Watching history repeat itself

CHAMPIONSHIP 2002/Munster SF semi-final replay - Kerry v Cork:Ian O'Riordan draws on links to the past for clues as to what's in store for Kerry and Cork in tomorrow's replay

For all the grand history of Cork and Kerry in the Munster championship, there is bolt of novelty about replays.

Before last Sunday, the counties had drawn only three times in the last 40 years - 1976, 1982 and 1987.

The dramatic elements to those three games, each as unpredictable as they were revealing, make up for the scant comparisons.

When the door closed at 0-8 each in Killarney last Sunday, none of the Kerry or Cork players had previously experienced their rivalry ending with feelings of a mixed note. But both managers certainly had.

When they last drew in July 1987, it was a day remembered on the greater scale for Stephen Roche riding down the Champs Elysees as winner of the Tour de France. For the playing career of Larry Tompkins, though, it was a fresh beginning, while for Páidí Ó Sé it was the beginning of the end.

With around 46,000 crammed into Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and all of them wilting with the agony of the excitement, Tompkins popped over the balancing point with a free just seconds before the full-time whistle.

The man from Kildare was suddenly reborn a Cork hero, and some said too it was the kick that finished the great Kerry team.

Moments earlier, it seemed as if Kerry would probably keep their Munster title. The players already regarded as the greatest of the century had visible signs of wear and tear, but Mike Sheehy slipped in a goal on 71 minutes and, with a point advantage, the champions looked safe.

In assessing the game, Paddy Downey of The Irish Times was clear who saved Cork:

Tompkins made an outstanding contribution in Cork's powerful challenge, scoring eight points of their total - six with the dead ball.

He kicked his first point from play just 15 seconds after the throw-in and, under immense pressure, converted the free which deservedly gave his team a replay.

And it was the start of Munster's new order. Tompkins helped take Kerry apart in the replay - which Cork won 0-13 to 1-5 - and over the next few years he helped forge much of Cork's further success, and also force a succession of Kerry retirements, including Ó Sé.

Five years before, though, both Ó Sé and Kerry were at their peak. Every respected sports journalist in the country, including Paddy Downey, had proclaimed that Kerry had to make only a token appearance at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to scare the wits out of Cork and carry off the Munster football title for the eighth time in succession.

In the end, the score read 0-9 each. Predictions of a sports event were never so rudely shattered, said Downey afterwards. In this case, they were ground into tiny pieces by Cork's achievement and, as far as this writer is concerned, the unpalatable diet is willingly eaten.

But it wasn't the only upset on that Sunday in July 1982. Over in Wimbledon, Jimmy Connors had also taken the singles title from a strongly-favoured John McEnroe, six years the younger man and the tournament's top seed.

Anyhow, the all-conquering Kerry team of the previous four years were on that day also cut down to the stature of mere mortals. A half-fit Jack O'Shea and an untypical blunder by Ger Power late in the game didn't help Kerry's cause, but the Cork players were clearly in the mood for revolution.

Only 25,000 witnessed the near coup, but, as Downey observed, there are always people who go look at gardens and fountains while empires are being overthrown.

Playing at right half back, Ó Sé had a mixed game that afternoon. For the first half, he was well beaten by Cork's Tadhg Murphy, although he regained his dash and flair towards the end and helped save Kerry's skin for another day.

Back in Killarney for the replay, Cork were being given half a chance. Once the game started, however, Kerry gave them no chance and more to form won out 2-18 to 0-12.

This was the Kerry of three or four years ago, said Downey. Sharp as a razor, beautifully cohesive, fleet as deer and overflowing with ideas.

So to 1976 when all the excitement of the Montreal Olympics couldn't match the two games between Kerry and Cork.

What was meant to be a celebratory opening of the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh started badly when 10,000 burst in without paying after chaos developed at the gates, and their presence inside the perimeter wall brought further tension to the occasion.

The 0-10 to 0-10 draw that ensued was the Kerry-Cork rivalry at its ill-tempered and rugged best, but was a mere taster of the sensational replay that also took place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh a fortnight later.

Even Paddy Downey was almost lost for words:

It is no exaggeration to say that all the superlatives in the English language are too few to describe adequately the comeback witnessed by 45,235 paying customers, he noted in the following Monday's Irish Times report.

The comeback referred to Kerry, who were down by seven points 15 minutes into the second half and with pure determination forced extra-time.

From there, their extraordinary stamina won out an extraordinary game, and the Cork-Kerry rivalry hasn't backed down since.