clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 23/06/2018 20:38:54    2113978

Kerry were good
but my god cork were very naïve
no defence no intensity either from cork
it as like a challemge game for Kerry
I expect galway will make it difficult for them
and be a lot more aggressive and better in defence
be interesting to see how Kerry will deal with comer and co

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 23/06/2018 20:52:37    2113987

Vishred (Mayo) - Posts: 303 - 23/06/2018 20:57:12    2113992

Congratulation to Kerry, you can only beat what in front you really.

Thought Cork were massively poor and way off standard it was like watching a game in slow motion when they were in procession, tactically poor, I did think the ref was unfair to them on more then one ocasssion.

None of that is Kerry problem, played some lovely stuff in the forward line, Geany and O Shea are a joy to watch. Clifford will come on, I actually think O Shea is the better player. But Clifford Is a strong runner and good ball retention, distribution, makes yards and chips in, mote to come of course. I don't think O Douonhue is the same player he was to be honest but still excellent. But hard to contain that forward line, probably collectively arguably the best out there. Moran was excellent fielding today and was well assisted with the flood. Paul Murphy was excellent as was White. All questions answered at provincial level which is all that can be done. They look a real threat and serious contenders and should be targeting an All Ireland at this stage.

In critique, well I think you will see managers up and down the country plotting how to starve that forward line of ball. Pocesdion will be key and their are weaknesses there. Looks like they are going to play the high press, difficulty with that is it's hard to sustain and other teams like Mayo and Dublin have been playing against it for years. You are also relying on winning ball in the center which is far from a given against better calibre midfielders, half back and have forwards. Also seem to be flooding midfield to support fielding this is something Dublin have done for a long time and Mayo to an extent do Kerry have the players to compete with them in that melting pot at half back, midfield or half forward, do Kerry kerry have the physicality and stamina to sustain that with a team that can exploit the space in behind the flood remain to be seen, I think they are weak there personally. The full back line is vulnerable I know the score and the stats today of Corks not scoring. But if Cork could cut through them like butter at times get two simple goals, other teams will toad more devastatingly, they are there to be got at. Lastly the indiscpicplind May cost them, there will be days when those strategic fouls to protect the back line will work against them. If I was a manger I'd be thinking of all those aspects to exploit.

Defo contenders and should be hopeful,on what been seen so far, hard to draw conclusions on Munster or Leinster on what's coming out of either province given the standard, but very impressive with what's been played so far. Every right to be confident down the Southwest.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 23/06/2018 21:37:07    2114019

Kerry very impressive up front but it was against a poor Cork team who struggled in Division 2 this year. The number of simple turnovers Cork gave from poor solos & handpasses was crazy at this level, basic skill execution was poor. Kerry still haven't sorted out the issue of teams running directly at them & this will be exposed later in the year. Cork weren't helped by a crazy decision in black carding Rory Deane, the inconsistency throughout the game was frustrating, in the 33rd & 40th minutes, there were clear black card offences, nothing shown. This ref centre of the attention again ? As for the pitch, a multi million pound redevelopment & once again in the space of a few months, players were slipping & sliding all over the field, this in the driest spell of weather in decades, surely the pitch that the game is played on is the first thing you get right. It is the least the players deserve.

Uimhir.a.3. (Galway) - Posts: 409 - 23/06/2018 21:55:54    2114029

@Username would agree with almost everything you say there, I think we will labour when we come up against more organised teams who'll bottle up our attack and target the weak links in defence. How our youngsters react when that happens will be interesting, will they keep the heads or let frustration get to them?

The thing that pleases me most so far is that there is a work rate and intensity about this team that just wasn't there in recent years, and we are moving the ball quickly and purposefullly, albeit against naive opposition to date. I think Eamon got a rude awakening against Mayo last year and he has changed the approach over the winter, it appears to be working so far.

Ultimately I expect that we will fall short this year but I think we are going in the right direction. A semi final spot should be the minimum requirement and who knows after that.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 23/06/2018 22:04:05    2114033

Kerry were very impressive and exciting going forward and tore the Cork backline to shreds. I was surprised Cork did not use a sweeper system. The wing half-backs were very pacy and drove at Cork at every opportunity. Cork were so poor that it is difficult to assess how good Kerry really are. Difficult to see Donaghy getting much game time with the system that Fitzmaurice seems to favour. The full-back line looked uncomfortable on the few occasions that Cork ran at them but they were getting little cover from their half-backs who seemed more intent on bombing forward than defending.
Once again you would have to question the quality of referring, particularly if you were a Corkman.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 23/06/2018 23:08:21    2114061

Cork at home, decent crowd and a great start and still end up stuffed. At times Cork were very poor but even allowing for that some of the Kerry build up play and score taking was a joy to behold in this robotic era of football, they will be there or there abouts no doubt and the future looks very bright in the Kingdom.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 23/06/2018 23:16:56    2114065

Kerry are the team to beat this year. I dont care who says what about how good Dublin are and how untested Kerry are. The reality is that the only team who have been tested that are still in the provincials are Galway. (beating mayo in the first round).

They are scoring goals. They scored 22 points from play against Clare and 10 points from frees. That is scary.

Yes cork are poor, and have been for some time now. They can get it right for one big back door game in the last couple of years, but thats about it. This year will be no different.

Having said that, Kerry are in a different class and will take an almighty effort to turn them over.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 24/06/2018 02:04:34    2114092

Early yet but must say Kerry looked awesome.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 24/06/2018 07:29:21    2114101

Nothing wrong with the pitch according to the players and said it was perfect surface for the game.
Cork were treated harshly by Brannigan and he gave Kerry anything that was going. Terrible black card decision and some soft frees to rub salt in.
Kerry will definitely be tested more than that but have to be considered strong contenders now for Sam. It'll be a brave man that'll bet against them.
Terrible shame to see the state of Munster football though and this will only compound things.
If anything this Kerry team will further kill any interest in the game .You can put money on the winning a dozen Munster titles in a row without a question.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 24/06/2018 09:33:12    2114115

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 24/06/2018 09:33:55    2114116