Counihan relishing Kerry clash

August 21, 2008

Cork boss Conor Counihan
Cork manager Conor Counihan is relishing the chance to get one over on Kerry in Croke Park for the first time. The Rebels boss believes that that the past number of years will be irrelevant for Cork this Sunday when they line-out against their old rivals, and that the sole aim will be to reach a second successive All-Ireland final. "The reality is that in terms of the last number of years, it is irrelevant. Next Sunday is a different game. They're may be different players involved to some extent. What has gone before has no relevance. What has happened in the past is history. The way I see it is that I'm looking forward now. I believe we're going to be ready and focused for Sunday." Counihan believes that his side are by no means the finished article, and looking back on the quarter-final against Kildare that a lot of positives can be taken from the win. "For the Kildare match we wouldn't be the first team to get caught in that situation. We were very dominant at the start and looked composed. We got a bit ragged and started taking wrong options. That happens and it's disappointing. It was a difficult game for us to motivate ourselves for. We were very much aware that we were on a hiding there. "We're not the finished article and we're well aware of that. But the reality is that no team puts it together for 70 minutes. What we would accept is that we need to put it together for a longer period. I do think we've a lot of positives. "We've a lot of fighting spirit in the team and that's been proved to date in the championship. That's a serious quality to have. It's nice to have that in your pocket heading into an All-Ireland semi-final. "You know when the going gets tough that you're able for it. It's more attitude than anything else and the self-belief from that is important."

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