I'm guessing the majority of people on here will fancy Kerry, which is not surprising as our record down there
is very poor. However, hope is starting to creep in.. The introduction of some quality u-21's and the addition of the
Antrim man are really starting to pay dividends. True, they haven't been really tested yet but their form has to be a positive.
From the bench yesterday we brought on Walsh, Sheehan and O'Connor, which highlights the quality of our squad. As a result it's near on impossible to predict our starting 15 right now.
As all the pundits have written us off(again), I feel we go there with nothing to loose. Cork will be a quietly confident team on the day, and that just might get us through.......

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 576 - 17/06/2013 09:41:01    1408386

Ah it will be close alright, Cork have new talent and have freshened their approach. I do think Kerry will win but Cork will still be at the business end of things, pity neither team had much of a challenge to contend with before the final

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3772 - 17/06/2013 10:25:41    1408452

Cork are the one team you can never right off, I reckon they can take Kerry this time round.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 17/06/2013 10:30:37    1408463

Cork are hard to figure out at the moment. Are they leaving the likes of Walsh, Sheahan and O' Connor on the bench so they finish games with their strongest 15? Seems to be the case and that means Kerry will be in serious trouble because we just can't match that strength in depth at the moment. Neither team has been tested so far but the prize for winning is huge, should be another packed house in Killarney for the visit of our close neighbours.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 17/06/2013 10:43:08    1408482

At least the Cork football team will get some decent support in Killarney..It our home away from Home!

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 576 - 17/06/2013 10:48:17    1408494

I fancy Kerry but only for the reason that the game is in Killarney. If it goes to a replay I would fancy Cork in Cork.There isnt much between the 2 teams.

aidan64 (Kerry) - Posts: 673 - 17/06/2013 11:04:35    1408514

It is a hard one to call. We have a terrible record down there (despite actually loving playing there-Munster finals are much better in Killarney)and that pushes the advantage in Kerry's favour. On balance we possibly have a better squad and gaelic football is a 20 man game these days which possibly pushes it in our favour. On balance though, Kerry have the better starting 15 (and you can only put 15 on the field) which pushes it back in their favour. I am glad that Conor Counihan is giving guys like Thomas Clancy, John O Rourke, Brian Hurley, Damien Cahalane etc an extended run which gives me some hope for the future of the team and if we can competition for places very high then we might be able to look forward to winning most of the battles in the medium term. I really hope we can win this one.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 17/06/2013 11:33:15    1408577

Kerry for me, Cork for some reason have gone backwards in my eyes and Kerry with the old guard are still a class act and they never lose to Cork in Killarney.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 17/06/2013 11:40:16    1408592

I know you can't read too much into the league, but Kerry and Tyrone were quite evenly matched in the League whereas Cork taught Tyrone a lesson in the art of good defending in the league. If Cork can repeat that impressive workrate and understanding, they have a good chance of a 1 or 2 point win; but you have to set that against the fact that Kerry always seem to have more confidence in these encounters. Very close but a narrow Kerry win.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 17/06/2013 11:58:24    1408619

should be a cracker.nothing between the teams.would not be surprised if it ended up a draw .il go with cork by 2 points.

liffo (Offaly) - Posts: 649 - 17/06/2013 12:18:18    1408648

This Cork team are MORE than capable of beating Kerry BUT the doubt's will creep in as soon as the ball is
thrown in! Game plan (Counihan not a great strategist...as has been proven over & over)will go out the
door and they will play the short game, back passing etc. Then the circus will start with O'Leary and Galvin.
This side show has lost its appeal and in my opinion Galvin has matured the better of the two! Delighted the
under 21 lads are starting to show promise and they don't carry any Kerry baggage. They've shown no fear of
the green & gold in Munster at under 21 level. Cork have given Kerry far too much respect last few years and the
nightmares of Croke Park still cut deep when those defeats should be sole reason to give Kerry a good trouncing.
Thing is, Cork can take on most of the other big gun's so I expect we will be on the scenic route. Incidentally,
I hope I'm wrong!!!

eaglehaslanded (Cork) - Posts: 135 - 17/06/2013 15:05:13    1408907

Fair analysis Eagle

I agree re Counihan. He needs to win another All-Ireland with this team or else he needs to depart. I hope O'Leary will not start as we do not need that side show anymore. My team would be
1. Ken O Halloran
2.Jamie O Sullivan
3. Michael Shields
4. Eoin Cadogan
5. James Loughrey (thank you Antrim!)
6. Damien Cahalane
7. Thomas Clancy
8. Aidan Walsh
9. Alan O Connor
10. John O Rourke
11. Fintan Goold
12. Paddy Kelly
13. Daniel Goulding
14. Brian Hurley
15. Paul Kerrigan

On the bench we then have the likes of Kissane, Canty, Pierce O Neill, Donncha O Connor, Ray Carey (hopefully), Mark Collins. Colm O Neill still a big loss though. He would be to any team.

Getting excited about this. Hope we win.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 17/06/2013 16:08:09    1408976

This should be the closest of the provincial finals and is very hard to call. Both teams have lots of questions to answer but my pick would be Kerry due to home advantage.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1800 - 17/06/2013 17:44:43    1409148

Kerry were very impressive at the latter end of the league,
and home advantage against Cork should see them over the
line. A draw could be on the cards, but I'm gonna go for
Cork, something tells me this Cork team have more on the
tank! Cork to win in a tight encounter.

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 17/06/2013 17:58:31    1409165

Good team sheet Bunny, certainly the correct bench. Prefer to see Kerrigan on the wing for his bursts
forward, often gets bottled up in the corner. His potential for scoring can be brilliant but sometimes
can be like a headless chicken. Alan O'Connor IMO has gone way backwards for such a big athletic guy. Walsh
has no problem getting possession. He's
around now long enough to be making a huge impact in all games (really pi**ed with him for not going with
the small ball! some fielder). You know, when you see the panel in black & white...it looks quiet awesome,
but I repeat...the Counihan Factor!!! I agree with you, he need's another A-I this year, otherwise Bye Bye!

eaglehaslanded (Cork) - Posts: 135 - 17/06/2013 18:56:51    1409232

The absence of Colm O'Neill & the venue, Killarney, means that the Muckross millions are nervously riding on Kerry this weekend.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 17/06/2013 19:04:05    1409240

Kerry to win. Beat Cork in the League and probably are stronger now that cork are missing o neill.

tyroneed (Tyrone) - Posts: 753 - 17/06/2013 21:51:29    1409482

Nice to see we've got a bit of sense since the 'RIP Kerry football' thread. It should be a cracker, I'll go for Cork by a point though.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 18/06/2013 09:29:49    1409533

Id learn towards kerry by 2-3 points. Should be a tight game. Would not be surprised if it goes either way. Both teams will be in the quarters either way.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12122 - 18/06/2013 09:40:52    1409545

Very hard to predict. Cork having that hoodoo of Killarney in the championship over them but have great strenght in depth compared to Kerry at the moment and Kerry.....well Kerry are Kerry and a different animal in the summer and can never be written off. Has the makings of a really good close game and will go for a Cork win....just.

Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 18/06/2013 09:55:17    1409559