While this writer was in Dungarvan last Sunday, the Munster council bigwigs were in Killarney for the old firm game. The final result was a draw, and in the midst of confusion surrounding extra time, the correct decision was made.

The rule of thumb surrounding extra time in the provincial championships is quite clear. Anything outside of a semi final or a final must go to extra time. Kerry vs. Cork was a semi final so extra time is not played. Any rants toward the Munster Council for being greedy etc. should be redirected toward the programme editors who wrongly advertised that extra time would be played. However, the replay is beneficial to the coffers of the Munster Council in a year in which the Limerick hurling dispute threatened to upset the Munster Council financially. A Munster council official told me some months ago that the Munster Council have financial commitments in place (e.g. full time coaches) based on projected gate receipts. Yet, look at the loss they made from the crazy decision to fix Waterford vs. Clare in hurling on the very day that the least amount of people would travel. Perhaps they were thinking outside the box, and keeping Sunday 13th June free for a Cork vs. Kerry football replay, but Limerick and Cork are hurling on the 20th of June, so there was no logic attached to playing the other semi final between Waterford vs. Clare two weeks ahead of that.

They could not afford to lose the Limerick hurling faithful and this Cork vs. Kerry replay balances the books somewhat. The fact that Cork beat Tipperary in hurling also helps the coffers, as the Cork City bandwagon supporters (perhaps this might include the 5000 shoppers that Gerald McCarthy referred to) will support their winning team, whereas the majority of the Tipperary public would have skipped a game, and remained at home for the Munster final, like they remained at home back in 2007 when Cork visited their own backyard in the qualifiers. Cork vs. Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh could potentially attract 25,000 supporters whereas Tipperary vs. Limerick at Thurles would only have attracted 10,000. The Munster Council do not favour the current extra time system, and it’s easy to see why. If a first round game between Cork vs. Kerry in football or Cork vs. Tipperary in hurling (or any other plum hurling game) ended in a draw and was decided in extra time, The Munster Council would forever live with the regret surrounding lost gate receipts. It’s not greed in this writers opinion, it’s basic common sense.

As for the actually non-boardroom stuff, a depleted Cork actually achieved something in getting a draw last Sunday with the team they sent out. Their newcomers acquitted themselves well, and they are beginning to develop strength in depth. Paudie Kissane did a Declan Prendergast a day earlier than Prendergast himself, and in Kissane’s case it was more astonishing as he seemed incapable of hitting anything other than the corner flag earlier in the game. However, Kissane showed a naive side when not holding his hands out in full sight of the referee as Cooper engineered the last minute free. A soft free that Cooper scored to bring a smile to the faces of the Munster Council officials! Kerry had their full team out on Sunday - barring Paul Galvin - who outlined his importance from the second he walked onto the field. In fact, given the impact made by Galvin, many Cork and Kerry football supporters are suspicious if there has been a decision made keep Galvin and O’Leary apart as much as possible this early in the summer. Neither team can afford to lose their man, and as proven in last year’s replay at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, all it takes is a couple of shots to the jaw for the red cards to be issued.


Bryan Sheehan, for all his goal scoring exploits against Tipperary, finds the going that bit tougher against Cork. He was a first choice player in 2007, but it’s now 2010 and he still isn’t a mainstay on the team. His dead ball prowess means that he would get on most intercounty teams, but Kerry, as they did last year, could decide that they can manage without him.

One point worth noting is that the starting Kerry forwards only scored 0-3 between them. Paul Kerrigan scored that alone and such margins matter in tight games. Aidan Walsh may have missed his chances, but he played well at midfield, and Cork have Nicholas Murphy to return at some point. Kerry are in serious trouble in this sector. Seamus Scanlon and Micheál Quirke were junior partners to Dara O Sé without ever becoming his equal. Yet the mantle has been bestowed upon them now, but they don’t appear comfortable. If Anthony Maher was the answer, he wouldn’t have started both Munster championship games on the bench. David Moran is around a while too, and he hasn’t nailed down his place either. There are rumblings that Tommy Walsh will return to the Kerry colours during his Australian holidays in August. It would be surprising if his contract allowed competitive fare here, but perhaps those were his terms upon going over. Kerry will need him in August, but for now they need to ensure that they get to August in the first place.

In 2002, 2006 and 2009, Cork drew with Kerry in Killarney, and won the replay in the People’s Republic. Kerry have bigger fish to fry - including Cork later in the year. Cork can’t afford to gamble on the back door, because where Kerry seem to be always been lucky enough to draw minnows in the qualifiers these last few years, Cork cannot afford to draw someone like Armagh away from home.

The Rebels to pull through in the latest Old Firm instalment.