Moynihan takes centre stage

Deja vu for Larry Tompkins. Two years ago in Killarney he was fit to be tied after referee Michael Curley gave two penalties to Kerry and had to send the Cork manager back to his dugout at one stage.

Yesterday at the very end, Cork forward Fionán Murray looked to have earned a close-in free. Referee John Bannon waved on play.

It meant the difference between winning and replaying and maybe on the scale of Cork's perceived injustices, evoked mellower reactions. Certainly it wasn't the first thing Tompkins had to say after yesterday's rinsed-out Munster semi-final between the old rivals.

"It was a good game of football and only justice that neither team lost. I was very happy with everyone who wore a red jersey out there. They showed great guts, as this team has done over the past couple of years. We haven't always got the decisions but, please God, the penny will drop some day. At least we didn't lose, which is an improvement on recent years."

Kerry had looked in danger of losing their title in the early stages but the protean Seamus Moynihan came up from full back to turn around the match at centrefield. The move was a surprise for the player himself.

"I honestly didn't think I'd be out there at any stage, but you just don't know in Gaelic football. It gives you more of a chance to be involved out there.

"But at the end of the day, if you're a number 25 it's still all about winning, but both teams, I'd say, would be happy enough to be still involved. Whoever comes through the extra match will stand to them."

Moynihan's move to the middle had the double benefit that it freed him from the frustrations of marking Colin Corkery. Despite the foul weather Corkery again made a decisive contribution to the scoring, with five points, including two late scores which put his team in front.

"What made it more difficult was when it kept raining," he said, "and there was a lot of water on the pitch so it was nowhere near what it usually is down here. We had to battle."

He disagreed the prospects looked bleak when Kerry moved ahead in the second half. "I didn't think so to be honest. I thought we were a bit unlucky not to get a few breaks around midfield," he said. "Halfway through the second half, they dominated but when we did get the breaks we were able to go up and get vital scores. It wasn't just the rain. It was the worst wind I've ever played in. It was going all over the place."

He also echoed his manager's sentiments on the last free that wasn't awarded: "For a third year in a row the refereeing decisions went against us. Maybe the next time we play them we'll get the decisions."