager. By the time the start of the 2014 NFL came around he was effectively without 10 of the 2013 squad.
In that off-season the county lost Graham Canty (33), Pearse O'Neill (33), Paudie Kissane (33), Alan Quirke (36), Noel O'Leary (31), and Alan O’Connor (28). An incredible amount of experience, leadership and football nous swept away from the squad in one fine stroke.
Let’s not forget that Ciarán Sheehan left for the AFL and Carlton Blues that same Autumn. It’s worth mentioning too that Damien Cahalane, Aidan Walsh and Eoin Cadogan all decided that they would attempt to play both codes at intercounty-level the following campaign - an experience that didn’t end well for anyone.
Nine of the ten players named above had played against Dublin the previous August in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Fast forward a year and there would be seven changes to the Cork fifteen that would run Mayo to within a point at the same stage.
There were serious setbacks in 2014, but improvements had been made too.
Brian Cuthbert vs. Eamon Fitzmaurice
Cuthbert has been in charge of Cork for 22 league & championship games, he’s won 64% of those games. Eamon Fitzmaurice has won a Munster title and an All-Ireland with Kerry over the same period with a 57% winning record, over 21 league and championship games.
During that time, Cork have scored an average of 18.6 points per game and conceded an average of 17.7 points per game. Kerry by contrast have scored an average of 17.9 points per-game over that time and conceded an average of 16.2 points per-game.
Also, Brian Cuthbert has used 44 players in competitive games for Cork since taking charge, by contrast Eamon Fitzmaurice has used 40 players since the start of 2014.
Just four players started Cork’s championship opener who also started the 2010 All-Ireland final. Seven of the Kerry team who played against Tipperary were also starting in September 2011 against Dublin.
Cork League & Championship Stats
Played 10: Won 7, Lost 3
- Division 1 runners-up, losing the league final to Dublin by 11 points
Players used: 33
- Nine players have played in all ten games; Brian Hurley, Colm O’Driscoll, Colm O’Neill, Conor Dorman, James Loughrey, John Hayes, Kevin O’Driscoll, Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan
Scorers: 20 different scorers, 1-13 scored by substitutes
- Top scorers: Colm O’Neill 5-45 (33fs, 2 ‘45s’), Donncha O’Connor 1-18 (10fs, 1p) Brian Hurley 2-12 (3fs)
Kerry League & Championship stats
Played 8: Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 3
- 6th in Division 1
Players Used: 34
- Six players have played in all eight games; Barry John Keane, Johnny Buckley, Jonathan Lyne, Mark Griffin, Tommy Walsh, Stephen O’Brien
Scorers: 18 different scorers
- Top-scorers: Bryan Sheehan 0-28 (18fs, 3 ‘45s’), Paul Geaney 3-17 (3fs), BJ Keane 2-17 (5fs)
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