Teddy McCarthy believes some Cork football supporters had unrealistic expectations for Brian Cuthbert's team after the Allianz League.

Despite being in transition, the Rebels blazed a path to the semi-finals where they succumbed to All-Ireland champions Dublin. But that setback was nothing compared to the one they suffered in the Munster final when they were hammered by an unheralded Kerry team.

"The game against Kerry was very disappointing for everybody," former dual All-Ireland winner McCarthy is quoted in the Southern Star.

"Look, earlier in the year there was people getting carried away by the promising league campaign Cork had. The fact of the matter is the league and championship are still poles apart.

"For a team in transition, even though they might be doing well in the league, they lack the required experience for the championship.

"You're way more relaxed in the league whereas the intensity in the championship is three times greater with there being so much at stake. And, as a player, you can really sense that.

"It's that difference in adrenaline for the championship that gets the engine pumping, but Cork are a young side in transition with maybe too much expectation on them to succeed against Kerry."

McCarthy suggests Cork should adopt a seven-man defence for tomorrow's All-Ireland qualifier against Sligo.

"This qualifier they now have against Sligo could take on a life of its own, but I would imagine they should win regardless," he added. Tweet

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