Fitzmaurice: Kerry defeat to Cork unthinkable, not impossible

Kerry should prove too strong for Cork in this weekend's All-Ireland SFC group game, but any further dip in performance could be seized upon by the Rebels, says Eamonn Fitzmaurice.

The All-Ireland champions were well below par in their home defeat to Mayo last time out, but with Division 2 sides Louth and Cork also in Group 1, few expect the Kingdom to be the side that falls by the wayside.

The recent history with their neighbours would suggest it is a timely fixture for Jack O’Connor to regroup his charges.

Since the turn of the millennium, the sides have crossed swords 33 times in championship fare, with Cork coming out on top on just half a dozen occasions.

The more recent history is full of one-sided encounters. Last year, despite an encouraging display from the Rebels, they fell short by 12 points against a team that rarely looked out of third gear. The year before the margin was 22 points.

The shock 2020 victory at Pairc Ui Chaoimh is Cork’s only win in the last 10 games.

John Cleary’s men were impressive in getting over Louth last weekend – a game many viewed as the shootout to avoid a championship exit – yet few give them a realistic chance of making it two from two.

Former Kerry manager Fitzmaurice expects his county men to leave Leeside with the win, but is wary of what could transpire if the Mayo performance is replicated.

"There is always the reminders of underage football, where they have lost to Cork teams. They know them from Sigerson," he told the RTÉ GAA podcast.

"There is always those angles to make sure that, from a Kerry perspective, that they are really tuned in for Saturday.

"From a Kerry point of view, it’s unthinkable (a Cork win), but not impossible.

"Looking at it through a Kerry lens, you go down there,