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Cork’s loss to Kerry sent shockwaves through the championship Sunday night, and Rebels boss Ronan McCarthy believes the county’s relegation from the league’s Division 2 last season acted as a catalyst. for a seismic shift in county soccer culture.
Kerry was defeated by a goal from Mark Keane at the end of extra time as the hosts prevailed 1-12 to 0-13 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cork earned promotion to the second tier of the league next season, but McCarthy suggested that the soul quest and response to relegation to Division 3 in 2019 was key in restoring the team’s luck.
“They are a wonderful group of players,” the jubilant coach told RTÉ Sport after the success of the semi-final.
“Last year when we came down from Division 2 after beating Armagh, the interesting thing about them was that they never looked at anyone else, they looked at themselves.
“They didn’t blame anyone or point the finger. It was a fierce low point for us, but it was a new starting point and we built from there.”
It’s 1983 again !! – Kerry is out of the championship. Here’s that extraordinary late goal from Mark Keane that won the game for @OfficialCorkGAA – see the highlights in @On Sunday #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/IoRBaWfxDD
– Sunday’s game (@TheSundayGame) November 8, 2020
The pundits may not have given Cork a chance, but McCarthy never regarded his team as a big underdog, and was encouraged by his performances at last year’s Super 8s.
“I don’t think it’s that shocking when people look at it,” he said.
“We noticed last year against Kerry that we were at that level and we did very well against Dublin and Tyrone in both games.
“We felt we were in a better place than last year, a stronger panel, and everything went well and in the end we got what we deserved.”
Cork was right in his tactics that day, without falling into the Kingdom’s counterattack trap.
“Kerry, looking at his games in the league, particularly his last two games, they were putting a lot of people behind the ball,” McCarthy said.
“They are inviting you to get rid of the ball in the center of the field.
“The message was instilled in them not to put the ball in contact and the guys implemented the game plan.”
Striker Keane only returned to Ireland after his Collingwood team concluded their Australian Rules season six weeks ago, but the Cork manager was not concerned about his inclusion.
“The moment he came back he wanted to come in and he really joined us, and today is the icing on the cake,” he enthused.
“I think the group is very committed to Cork football.
“I don’t think that’s always been there for the last four or five years, and I think it’s been part of the change in landscape for this group, that everyone out there has Cork football as their number one priority.
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