On Saturday 20th April in a warm sunny Killarney the Kingdom took on the Rebels in one of the oldest and biggest rivalries ever in the history of the GAA. In front of a crowd of 17,568 it was a game that did not disappoint.

Cork burst into an early lead after Conor Corbett and Paul Walsh put the Cork side up 1-1 to no score inside the opening 3 mins and travelling Cork supporters must have been thinking is it going to be their day in Killarney. Their hopes weren't long being dampened after 4 quickfire Kerry points through Dara Moynihan, Cillian Burke and Tom O' Sullivan and after 10 mins the sides were all square once again. Shortly after the Cork marksman Brian Hurley converted 3 points in a 5 minute spell to put the Rebels back in control and give their supporters a bit of life once again. By the 18th minute Cork were leading 1-6 to 5 and the Kerry sideline was far from comfortable.

Just when you thought this was going to be Cork's day and they were in control, up stepped Kerry's 2 most reliable men, Sean O' Shea and David Clifford with a pair of points each to leave the Kingdom only a point behind going into the break, 1-7 to 0-9. 

Although Kerry were only a point down, you could feel the sense of fear and worry throughout the Kerry supporters in Fitzgerald stadium as Cork did not have to work all that hard for their scores and Kerry's full back line was under severe pressure. 

Hurley found the range with a couple of frees in the third quarter, but Kerry were starting to find a little more rhythm and energy, and Moynihan, O’Shea and Tom O’Sullivan converted before David Clifford’s point in the 50th minute put the Kingdom ahead for the first time.

After that it all played out as expected even though Cork were still only a point down when the clock hit 57 minutes gone.

Kerry pushed on to go up 3 points forcing Cork into needing another goal but that chance never came about and the Kingdom were able to see out the game 18 points to 1-12. 

Kerry are into yet another Munster Final but not in a convincing fashion as their backs, especially full back line looked at sea whenever they had to step up defensively. This raises concerns for Jack and his management team about who's going to fill in at full back as Tadgh Morley doesn't look like the man for the job after Brian Hurley kicked 8 points with 4 of them being from play.With Jason Foley not having return date yet, Jack is really going to have a few head scratching decisions before his team play Clare in the Munster Final in Ennis next weekend.