KEITH Ricken has a way with words that makes every conversation both enjoyable and enlightening. This week’s pre-Munster minor football final chat added another memorable entry to the collection.

As he prepares his young charges for the decider against Kerry at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday night (7.35pm), there’s an opportunity for the young Rebels to win the county’s first provincial minor football title since 2022, and also halt the Kingdom’s recent dominance of the competition. 

In the group stage earlier this month, Cork went beyond enemy lines and beat Kerry in their own backyard, 3-18 to 1-14. 

The thinking is that it could help Cork in their next challenge, knowing they can defeat their biggest rival.

But with shades of legendary Skibbereen rower Paul O’Donovan, who leaned on the thoughts of a Greek philosopher in an interview ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, quoting Heraclitus who said ‘a man can never fall in the same river twice’, Ricken is from the same school of thought.

The Cork manager believes every game takes on a different identity.

‘No, not really,’ Ricken said, when asked if the previous meeting with Kerry will have any bearing on Monday night.

‘It might give the lads confidence because they’ve played Kerry before and beaten them before, but every game takes on a life of its own.

‘Young fellas understand that. You can get a decision for you or against you, the wind can go for or against you, injuries can happen, you can get a run of luck or a run of bad luck. Every game can turn on its head very quickly.

Riley O'Donovan in action against Waterford. (Photo: George Hatchell)

‘What we keep telling these lads is that they have to deal with whatever comes their way as best they can. That’s what we’re trying to train them for. Football is like life – it’s not linear. There are ups and downs all the time, in games and in life.

‘No team delivers a perfect 60 minutes. You’re constantly trying to cope with the opposition and each day brings something different.

‘Even if the same team lines out with the same players and the same style of football, it’s still a different game. It’s like stepping into the river – once you step out of it and back in again, it’s a different river.

‘That’s football too. You go back into it and it’s a different match, different circumstances, different things happening around you. All you’re trying to do is put your own stamp on it and bring your familiar patterns and principles into the game.’

Much like a river, Cork have momentum ahead of the Munster final after winning all three Phase 2 games. It began with a 4-24 to 0-12 victory away to Clare, followed by the win on the road against Kerry, and earlier this week the Rebels, already qualified for the final, maintained their momentum with a 3-19 to 1-12 home victory over Waterford at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Free-scoring Cork racked up ten goals in the three games, and have averaged over 30 points per game in the group stage. Riley O’Donovan (Barryroe), Tom Whooley (Clonakilty), Joe Miskella (Ballincollig), Ben Hegarty (Ballinora), Jacob Barry (Aghinagh), Eoghan Ahern (Carrigaline), Luke O’Neill (Carbery Rangers), Alex O’Herlihy (St Finbarr’s) and Peadar Kelly (Naomh Abán) have all rattled the back of the net. 

It all builds a sense of optimism that Cork minors can – touch wood – do what the county’s seniors and U20s couldn’t: beat Kerry in a provincial final.

Perhaps that’s an unfair pressure to put on the shoulders of U17 players, and for Ricken, the focus remains firmly on Cork’s own progress rather than any narrative around Kerry and stopping their dominance.

‘For me, it’s about Cork. It’s about what we’re doing and the hope we can give Cork football,’ he explained.

‘It’s not about making up for last Sunday or the U20 final. That’s not the responsibility of 16 and 17-year-olds. The responsibility for those games belongs to the teams and managements involved in them.

‘Whether we win, lose or draw the next day, I’m very happy with what we’re producing and the work being done. It’s not about legacy. Every team writes its own history.

Cork minor manager Keith Ricken. (Photo: George Hatchell)

‘Winning a Munster or All-Ireland title at this grade doesn’t automatically transform Cork football overnight. What matters more is producing players who are used to winning, used to performing and used to taking on whatever challenge is in front of them.

‘That’s what is really at stake here. These young lads are used to playing teams multiple times. They’ve played Kerry several times already through development squads and championships. In club and school football they could play teams twice every year too, so they won’t be overthinking any of that.

‘We’re just focused on our competition and on doing our job as well as we can. If success gives supporters a bit of hope, then that’s great. But for me, as someone involved in Cork football for a long time, you simply want every team to do well and every player to improve.

‘You want lads to come back to their clubs as better footballers and better people, and hopefully to enjoy the experience enough that they want to keep coming back.

‘U17 and U20 football are still developmental grades. That’s important to remember.’

Ricken was pleased, too, with the attitude his young team showed when beating Waterford earlier this week. It’s a performance that highlights the maturity in the group – already guaranteed their spot in the Munster final, they still went about their business impressively, winning by 13 points after leading by 12 at the break.

Early goals from Riley O’Donovan and Peadar Kelly saw Cork build a 2-4 to 0-0 lead, and they never looked back. Alex O’Herlihy scored the Rebels’ third goal before the break, as they led 3-10 to 0-7 at half time.

‘Fellas are always trying to put their hand up, especially those getting an opportunity now, so from that point of view you’re always happy with it,’ Ricken reflected on the demolition of the Déise.

‘We have a really good bunch. They go about their business well and every match is important to them, whether it’s a challenge game, league match or championship match. They’ve had a good buzz and a good quality about them all year.

‘So I wasn’t surprised by the performance on Monday night. They showed a good level of maturity. It was another opportunity for lads and we’ve used the bones of 30 players in the championship this year, which is great. At that age, it’s probably essential to expose as many players as possible to that level.

‘We’re down to the business end now and we’ll be trying to tidy up a few things and prepare for next week. That can be difficult for young lads to negotiate, so I was delighted with the performance.’

Scorers 

Cork: Alex O’Herlihy 1-3; Joe Miskella 0-3; Peadar Kelly, Riley O’Donovan 1-0 each; Conrad Murphy (2pt), Jacob Barry (2pt), Eoghan Ahern (2f), Rory Twohig (2pt f), Morgan Corkery, Kieran O’Shea 0-2 each; Kevin O’Donovan 0-1.

CORK V WATERFORD: Rory Twohig (Kilmeen); Donnacha Coleman (Youghal), Gabriel Oronsaye (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels), Riain McCormack (Midleton); Conrad Murphy (Barryroe), Éanna Lynch (Ballincollig), Peadar Kelly (Naomh Abán); Kieran O’Shea (Urhan), Mark Power (Charleville); Eoghan Ahern (Carrigaline), Morgan Corkery (Nemo Rangers), Joe Miskella (Ballincollig); Alex O’Herlihy (St Finbarr’s), Jacob Barry (Aghinagh), Riley O’Donovan (Barryroe).

Subs: Luke O’Neill (Carbery Rangers) for R O’Donovan (ht), Aaron O’Sullivan (Glanmire) for R McCormack (ht), Kevin O’Donovan (O’Donovan Rossa) for K O’Shea (39), Donncha O’Mahony (Newcestown) for M Power (43), Micheál Walsh (Bride Rovers) for J Miskella (51).