Jack O'Connor took a swipe at the media for dismissing Cork's chances after they pushed Kerry all the way in a Munster SFC semi-final extra-time epic last Saturday night.

“This is a good Cork team. When they have all their men, they’re a serious team," the Kingdom boss told reporters after his team's 3-21 to 1-25 victory at a rain-soaked SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

"They’re big, they’re strong, they’re athletic and they have pace. Cork always lift their game against Kerry — it’s tradition.

"I’ve had plenty of battles with them. I’ve often left here with Kerry teams with our tails between our legs.

“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 also praised Kerry's battling qualities after they had Paudie Clifford red-carded on the hour mark.

“I thought the period when we lost Paudie and took it to extra-time took a huge effort and took huge courage from our fellas," he continued.

“We spent a big period of that game with 14 men and that takes it out of you, particularly against an athletic team like Cork. Fair dues to our fellas — we showed real battling qualities and a real panel effort."

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