Kerry captain Sean Burke hopes to lead the Kingdom back into the big time Formidable task ahead for 23 year old Milltown man and his colleagues on Sunday For generations Cork and Kerry had it easy. The great stage that is Munster football final day was their exclusive preserve. It was virtually a closed shop and both sides geared their preparations accordingly. Munster Final day was special as the old rivals did battle year in, year out. Familiarity did not breed contempt. The open draw may have shattered this monopolistic regime in Munster, but the tradition still holds firm. Therefore, Sunday's meeting between the two sides will be like everything that has gone before. It will be one of the showpieces of the GAA year. The high profile nature of this rivalry is grounded in history. This history may be somewhat lopsided in Kerry's favour, but Cork are still no strangers to success. In the 73 championship meetings since 1889, Kerry have enjoyed 54 successes, together with 62 Munster titles and 30 All-Irelands. Conversely, Cork have had 19 wins in head to head clashes with the Kingdom, 29 Munster titles and 5 All-Irelands. These ingredients add to the fierce rivalry, a rivalry that is set to run and run. The Munster Final memories are rich. Paddy Bawn Brosnan, Bill Casey and Paddy Kennedy doing battle with Jack Lynch, Eamonn Young and Tadhg Crowley. Jimmy Barry Murphy versus Jimmy Deenihan. Kevin Kehilly attempting to curb the influence of Bomber Liston. Debate and controversy still rages on whether Cork's Brian Murphy was hard done by in the epic final of 1976. Sean Walsh would say he wasn't. This rivalry enters a new chapter on Sunday. For the first time since 1934 when Tipperary were Munster champions, Cork and Kerry will do battle with neither side going into the game with the label of being Munster champions. This only serves to increase the importance of the match to both sides. In simple terms, both teams are desperate to return to winning ways. The contrast adds to the occasion. Billy Morgan knows that 1993 could represent his last chance while Ogie Moran is still feeling his way in intercounty management. Cork have as much as ten of the all-conquering 1987-90 side available while Eoin Liston is Kerry's last remaining link with the glory days. Kerry captain Sean Burke hopes to lead Kerry back to those glory days. The first and probably the most formidable test will be faced in Killarney. The 23 year old from Milltown is under no illusions about the task ahead of him. "It will be a fifty fifty game as usually is the case with Cork and Kerry and even though we have home advantage, that won't really be a factor in the game." As Cork overwhelmed Clare in Cusack Park, Burke, together with his team mates and Ogie Moran was in attendance. The impressive nature of Cork's victory did not go unnoticed. "I suppose we were a bit surprised with them on the day but looking back on it, you can never write Cork off, because if you examine their team, they had ten guys with All-Ireland medals playing. "I thought they had a fierce enthusiasm for the Clare game and throughout the game they seemed to be working for each other, which any team needs if it wants to win anything," adds Burke. This win by Cork over Clare puts Kerry's task in Fitzgerald Stadium into its proper perspective. the defeated Clare side had only one year previously overran Kerry in the Munster Final. Sean Burke played in the Gaelic Grounds on that fateful day that proved to be a watershed for football in Munster. "We were surprised to be beaten but we were probably thinking ahead about playing against Dublin or Kildare in the All-Ireland semi final and we suffered the consequences." Such a repeat failure would be hard to take in Kerry as league form shown by Ogie Moran's charges suggested that the Kingdom would be very live championship contenders. This productive league campaign ended with defeat to Dublin at the semi final stage. It was a game that Kerry could have won. Burke agrees with this assessment. "We played well against Dublin and even though it is disappointing to lose any game, we would have been gearing ourselves towards the championship for the whole year." In fact, he feels this Croke Park experience will stand to Kerry. "When we beat Down in the quarter final it was Kerry's first victory in Croke Park for about three years and it was important for the team to know how to win in Croke Park." Eoin Liston is one man well versed in Croke Park success. Liston is now the father figure of the side. Burke feels that Liston's return to the edge of the square as been a big boost to the Kingdom cause. "The Bomber is very good with the young fellas on the team and is a very good motivator, so his experience will be a big asset to us." Burke playing at centre back was forced to retire through injury in the first half of the league semi final against Dublin. This hamstring injury has flared up again in recent weeks. However, this won't prevent him from taking his place in the starting line up. His presence at centre back has been one of the success stories for Kerry in recent years. It has been a problem position ever since Tom Spillane drifted out of inter county fare. Indeed, Burke has brought many Spillane like qualities to his centre back play. In Spillane's mould he is an attacking half back but he remains mindful of his primary duties. "At centre back my first job is to defend but when the chance arises I will attack and go forward." These attacking instincts were illustrated in the league semi final when he won a penalty after he was up-ended in the Dublin penalty box. In fact, Burke is no stranger to the forwards. Over the past three years he has been the mainstay of the mid Kerry forward line. This was eventually rewarded with success. In 1990 mid Kerry suffered a heavy defeat to west Kerry in the county final. Undaunted by this failure the division side, made up of junior club sides, Keel, Cromane, Glenbeigh, Beaufort and Milltown-Castlemaine bounced back to win last year's county championship at the expense of St. Brendans. This win earned Burke the Kerry captaincy for 1993. Mid Kerry's 1992 success completed a hat trick of championship successes for Burke. He had tasted championship success at junior and intermediate level with Milltown/Castlemaine in 1990 and 1991 respectively. On the intercounty front, his versatility was illustrated when he lined out at full back in Kerry's under 21 All-Ireland winning team of 1990. In the intervening three years Burke - along with fellow under 21 Pa Dennehy, Maurice Fitzgerald, Anthony Gleeson, Timmy Flemming, David Farrell, Pa Laide, Liam Flaherty, Noel O'Mahony, Eamon Breen and Carl O'Dwyer have made the breakthrough to senior ranks. Burke feels that victory over Cork on Sunday would amount to another big breakthrough for this emerging Kerry side. "I think we are ready to challenge for All-Ireland honours as we are now mature enough, with most of the guys around 23 and 24 years of age," explained the player who teamed up with other current Kerry notables TImmy Fleming, Billy O'Shea, Billy O'Sullivan and Kevin O'Shea in former years at Killorglin Intermediate School. However, he is quick to point out that a win over cork would only amount to a beginning. "We have beaten Cork in the last two years in the championship but we have achieved little else. First of all we lost to Down in the All-Ireland semi final and then to Clare last year." He elaborates further, "playing against Cork for the last two years was like being in an All-Ireland to us and we didn't pick it up after beating them. We cannot afford to let the same thing happen this year." There is a steely determination in Sean Burke that implies the same fate won't befall Kerry this year. Cork only represent the first in a series of hazardous hurdles. Burke identifies midfield as the key to success over Cork. "Midfield is where it will be won and lost. Cork are settled in that area with Shea Fahy and Teddy McCarthy but I think we have a midfield capable of doing the business." However, there are no certainties where Kerry and Cork are concerned. Another look into the history books proves the point. The years ending in three haven't been kind to Kerry. In 1983, Tadgh Murphy's late goal ended Kerry's hopes of nine in a row in Munster, while in 1973 Cork were the decisive 5-12 to 1-15 victors. Conversely, the last centre back to captain Kerry was Listowel's Tim Kennelly in 1979. All-Ireland success was his reward. Sean Burke will be hoping the latter piece of history can repeat itself in 1993. Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 18th June 1993 Tweet

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