Down through the decades there has been keen rivalry in Munster football between Kerry and Cork, who first met in a Munster final in Mallow Town Park in 1889. Indeed, during Kerry’s golden era in the 1970s and ‘80s. Cork were often rated as the second best football team in the country when they often provided the stiffest opposition for the Kingdom.
It's now 14 years, however, since Cork won a Munster senior football final and 31 years since they beat Kerry in a Championship game in Killarney, where they will meet in this year’s Munster final on Sunday. Back in July 1995 Cork, captained by Niall Cahalane, won by three points before a attendance of 42,735. Those were the days of no back door or live television coverage and supporters travelled to see big games.
Last month, Cork had an easy win over Tipperary to qualify for the Munster final for the first time since 2021. This is the longest gap since Cork failed to qualify for six consecutive Munster finals between 1929 and 1934. Cork’s last Munster final win was in 2012 when they beat Kerry in the semi-final and Clare in the final. In 2019 Cork were relegated to Division 3 of the National League, but now under manager John Cleary they have fought their way back to Division One, losing the Division 2 final play-off to Meath in Croke Park.
Kerry didn’t get much of a test against Clare, but no doubt they are still smarting from that heavy defeat to Donegal in the National League final. In the old days, Cork’s forwards often left them down with poor shooting, but I think they’re more accurate nowadays and more intelligent with their play. If the Clifford brothers, David and Paudie are on song I think Kerry will extend that 31-year unbeaten record against Cork in championship football in Fitzgerald Stadium. And if Kerry do win then the new Paidi O Sé Cup will be presented to Kerry captain Paul Geaney from Dingle, who is married to O Se’s daughter Siún.
