Former Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice has revealed how the Kingdom stole a march on Cork ahead of last year’s Munster final, upsetting Cork boss Ronan McCarthy. Writing in Saturday's Irish Examiner ahead of the renewal of the old rivalry, Fitzmaurice explains how Kerry managed to secure a kickaround to familiarise themselves with the new Páírc Uí Chaoimh, even though Cork hadn’t had access to the pitch the week of the final. “Last year there was the additional motivation of getting into Páirc Uí Chaoimh for a kickaround on Friday evening, organised by chairman Tim Murphy through his contacts in the Cork County Board,” writes Fitzmaurice. “While we were there an irate Ronan McCarthy rang one of the staff at the Páirc and chewed the head off him. "Cork couldn’t get into the pitch that week as it was being spared for the weekend's game yet here were the opposition having a leisurely kickaround the night before the match.

Source: Irish Examiner June 21, 2019 12:22 UTC