Kerry out for revenge in Cork

League champions travel across the county bounds in search of provincial glory

MUNSTER SFC FINAL

Cork v Kerry

Sunday at 3.30pm

Mallow | Live on Clubber.tv

Division 1 champions Kerry will be out for revenge on Sunday when they take on fierce rivals Cork in the final of the Munster Senior Football Championship.

The last meeting between the sides

- three weeks ago in the group stageended in a draw. It was a credible result on paper but in reality it was a match that Kerry should have won. The visitors led by 10 points heading down the stretch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh before a rousing fightback by The Rebels left the sides level at the final horn. Thankfully for Kerry, the outcome of that particular encounter didn’t have major ramifications; victories over Tipperary and Waterford saw them finish level with Cork at the top of the four- team pool. With first and second in the group advancing to the Munster final, another Cork-Kerry derby was confirmed.

The fact that both finalists will advance to the All-Ireland series regardless of what happens on Sunday means that it’s not quite do-or-die just yet, but there are certain advantages to winning. Firstly, and most importantly, there’s a provincial crown on the line. Cork beat Kerry in last year’s decider and another victory this weekend would make it five Munster titles in a row.

RIVALS: Máire O'Callaghan of Cork and Aishling O'Connell of Kerry during last year's Munster final at the Fitzgerald Stadium. Cork won by five points.

Winning is a habit and getting one over on the old enemy will stand Declan Quill and Darragh Long’s team in good stead heading into June.

There is also the small matter of seeding. Winning Munster will see Kerry advance to the All-Ireland group stage as first seeds. They will slot into Group D alongside Connacht runners-up Galway and Tipperary. If they lose to Cork, they will find themselves in Group C alongside the Leinster champions (Dublin or Meath) and Cavan. The top two teams in each group of four will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Although, having said all that, being a second seed didn’t hinder Kerry too much in 2022. They topped their group and made it all the way to the All-Ireland. Plus they have already beaten both Dublin in Meath in 2023. In reality, they should be fearing no one. First things first, though. The challenge of Cork in Mallow. It promises to be a full-blooded affair.