"It was," says Kerry county chairman Sean Kelly, "very dispiriting and rather unpleasant at times. The more we lost, the angrier they became. Win or lose this weekend, people are aware that we now have a team that can compete, a team for the future."

Kelly's ill-fortune has to have been the figurehead of the county board at a time when football's most successful unit has been enduring the worst phase in its history. Together with others, he worked on re-developing structures within the county.

"We looked at schools, the county board itself, the county Bord na nOg and attempted to build for the future," he says.

At non-senior level, the county has enjoyed a successful decade with three All-Ireland successes at under-21, one at minor, three at vocational schools and two club championships. But to the general public, general indicators are worthless when the senior inter-county scene is going so badly.

"I would say the worst was 1992," says Kelly. "Nowadays, it might be accepted that losing to Clare is a distinct possibility, but then losing to Cork was just about acceptable, but not Clare. I didn't allow myself to despair, although it went through your head, but you felt that things would come around eventually."

1987: Cork 0-13, Kerry 1-5

The first year of the decline was inevitable, but had looked some way off that spring when the county contested a vigorous NFL final against Dublin after sensationally pipping Monaghan in the semi-final. Under new manager Billy Morgan, and with Kildare emigres Larry Tompkins and Shea Fahy on board, Cork were a substantial threat. Mike Sheehy's late goal nearly won the drawn match for Kerry, but Tompkins equalised to set a trend for the year. By the replay, time had run out for the most successful team in football history.

1988: Cork 1-14, Kerry 0-16

This Munster final ended in controversy with a free-for-all and a dramatic ending as a last-minute kick sailed over for a point when a goal was needed. The match marked Maurice Fitzgerald's debut provincial final.

1989: Cork 1-12, Kerry 1-9

This was a significant match for both counties in that it signalled Cork's first three-in-a-row in Munster. It was also the end of Mick O'Dwyer's legendary successful tenure as manager which yielded eight All-Irelands in 15 years. His successor was Mickey O'Sullivan from Kenmare, captain of the 1975 team.

1990: Cork 2-23, Kerry 1-11

Sean Kelly nominated 1992 as the nadir of the whole 11 years, but this must have pushed it close. After a run of encouraging challenge matches, Kerry went to Pairc Ui Chaoimh with a young team for an afternoon that ended in disaster. Out-played nearly everywhere on the pitch, they were easy pickings for a Cork team at the height of its powers. "Lock the gates and make the f****s watch," was the supposed cry of Cork supporters as their Kerry counterparts slid unhappily out of the ground long before the final whistle. Mickey O'Sullivan presented a most crestfallen sight paying tribute to the conquerors in their dressing-room.

1991: Down 2-9, Kerry 0-8

The first false dawn was nonetheless a remarkable turnabout from the previous year. A goal from John Cronin copperfastened victory over Cork in Killarney on June 16th in a semi-final during the first year of the open draw. It would be later conceded that the team concentrated too much on beating Cork, to the exclusion of anything else and after struggling to beat Limerick in the Munster final, Kerry found eventual AllIreland winners Down too strong.

1992: Clare 2-10 Kerry 0-12

The shattering defeat by Clare was actually prefaced by another close call against Limerick which Kerry were very lucky to win. Mickey O'Sullivan remembers saying on the team bus travelling to the Munster final that they didn't want to make history for the wrong reasons.

Complacency was advanced as a reason, given the sparkling defeat of Cork in May when Maurice Fitzgerald gave a superb display as Kerry romped it by 10 points. Clare took full advantage and won their first provincial title in 75 years.

O'Sullivan, despite his success, couldn't weather the storm and stepped down. Denis Ogie Moran, holder of eight All-Irelands took over.

1993: Cork 1-10 Kerry 0-10

Ogie Moran's tenure started well enough with a NFL semi-final place, but this Munster semi-final put championship aspirations in perspective. Cork had built a new team and the future looked difficult for Kerry.

1994: Cork 1-13, Kerry 2-8

This was a match that could have been won, but Sean Geaney's second-half goal appeared to wake up Cork and a herculean performance by Steven O'Brien culminated in his scoring the decisive goal from centre back.

1995: Cork 0-15, Kerry 1-9

The curtain came down on Moran's term of office when Kerry failed to take advantage of a first-minute goal and were worn away by Colin Corkery's place-kicking. Controversy followed with public criticisms of the team selection on both national television and local radio. Paidi O Se and Seamus Mac Gearailt, who guided the under-21s to an All-Ireland later in the year, were appointed successors.

1996: Mayo 2-13, Kerry 1-10

In some respects this was one of the most unhappy occasions of the 11 years. Having won Munster with a spirited victory in Cork, Kerry were favourites to complete their rehabilitation. A well-drilled Mayo ambushed them in the All-Ireland semi-final and recorded a comfortable victory.