Kieran Donaghy gives his run-down of the key players during Cork's narrow win over Kerry in the Munster semi-final, to dump out Donaghy's beloved boys in green and gold.

Cork

Ruairi Deane - 6/10 - This was not Deane's most solid day; he wasn't at his rip-roaring, strong-running best. We saw a composed Ruairi Deane that was looking to bring people into play. But we will need a lot more from him going forward - if they want to get into an All Ireland final by beating Tipperary and progressing. But it was a good defensive performance.

Mark Keane - 8/10 - Keane was introduced at half-time, and he came back six weeks ago after finishing the season with Collingwood. Cork got him clearance to play - which shows that it is 'needs-must' this All Ireland, with all hands on deck.

He has a big influence on the group. Credit, also, to Collingwood for allowing him to play. He caught a great mark at one stage and was strong in everything he did.  He showed how dangerous he is - if they get a tune out of this man for the few weeks, he could be a jolt of electricity for Cork.

For the goal, he was in a 50-50 battle with Tommy Walsh, the strongest man in the Kerry dressing room. Whether it was misjudgement or rustiness, Keane managed to win it and stick in a great goal.

Mark Collins - 8/10 - He is the leader of the team, the last man to be in a Cork team to beat Kerry. He is a steady hand in the dressing room. He chipped a lovely point, very good in tracking runners and a calming influence in the middle.

With the emergence of Mark Keane, Cork could get Mark Collins coming out to the half-forward line. There was more in him, but he gets 8/10 for the calming influence and leadership role, making sure that fellas were dialled-in.

Seán Powter - 9/10 - Powter was man of the match. He was really good at what he was doing. He was sent out on Seanie O'Shea - this was a key battle area for Kerry. Even though O'Shea kicked two massive points - one from play - his effect on the game was limited, and that was due to Powter.

Killian O'Hanlon - 8/10 - O'Hanlon was the most aggressive of all the midfielders, with a massive free before half-time. He was giving the fist and a gee-up to the players around him when they needed a boost.

He was the most aggressive player on the pitch, and showed great leadership for a youngster. Kerry would have been fancied to win the midfield with David Moran - a perennial All-Star - but O'Hanlon and Maguire won out on the day.

Kerry

Diarmuid O'Connor 7/10  - The midfield battle was intriguing - there were many balls going up but not many caught clean. For a young fella coming through, he did well and has a bright future - he has a great leap on him. He is another guy that needs to working on his skill-set to keep getting better - he needs to work on the right leg, as he is so good off his left. He needs to do the things that are needed in a modern midfielder, someone that is comfortable taking on players and kicking scores.

A solid debut in a Munster semi-final.

Tony Brosnan 6/10 - Tony did very well in the first half but missed an easy chance, which is very unlike him. He won four balls, won three frees and set up a great chance. He was taken off but I would still give him a 6.

There is loaads more in him but at times he found himself isolated. We had a corner-back and full-back playing two wing-forward roles today. Brosnan was unlucky - he could have chipped over but had two wides.

David Clifford - 7/10 - This was a very strange day for the Kerry captain. He scored the point of the day and looked absolutely flawless in the opening ten minutes - he nearly scored what would have been goal of the season if it went in.

It was only five minutes into second half, when he hit the meeting of the bar and post. It was going top-corner. The only reason he isn't getting an 8 or a 9 because he missed some scoreable frees.

Waking up tomorrow, he'll be regretting those.

Shane Ryan - 5/10: It was an average day for him, he went long an awful lot as the short kick out went against him with Peter Crowley called for over travelling. There was no great ingenuity to the kick-outs, they were often out to 50/50 contests - old-school kick outs.

This is not all Ryan's fault - it is setups, working spaces and creating screening patterns for fellas to get free for kick-outs. When you go long, you want to be going 40-50 yards with Kerry men running onto the ball, not high between two men, particularly on a wet day.

Shane is an outfield player for his club and does not do much for us on the ball - he is clearly being told to stay home by management. I think there is a lot more in him, and we need to figure out a way to get it out of him.

Jason Foley 8/10 - Foley was very good, strong defensively and did his job at corner-back. He kept Brian Hurley completely quiet in the first half, to the point where Hurley was taken off - Foley should take credit for his role in that.

We need to see more of him coming forward on the ball. His rating would have been a 9 just for defensive work, but the game has moved on and he needs to be adding more in attacking sense. The modern footballer has to do more going forward.

Keep up to date with everything that Kieran Donaghy has to say throughout the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on OTB Sports.com. 

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