Kerry boss Jack O'Connor: Cork football is alive and well 

Kerry manager Jack O’Connor has heaped praise on Cork after a classic Munster SFC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.

The Kingdom won after extra time on a scoreline of 3-21 to 1-25 after an absorbing game played in difficult conditions.

This year’s Allianz Division 1 Football League winners and the favourites for the All-Ireland had to dig very deep to come out of Leeside with a victory.

Kerry also played 15 minutes with 14 players after a Paudie Clifford red card before Cork's Seán Brady also picked up a straight red card four minutes into extra time.

“I was trying to convince ye fellas that we were in for a big battle and ye weren’t believing me, ye might believe me now,” O’Connor said post-match.

“This is a good Cork team. When they have all their men they are a serious team, they are big, they are strong, they are athletic and they have pace. 

"We lost our goalkeeper Shane Ryan, which is highly unusual, and what a replacement Shane Murphy proved to be. That save he made from Chris Óg Jones was incredible. That was a real, real turning point.

“Massive effort by our boys. Seán O’Shea, we thought we would get 20 minutes out of him, we got 45/50 minutes out of him, just an incredible effort. But what a battle Cork gave us and we expected it, you know.” 

Kerry looked home and hosed coming down the home straight of normal time when they led by seven points after Paul Geaney’s goal after 57 minutes, but the green flag sprung Cork into action. 

“That was a real championship game, you would think it would bring us on. Just a pity it wasn’t on live TV,” the Kingdom boss says.

“We made it hard on ourselves, we had a chance to kill it off in normal time. It didn’t happen. Fellas were really trying, but conditions were very tough. The ball was skidding. There were a lot of hits, fellas going down. Massive battle.

“Congratulations to Cork, they proved today that Cork football is alive and well. We knew that, but trying to convince other people was the issue. Cork always lift their game against Kerry, it is tradition. I have had plenty of battles with them. I often left here with Kerry teams with our tail between our legs.

“The way it is gone now with the seedings, it is very important to get to a Munster final. Fair dues to our fellas, we showed real battling qualities today and a real panel effort.” O'Connor concluded.