KERRY BOSS ÉAMONN Fitzmaurice knows that the Kingdom’s record in Killarney against Cork won’t be a motivating factor for his players, but it is still a statistic that they would like to continue on Sunday.
The Rebels haven’t beaten Kerry in their back garden since 1995 when they walked away with the Munster title, and Fitzmaurice admits that there were many times during his own inter-county career that the record could have been broken.
“That’s not something you can really think about. It might be something you think about afterwards when you’ve won and you can say, ‘Jees, it was good to preserve that record’. But it’s not something we can use for motivational purposes,” he said.
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Cork last beat Kerry in Killarney way back in 1995. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
“Over those 20 years, certainly when I was playing, there was a couple of days when we were very lucky to maintain that record. Bryan Sheehan kicked big frees a couple of times in ’09.”
There were days when Cork had us beaten and we barely got out of dodge so of course it’s a record you want to preserve but this is an independent fixture and we’re just focusing on the game and afterwards, if we have preserved it, brilliant.
Last year Kerry were very much an unknown quantity coming into the championship, with few people knowing what to expect from a side stripped of some of their main players. This year is different as the All-Ireland champions have welcomed back the Gooch, Tommy Walsh, and Paul Galvin to supplement their attack.
They go into this year’s championship as second favourites to retain their title, and it’s a situation that the Kerry boss is all too familiar with and is happy to take on.
“I think that’s the position we were used to being in, really. At the start of last year, it was unusual to find ourselves in a position where we were rank outsiders and it actually took us a bit of getting used to being in that situation. We’re used to being in this situation,” he said.
Colm Cooper is back in action for the Kingdom this year. Presseye / Andrew Paton/INPHO
Presseye / Andrew Paton/INPHO / Andrew Paton/INPHO
“It’s very black and white. It’s like before the Tipperary game – if we turn up, if we get everyone playing as well as we can and performing as well as we can, I think it will take a very, very good team to beat us.”
But if we turn up and we’re not at it, like we weren’t at it below in the league game in Cork, then we will be beaten. We can be very ordinary when we’re not at it.
“That’s not trying to write our own chances down; that’s just being completely realistic and honest. If we’re going full at it, it will take a good team to beat us. If we’re off in any bit, if any couple of our players are off, we can be very ordinary and found out very easily.”
Brian Cuthbert left Fintan Goold out of the team that faced Clare. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Fitzmaurice is wary of the threat that Cork possess, despite the drubbing they suffered against Dublin in this spring’s league final. The Finuge man is certain that Cork will shake things up a bit and bring certain players back into the fold.
“I imagine they will throw a couple of different things at us, definitely. Eoin Cadogan wasn’t playing the last day. He’d a very good league for them,” he said.
Fintan Goold didn’t start the last day. Again, he had a very good league so I imagine he’ll be coming back into the picture.
“I think Cork have gone back to more of their natural running game and if Cork are on top in the middle of the field, like we’ve found it out plenty of times down the years and me as a player myself, it’s a long day out because they’re excellent at that game.”
There is a certain record Éamonn Fitzmaurice doesn't want to break this weekend against Cork
KERRY BOSS ÉAMONN Fitzmaurice knows that the Kingdom’s record in Killarney against Cork won’t be a motivating factor for his players, but it is still a statistic that they would like to continue on Sunday.
The Rebels haven’t beaten Kerry in their back garden since 1995 when they walked away with the Munster title, and Fitzmaurice admits that there were many times during his own inter-county career that the record could have been broken.
“That’s not something you can really think about. It might be something you think about afterwards when you’ve won and you can say, ‘Jees, it was good to preserve that record’. But it’s not something we can use for motivational purposes,” he said.
“Over those 20 years, certainly when I was playing, there was a couple of days when we were very lucky to maintain that record. Bryan Sheehan kicked big frees a couple of times in ’09.”
Last year Kerry were very much an unknown quantity coming into the championship, with few people knowing what to expect from a side stripped of some of their main players. This year is different as the All-Ireland champions have welcomed back the Gooch, Tommy Walsh, and Paul Galvin to supplement their attack.
They go into this year’s championship as second favourites to retain their title, and it’s a situation that the Kerry boss is all too familiar with and is happy to take on.
“I think that’s the position we were used to being in, really. At the start of last year, it was unusual to find ourselves in a position where we were rank outsiders and it actually took us a bit of getting used to being in that situation. We’re used to being in this situation,” he said.
“It’s very black and white. It’s like before the Tipperary game – if we turn up, if we get everyone playing as well as we can and performing as well as we can, I think it will take a very, very good team to beat us.”
“That’s not trying to write our own chances down; that’s just being completely realistic and honest. If we’re going full at it, it will take a good team to beat us. If we’re off in any bit, if any couple of our players are off, we can be very ordinary and found out very easily.”
Fitzmaurice is wary of the threat that Cork possess, despite the drubbing they suffered against Dublin in this spring’s league final. The Finuge man is certain that Cork will shake things up a bit and bring certain players back into the fold.
“I imagine they will throw a couple of different things at us, definitely. Eoin Cadogan wasn’t playing the last day. He’d a very good league for them,” he said.
“I think Cork have gone back to more of their natural running game and if Cork are on top in the middle of the field, like we’ve found it out plenty of times down the years and me as a player myself, it’s a long day out because they’re excellent at that game.”
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Comp:All-Ireland Senior Football Club Championship Munster SFC keeping records Cork Kerry