Paul Kerrigan has revealed how a newspaper article helped motivate Cork into making their winning trip to Longford yesterday writes John Fogarty.
The captain spoke after the game about a piece that predicted a victory for the home side. “I suppose we were sent an article during the week, I think it was local journalists were tipping Longford,” said the Nemo Rangers man.
“The odds were pretty good for them. Even people down our own place didn’t fancy us too much. So we showed plenty character and it’s good to shove it down their throats.”
Cork will return to Croke Park on Saturday week where they will face one of Donegal, Tyrone, Dublin or Westmeath depending on today’s provincial final outcomes.
Beating two Division 3 teams having lost to Tipperary won’t convince many that Cork are on the right road again but Kerrigan is reading something into this latest win in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
“Look, the ultimate goal when you get out of Munster and into the qualifiers, is to get to the quarter-finals, around August with all the big teams.
The provincial champions and stuff like that. That’s our goal.
“We’ve one more battle ahead. I don’t know who we’ll get but it’s just nice to win as a team.
“Two wins on the bounce now for this team in championship. I know people will say lower opposition, you’re expected to win but like there’s plenty of teams that have come and gone and got knocked out to Longford as well.”
Kerrigan readily acknowledges yesterday’s victory, sealed by Colm O’Neill and Pa Kelly’s half-time introductions, was a crucial result for the side.
“I suppose this team is at a bit of a crossroads. We’ve been in those positions before at half-time. Take Kildare last year, Tipp this year, a few bad league results and we’ve kind of folded in the past. We just knew this was going to be a tough game.
“We’d to find a way to win it and luckily we did. I suppose we coupled that with a bit of class that came on, it helps calm everything down, experienced heads and I think the lead was wiped out after 10 minutes.”
