Munster SFC Final

Kerry v Cork

Sunday at 4pm

Fitzgerald Stadium

Live on RTÉ 2

Killarney. July. Munster final weekend. The sun is blazing. The town is buzzing. What more could you ask for?

Well, a ticket would be a start. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the capacity for Sunday’s Munster final, the first provincial showpiece in the Fitzgerald Stadium since 2017, is capped at 2,500. That means that upwards of 35,500 would-be spectators will instead hang around the town and watch it there. Which is… safer?

I suppose after a tough year and bit we should count our blessings; the fact that a couple of thousand fans will be left in is better than nothing. And, let’s not forget, Kerry didn’t even reach the Munster final last year.

Compared to 2020, this truly is a time of plenty.

LINE-UP

Peter Keane showed his hand on Friday night and the only change to his matchday squad is on the bench, where Tony Brosnan replaces his Dr Crokes clubmate David Shaw at No. 26.

Other than that, Kerry are set to line out just as they did in their easy victory over Tipperary a fortnight ago, although three players will have different numbers on their backs this time around. Micheál Burns (10), Stephen O'Brien (12) and Paul Geaney (14) have all reverted to their preferred geansaís for the team's biggest match of the year to date.

Cork manager Ronan McCarthy will name his team at 9pm tonight.

PREDICTION

Kerry will naturally be wary of Cork after what happened in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last November and in Seán Powter, Ian Maguire, Ruairí Deane and Luke Connolly, their old rivals have players who can hurt them.

But the reality is that the hosts are looking strong at the moment, far stronger than they did going into the last encounter, and they should be beating a team who have arguably dropped below Clare in Munster football's pecking order.

Rebel supporters will no doubt draw comfort from the fact that they overcame similar odds last year. They are facing a far more potent Kerry outfit tomorrow, however, and when you also take into account their own patchy form, and their dismal record in Killarney, it becomes almost impossible to see how Cork can cause an upset.

From Kerry's perspective, anything other than a fairly straightforward victory would be troubling.

VERDICT: Kerry by nine.

Kerry team to face Cork

1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)

2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)

3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)

4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)

5. Mike Breen (Beaufort)

6. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)

7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)

8. David Moran (Kerin’s O’Rahilly’s)

9. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil)

10. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)

11. Seán O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks)

12. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare Shamrocks)

13. David Clifford (Fossa)

14. Paul Geaney (Dingle)

15. Paudie Clifford (Fossa)

Subs: Fitzgibbon, A Spillane, Morley, Murphy, K Spillane, Walsh, Barry, G O'Sullivan, Sherwood, Kilkenny, Brosnan.