On balance you would have to say it was one of the best Kerry displays for many a year. Even the year they last lifted Sam in 2014, they had no display of such a commanding level as Saturday Evening's.
When picking over the entrails of last years campaign and its dismal ending, the answers to Kerry's problems lay in the application of fast and fit youth with Football skills, and they put these answers on the New Pairc Ui Chaoimh test paper and got an A plus Mark. They did not score 100% marks, but they got well into the 90's.
Cork were well prepared, but they had not come up against such a fast and fit, hard tackling team as this for years, so when they did, they did not have the tools to deal with it.
The level Dublin are at, and indeed Mayo of the last few years, when the Championship is in the melting pot is the level Kerry are aiming at, and yet you need a sort of naivety to go that bit farther to better that level, and that's what it will take to win this years Championship. Kerry have lost recent campaigns by small margins, because they were have used the tried and tested football talent within the county which matched, but in reality could not better Dublin, and the athleticism of the younger Dublin men won out in the dying minutes.
Great to see football played with such a positive attitude. Fair dues to Cork also for setting up to play it in the right way. Cork needed to see what the real level is like so that they can set their bar to the right level. This youthful Kerry side have seen this level this year when Dublin gave them a second half spanking in the League, and over the last few years at the latter stages of the Championship.
Kerry were so good because they respected Cork, and fair dues to the management team for getting them so fit and strong, and resilient enough to comeback so strong from the poor start. Ruari Deane gave Paul Murphy a hiding in the early stages, but Paul Murphy played so well after this its a great sign of him and the team.
Kevin McCarthy played really well when he came on for the Black carded O Brein, who was ''lifting'' until that rush of blood to the head.
David Clifford played really well also, and his lack of strength at his age was the only drawback at this stage, but one would have to say that his control of the ball, and his football ability stands out. If he avoids injury, he will be one of the all time greats. James O Donoghue, seems to have lost his scoring edge, and its because his markers are playing him from behind, keeping him outside them, and yet that is why he wins so much ball. That in itself is a great asset for this team. To have an outlet in the forwards ensuring the ball, when kicked forward, stays forward gives Kerry so many options. Paul Geaney is the primary beneficiary of these options, and he is so gifted and clever to execute same with such a high percentage conversion rate. His quick thinking to side foot the latter of his two goal haul is a hallmark of the Class forward he has become. Sean O Shea, even considering his ability to kick a 50, which is something that Kerry have been missing for some few years, but his directness and footpassing, tackling and strength in this vital position makes this Kerry Team a far more potent and difficult opponent than when we had the Gooch, even with his sublime skills, or the very negative tactic of playing Paul Murphy here in the seasons past. Michael Burns did not shine in his first appearance in the MSFC final, but while I will leave it for him to show us why he was chosen on another day, given the quality he is keeping on the subs bench he must be showing uo very well in training.
Midfield performed well, and considering the Cork pairing gave them more than enough of it last year in last years decider in Killarney, they needed to. Moran was the best midfielder on show, and yet his display was far from flawless. He is reaching a level of consistency in his paly though that makes him a match for the best midfielders in the country, and if he removes the odd faux pas from his repertoire he would be the best in the Country. Jack Barry is a strong hardworking player and did a lot right last Saturday evening. He earned a few frees when running into trouble, but needs to be careful that he does not turn these dead end runs into turn overs. His fielding was good, and his covering back protected his colleagues in defence no end.
Our half back line was our best line on display, and defended, once Ruari Deane got his marching orders, without a flaw, and attacked and bewildered Cork relentlessly. Morley was strong in the Center, he won balls he had no right to win, and while his man got some link ball outside of him, that is where he stayed, outside of him. Paul Murphy I have mentioned before, he covered every slippery blade of grass in the new Stadium, with cleverness, quick in speed of foot and mind. As for Mr White Lightning, what a display. He was immense. His speed going forward was unbelievable and marks him out as real threat for our future opposition to watch. The only negative for him is was he too good, can he be as good again. he has set himself a high standard.
The full back line was first and foremost fast, and then strong, and then tenacious. Crowley was forced to roam, which may in former days suited him, but I don't think suited him on the banks of the Lee last evening. Its hard to be a roaming fullback, its an oxymoron if my English lessons are correct. Having the guilty feeling of gallivanting and having a good time, while you have left Misters Murphy, Beagloach and Foley holding the fort often has a subduing effect. He should have fisted a point instead of going for an unlikely goal opportunity in the second half, and perhaps, with his free flowing 'joie de vivre' he is not a natural full back. Neither was Seamus Moynihan though and we did alright when he donned the no3.
Shane Murphy was not overly tested. He could do nothing about the goals when the hordes from Cork rampaged into his square. His kick outs were good and varied. He did not kick any over the sideline, and went long and short to good effect.
The Star came on and caused a bit of further consternation, and in spite Jamie O Sullivan, (who got a fair rattle off the post when he came from nowhere to score the first of Corks goals ) pulling and dragging off the Tralee Giant, Kieran Donaghy with his reach and leap kept getting the ball into his hand. He laid off well, and covered a lot of ground in his 15 minutes on show. He kicked one short which he should have scored, but remains a great option for Kerry when the game is to be won. Barry John fought hard and got his point when he kicked off the tracksuit, and Killian Young make the shortest of the trios of subs.
Look, the Kerry fans pursuit of perfection will continue, and in spite of the largest winning margin in 80 years over Cork in a Munster Final, Paudie O Shea's affectionately titled ''flipping animals'' will see the holes, the areas to be addressed, and the oversights that could cost us this Championship. And this is an important Championship, because it will not only be a win for Kerry, it will be the loss of a four in a row for Dublin. The stakes are high, have they ever been higher.
In summary, I really enjoyed Saturdays game and I hope we win the next few.