Munster SFC semi-finals
Kerry 0-18 Cork 1-12
ONLY Kerry could be so criticised. A Munster final off the back of a solid league, still the questions come.
It is difficult to tell where they’re at though. If one were to skim through the highlights and see the effortlessness of David Clifford’s right-footed score that gave Kerry the lead, you’d question how he’d been left so idle.
But defensive shackling isn’t sexy enough for highlights reels. Perhaps brother Paudie’s butchered goal chance does qualify, because of who he is as much as what he’d done.
The context too, following up from Paul Walsh’s early goal, is probably important. It had the look of one of those days about it for a while, but in truth Cork haven’t actually seen one of those days in quite some time.
Certainly not in Killarney. 1995 was the last time The Rebels overcame The Kingdom there. They simply don’t lose these fixtures, even when all looks so short of perfection as it did on Saturday.
But you can’t deny Cork are nipping at their toes. They sense the day is coming. The talismanic Brian Hurley, kicker of 0-8, he knows his chances are running out.
Last year’s All-Ireland group phase saw just two between them in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. This time just three in the lion’s den. An upset in the eminently meaningless McGrath Cup may well have meant something to Cork too. Belief, if nothing else.
Cork succeeded where many fail. But keeping the Cliffords quiet is almost always a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. Seán Ó Sé, a man on form, kept the heat on their rivals underneath a sun that has been as scarce as Kerry defeat.
Perhaps the level-headed Paul Murphy brings a better balance too, back in favour at corner-back, freeing up Tom O’Sullivan to go gallivanting and nab a lovely return of 0-3.
It proved arguably match winning in the end, as Kerry beat Cork and hammer home what they might call natural order.
Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-9
In the other semi, Clare sealed their place in the race for Sam Maguire and qualified for back-to-back Munster finals for the first time since World War II.
For captain Cillian Brennan, it was all the sweeter. Most men around The Banner live in the shadow of Gary Brennan if they’re any way inclined to opt for the big ball. That effect is exponential when you’re his sibling.
Having missed the entirety of the National League, it said a lot that Mark Fitzgerald threw him in for what the manager himself described as a “banana skin”.
It could well have been, Waterford coming off the back of a first win since 2010. The Clare Champion’s Joe O’Muircheartaigh was quick to acknowledge the presence of one Gary Brennan on that fateful day 14 years ago, his brother Cillian a 13-year-old in the stand.
Equally it had been pointed out how The Déise had shocked Clare just three years ago at U20 level. Five of Clare’s starting team on Saturday played on that occasion too.
But eight Clare scores from their first nine shots killed off Waterford’s belief. Dermot Coughlan was one of the less heralded Banner men to show some finesse in Fraher Field.
Tom O’Connell did continue his goal-scoring hot streak for the hosts, but at that stage the gap was reduced to all of eleven. Emmet McMahon and Mark McInerney had already seen that type of flag waved.
Next step, Kerry.