For Jack O'Connor this prospect must have appeared a bit remote only five weeks ago on the last occasion his team had faced Cork, in the Munster final replay. Then, the Kerry manager had to gather the broken pieces and put his county's All-Ireland challenge back together again.

He would have regarded standing in the warm-up area of a Croke Park dressing-room to explain his team had reached a third successive All-Ireland final as akin to waking up from a nightmare.

But here he is, outlining how they had reversed the form of July's dog days and romped into the All-Ireland as odds-on favourites.

"We were a bit anxious early on. We were well souped up for the game but we were over-anxious and the kicks going into Donaghy were a bit strong. They were a bit more measured in the second half."

Donaghy. No need for a first name. The panacea for Kerry ailments.

The young centrefielder's switch to full forward again rattled the pay-out chute as Derek Kavanagh became the latest full back to struggle with his opponent's basketball nous under high ball.

Three matches played and only one more full back to go.

"There were six points in it at the end," said O'Connor, "and Cork had maybe one or two goal chances. It was a game we wanted. We went into an All-Ireland final last year without being tested; we've certainly been tested this year and hopefully that will stand to us."

The nightmare of uncertainty had been deepened by the stories of squabbling in the camp as well as the indifference and at times hostility of one of Gaelic games' least easily impressed bunch of supporters.

"Well we were a bit agitated with them there for a while. I was disappointed, to be honest with you, with them in Cork that they didn't show up in great numbers and were a bit negative up there. But it works both ways and we had to give them something to cheer about.

"They certainly got behind the team and we had fantastic support today. I think maybe it's a bit to do with every group of fans needs a hero, and Donaghy has taken on that mantle.

"He's lit up the place; he's lit us all up, to be honest. He has an infectious enthusiasm about him that has given us all a lift."

When asked for the most important factor in his side's win, O'Connor didn't hesitate.

"The fact that we played better defensively today. We didn't concede a lot of space at the back. We were very open against Armagh and we were adamant that we'd cover the holes a bit better. We were better as a team defensively and that was a big factor.

"We gave ourselves a target that if we could keep them to 10 points we'd have a great chance."

His Cork counterpart, Billy Morgan, saw out the match in the stand after having received a sideline ban.

Selector John Corcoran expressed confidence but also optimism for the future as well as a dark nod to what he felt was his team's naivety.

"Kerry scored more and were hungrier and they deserved their win, but at the end of the day, we're very disappointed. We've come a long way from last year and hopefully we'll maintain our progress and go farther next year. We've a young team and we've won the last three Munster under-21 titles and hopefully that will be the foundation for future success. We played well out there but we've a lot to learn about aspects of the game. We have to learn to be more cynical, to be quite honest."

It was an obvious reference to the discordant mood music between the counties but for O'Connor the immediate future is harmonious.

"It'll be a great month," he said.

"There's nothing like having a month down in Killarney to prepare for an All-Ireland final.

"It's a great feeling with the nights setting in. Just a fantastic feeling."