Kerry vs Cork - Munster Final 2011

Looks like being the game of the year so far.

Kerry - Marc O'Se and Eoin Brosnan into the centre of defence is a desperate move. Midfield is still a concern although not as problematic as some like to tell you. They are, after all, trying to fill a void left by Darragh O'Se - an almost impossible task. The forwards are still their trump card with Darren O'Sullivan a constant menace against Tipperary and Limerick, carrying the ball from deep orchestrating in the process, and the Gooch as ever is in the humour to terrorise defences. Not sure if Declan O'Sullivan and Donaghy are as good as once upon a time but dangerous nonetheless.

Cork - I think they have improved from last year, where they got some lucky draws and were fortunate to benefit from temperamental opposition. The defence is still as tight as it was, with Cadogan a healthy addition and they're not short of midfield partners for Aidan Walsh. But the thing that has impressed me most is the consistency of the forwards in front of goal. Even in Colm O'Neill's absense, Goulding, Sheehan, Kerrigan and O'Connor are devasting in running up large scores.

Kerry looked very hungry against Tipperary and Limerick, even if neither were anywhere near a threat.

Cork players all have All-Ireland medals in their pockets, and that means they are playing with more freedom.

Would not be surprised to see another draw.

Cork will relish this trip to Killarney. They'll play with a swagger that befits their status, have the scoring forwards that so many counties lack and Kerry are looking decidedly makeshift from 1-9.
Gooch, Donaghy and the O'Sullivans are still good forwards, but the surging runs of Tómas Sé will be missed and they will struggle in the middle third.

Cork with a few to spare. Galvin to make an appearance to attempt a rescue, by which time their goose will be cooked....

Any chance this might be a draw a again?

I've did some research and 3 of the last 4 Kerry / Cork championship meetings at Fitzgerald Stadium ended in a stalemate.

Plus there's only been 1 draw from 33 championship games in 2011, so we're due one.

Two top sides, with the title of championship favourite up for grabs. Can't see much being in it.

Kerry well on top here. I'd post more but I feel as if I'm talking to myself.

Have been very impressed with Bryan Sheehan who has put in a very good shift at midfield...

Hope Kerry keep this up, a very impressive first half of football

Cork are very flat...

Hold on pen!

Bound to happen sooner or later - teams throwing games.

Disgraceful from Cork but what do you expect?

The real winners will be themselves.

No change here with a lot of talk of "geese getting cooked", well someone forgot to turn on the oven!

You scraped home from a team who were out to lose the game Triona. Let's not get carried away.

funny game alright. Never seen the Gooch as quiet. Kerry were scarey in the first half but ordinary in the second. Seemed like Cork cruised alongside at a point down and then said to Kerry - take it away. I picked Aidan Walsh as MotM in tipster cos TC keeps telling me how good he is. Thought he was very poor today - again. Lot of strange injuries too. Star anonymous in 2nd half. Sheehan good in 1st half but 2nd half showing tells us Kerry have big probs at MF. Michael Quirke ???? WWWF super bout maybe - no footballer. Dec O Sullivan a class act though. Hard to know what Cork are at but these two should be around for the semis if they avoid each other.

The Puke wrote:Have been very impressed with Bryan Sheehan who has put in a very good shift at midfield...

Hope Kerry keep this up, a very impressive first half of football

thought Sheehan had a decent game myself and why they replaced him with thon heap Quirke i'll never know. O'Se at full back got cleaned out early on. I thought Kerrys goal was stunning but interestingly O'Sullivan barely touched the ball for about 10-15 minutes after the goal.

A lot is made of this Cork team but i still dont get it with them, they are a mentally fragile side and Counihan never seems to have a plan B and i cant see them fancying the qualifiers much. Canty wasnt up to much Walsh in midfield was the same. It was a funny game but neither team looked like champions to me, its still Dublins to lose.

bocerty wrote:

The Puke wrote:Have been very impressed with Bryan Sheehan who has put in a very good shift at midfield...

Hope Kerry keep this up, a very impressive first half of football

thought Sheehan had a decent game myself and why they replaced him with thon heap Quirke i'll never know. O'Se at full back got cleaned out early on. I thought Kerrys goal was stunning but interestingly O'Sullivan barely touched the ball for about 10-15 minutes after the goal.

A lot is made of this Cork team but i still dont get it with them, they are a mentally fragile side and Counihan never seems to have a plan B and i cant see them fancying the qualifiers much. Canty wasnt up to much Walsh in midfield was the same. It was a funny game but neither team looked like champions to me, its still Dublins to lose.

Another thing that this game confirms is that the leading sides are not that far ahead of the those in behind. Kerry and Cork are good but both hav problems. Dublin are there or thereabouts but the four sides that make it past Round 3 of the qualifers will be there at the business end. Meath look well positioned to possibly challenge. Derry are the one provincial finalist who could surprise. I am leaning towards a Meath / Derry All-Ireland final tonight, maybe Meath / Dublin.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Meath look well positioned to possibly challenge. I am leaning towards a Meath / Derry All-Ireland final tonight, maybe Meath / Dublin.

Have to agree with Loyal here - who seems to be leaning tonight - too many pints perhaps. Meath are the team to beat no doubt. Cian is a goal machine, then Smoking Joe with Cindy in midfield and Kevin Reilly a one man defence. Hard to lok beyond them ...

Not long back from Killarney. Stayed last night and amazing the number of people I met from various counties at the game. Welcome back triona, I need you. There were good points and bad from Kingdom point of view but I expected Cork to win so the collapse for part of second half has to be addressed. Changed tactics from direct game earlier. Still both teams will take both positives and negatives from match.I heard in the grapevine that Paul Galvin's absence is to be reviewed by the CCCC. Three months at least. Great night and day in Killarney.that is thee GAA.

I was led to believe Kerry were done?

bluearmy1 wrote:I was led to believe Kerry were done?

seems Cork fell for the same line. On a day when neither Gooch or Donaghy really performed Cork should have capitalised and won the game handy enough, but i am not convinced by the Cork team they are a fragile enough outfit at times i think.

If Jack O' Connor or Mickey Harte or even the likes of Sean Boylan (and others) had been in charge of this team they would have won the last 2-3 All Irelands, Counihan still has a few questions to answer

On a side issue. watched the Sunday Game recording tonight. Did not show about 4 or 5 very good points from play during actual coverage. Strange they spent more time on other issues. If you turned it off after the highlights Declan would have scored one point and you would be wondering how he got MOM. Yes I am contacting RTE becuse it is not the first time i have noticed it.

Real Kerry Fan wrote:On a side issue. watched the Sunday Game recording tonight. Did not show about 4 or 5 very good points from play during actual coverage. Strange they spent more time on other issues. If you turned it off after the highlights Declan would have scored one point and you would be wondering how he got MOM. Yes I am contacting RTE becuse it is not the first time i have noticed it.

Im told they didn't show have the scuffles that were a feature of the game either....

mossbags wrote:

Real Kerry Fan wrote:On a side issue. watched the Sunday Game recording tonight. Did not show about 4 or 5 very good points from play during actual coverage. Strange they spent more time on other issues. If you turned it off after the highlights Declan would have scored one point and you would be wondering how he got MOM. Yes I am contacting RTE becuse it is not the first time i have noticed it.

Im told they didn't show have the scuffles that were a feature of the game either....

Moss.Actually there were very few scuffles.I saw more trouble coming down from communion as a well known corkman said.

Real Kerry Fan wrote: Actually there were very few scuffles.I saw more trouble coming down from communion as a well known corkman said.

Well what would you expect with no Dara, Tomas or Galvin there