Jack O’Connor was delighted with the impact of his bench as Kerry finished strongly to become the inaugural winners of the Corn Pháidí Uí Shé.

Despite starting with only seven of their All-Ireland SFC winning team, with two more coming off the bench, the Kingdom still had enough in reserve to see off old rivals Cork by 1-23 to 1-15 in the Munster SFC final.

“We knew coming into this game that we’d have to earn this one because Cork are a decent team,” the Kingdom boss told reporters in Killarney.

“They’re showing good form, they’re now a Division 1 team, they gave us a bellyful above last year. Given the fact that we are down bodies at the moment, it was going to make that task even harder.

“We’re just delighted the way we reacted in the second half, I just thought some of the boys that came off the bench made a big contribution. The likes of Tony [Brosnan] kicking five points off the bench is a massive thing, Killian [Spillane] got his customary good score. Gavin White was just fantastic for a man who has very little football played. Dylan [Geaney] knitted the play together and kicked a great score.

“Even the likes of Eddie Healy came on there and looked right at home, came out with one ball there like Séamus Moynihan used to of old, like a knife through butter, so delighted with the lads who are standing up. Keith Evans was a revelation today. He’s come an awful long way in twelve months. They’re the lads that I’m happiest for.”

O’Connor added: “It’s obviously very tough on the lads who are injured, but for the future of Kerry football it was great that Tomás Kennedy got a good outing there, 50 minutes, they’re the future of Kerry football. We need to keep renewing and refreshing the Kerry panel.”

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