Croker woes continue for Counihan's sorry Rebels.

Byline: PAT NOLAN 

By PAT NOLAN AS soon as Colm O'Neill struck the game's only goal in the 11th minute, Cork manager Conor Counihan gestured from the sideline for his players to remain calm.

At that early stage, everything was going perfectly for the Munster champions who had eased into the same vein of form that had earned them the pre-match favourites tag.

But if anything the goal, which put Cork 1-3 to 0-1 ahead, had a more energising effect on Kerry.

Cork didn't score from play for another 21 minutes, with only a point from a free coming from Donncha O'Connor in the meantime.

Kerry scored eight in the same period as Tadhg Kennelly pulled the strings from centre-forward and Colm Cooper benefited from some generous refereeing decisions which meant Anthony Lynch was never going to have the field day he had against the Gooch in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Once Kerry wrestled the momentum from Cork after O'Neill's goal, they never really relinquished it.

"Obviously when you get a good start like that you'd like to build on it," said Counihan after the game. "Maybe at some stage in that we felt this is going to be our day and maybe we did take our eye off the ball and all of sudden Kerry are back in the hunt and they went ahead of us again.

"We had difficulty getting hold of the ball and we probably took some bad options when we had the ball. We were running quite well in the early minutes but we probably stopped running and played a bit more direct which they seemed handle a bit better."

Cork did have periods after half-time where they enjoyed the bulk of possession but could only manage three points in the entire half. On the other hand they had 10 wides in the second half out of a total of 14.

In the minutes after the game though, Counihan was unable to point to any one factor as to why Cork lost their fourth final since they last tasted success in 1990.

"I don't know, I think I'll take time to step back and reflect on that. There's an awful lot that happens there in 70 minutes of football, very difficult to analyse it down to one particular thing.

"I'd certainly find that you're dragged into the emotions of things. We'll look at it over the next few days but the reality is it doesn't change the result."

"We got a few scores early in the second half and we could have pulled away and won the game.

"The reality is we were beaten in an All-Ireland final and we're very disappointed for the players. Analysis, that's what'll keep you guys in a living."

CAPTION(S):

HURT Cork players lie dejected after the game in Croke Park