Cork's Luke Fahy hoping to make his own happy memories against Kerry

Michael Bolton

At the time of the 2015 Munster football final, Luke Fahy was a teenager as Cork and Kerry played out an entertaining draw.

It was Kerry who won the replay, in what felt like an opportunity missed for Cork, who have not won a Munster title since 2012.

Attending the game with his father, Fahy knew they could not have got much closer to victory. Now, he will be part of a Cork side hoping to cause a shock in Killarney on Sunday.

"I felt it was one that got away, like. I was in the terrace on the side with my father and my younger brother, and, yeah, I could tell my father wasn't too happy walking out.

"At 17 you kind of knew what was going on, you kind of understood the game. The following week, I think the replay was, and you went down to the Páirc with a lot of optimism.

"So, yeah, look, it's our turn to go down there in two weeks, so we're really looking forward to that. It's great to be involved in that.

Fast forward to 2026, and Cork are preparing for their first Munster final since 2021, where Kerry were the big winners.

No matter what happens after the final, there are big days ahead for both counties.

Kerry will play Donegal in a repeat of the All-Ireland final, while Cork will face Meath, whom they lost to in the Division Two final.

Last season it took extra time for Kerry to get the win in the Munster semi-final, while Cork also made life difficult for the champions in the group stages of the All-Ireland.

Having secured promotion and key players back fit, there is momentum and excitement around Cork football that has been missing in previous years, and Fahy hopes to give fans some happy memories in this fixture.

"“I've been going to Killarney since I was a small boy. Going in through Ballyvourney and stuff like that. There was no bypass back then. So, yeah, really enjoyed going down with my father and my brothers.

"Walking up to Killarney, it's something, as a player growing up and a young fella, you dream of. For this group, it's been a long time coming. Five years. It's a big challenge ahead, but we're really looking forward to it.

"It would mean a lot. Down in West Cork, it's football, football. Only a small bit of hurling down in West Cork. Even in the city, there's still a massive football following.

"Even in Ballincollig, there's a bus going to the Munster final, for example, so it would mean a lot. But it would mean a lot to us as a group as well, let's be real about it. "

After some difficult years with injuries, the Cork defender is showing the country what he is capable of with his performances this season.

Not the only player from Cork to be on the sidelines over the years, Cork's consistency can be attributed to having a fully fit squad.

Despite the setbacks, Fahy was always positive that he would get his Cork career back on track.

“In 2023, when I first started, I missed six months on an ankle, and came back in ’24 and after Kerry, tore my right hamstring. Came back for the club season, and tore my left hamstring off the bone.

"Came back in ‘25, re-nicked the left again in March, so I missed the whole league, and kind of was in and out of the team, not even in the team, I was just on the bench for all of ‘25.

"I’d be a fairly positive guy. We've had injuries, and there are a good few of us around. We just put our hands around each other, and kind of push each other along, and probably on the other side, there was fellas rehabbing with me, which was probably a bit easier."