If familiarity does indeed breed contempt, then these two old rivals must be sick of the sight of each other, writes Séamus Leonard.
The two counties have now met in four consecutive Munster finals, and their meetings have become an almost annual event at Headquarters as well.
And while Cork have held their own in the provincial encounters (winning titles earlier this year and in 2006), their record against the Kingdom up in Dublin does not make for pleasant viewing.
The most notable defeat was in last year’s All-Ireland final when Kerry blew the Rebels out of the water and won by 10 points pulling up.
That win left Kerry with their sights firmly on completing a famous three-in-a-row of Sam Maguire titles, while Cork went into a winter of discontent with their heads held low.
But from a low point where they didn’t fulfil their first two NFL Division 2 fixtures, the Rebels have grown in stature as the year has progressed, even if Limerick and Kildare have asked serious questions of them.
The strike has obviously steeled Conor Counihan’s men, who know winning their first All-Ireland since 1999 would be the perfect answer to those who criticised their decision to object to the circumstances surrounding Timmy Holland’s brief reign as manager.
They head into Sunday’s game with the probability that they will be without inspirational duo Graham Canty and Nicholas Murphy through injury.
But the great thing about this Cork side is that they have become greater than the sum of their parts, and have survived injuries to key players to get to this point.
They will have no fear of Kerry, but their issues with Croke Park could prove their undoing. There is no obvious reason why they are unable to replicate their performances in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the capital, but they have been so abject there in recent years that a mental block with the Drumcondra venue must be a concern.
Kerry, on the other hand, are in their element when they run out onto the hallowed turf. Their reaction when Galway really put it up to them in apocalyptic conditions during the quarter-final underlined their class and showed that, love them or hate them, they would be more than worthy of another title.
They have been by far and away the most consistent county of the decade and by producing gems like Killian Young and Tommy Walsh they have kept the competition for places that is necessary for any team to succeed.
Their ‘twin towers’ tactic involving Kieran Donaghy and Walsh seems to be becoming more effective by the game, and with Declan O’Sullivan getting back to his best and Colm Cooper still in the mix, they are liable to go into overdrive any time soon.
The Kingdom’s defence has come in for some stick, and they will have to formulate some plan to combat Cork full-forward Michael Cussen after he almost single-handedly inspired the Rebels’ comeback win in the Munster decider.
But Murphy’s absence for Cork at midfield could prove crucial, because if Kerry can limit the supply of ball going into Cussen then they lessen his effectiveness.
If Kerry are to be denied this year you feel this is the hurdle at which they will fall. But the Holy Grail is so close now, it is unlikely such a driven and talented crop will let this glorious chance to enter the history books pass them by.
