Jack O’Connor expects the ‘good tests’ Kerry received from Cork and Clare in this year’s Munster SFC to stand them in good stead in the All-Ireland series.

The Kingdom defeated Clare 0-23 to 1-13 in Ennis yesterday to capture an 85th provincial title ahead of Sam Maguire ties against Monaghan (at home), Meath (away) and the beaten Leinster finalists (at a neutral venue).

“We kicked 5-14 against Clare last year and thought we were going great,” the Kerry boss told the media.

“Then we got a real lesson two weeks later from Mayo. This game will stand to us, as will the Cork game. We have had two good tests now and fellas’ feet will be on the ground.

“You’d be thinking from here on in that fellas would be coming into their peak mentally and physically. You just need to get your house in order now going into the group stages and try and hit the ground running then in the quarter-finals.”

O’Connor also claimed having the draw for the All-Ireland SFC group stages before the Munster final was a ‘distraction’ for his players.

“I can’t get my head around why they make the draw before it. What’s wrong with making the draw this evening? You still have two weeks to promote the thing. I can’t see the benefit of it. It’s a distraction,” he added.

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