Gavin O’Connor dissects yesterday’s Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SFC final and looks at the reasons the Rockies prevailed…
Shane Carroll launches a shot on goal watched by Mid Kerry’s Donnchadh Walsh. Photo by Dermot Crean
Hunger
I had mentioned in the run up to the first game that Mid Kerry wouldn’t come near Stacks when it came to hunger.
This was most evident again in the second encounter. Perhaps the words which whipped around their ears during the week, that they may have ‘left the game behind them’, put even more fire in their bellies.
Right from the start, The Rock, moved quicker and had far greater desire to get to every ball. The midfield was swamped with black and amber and when they had possession they used it fast and effectively. As soon as Pa McCarthy smashed home his penalty after 15 minutes, the game was all but over.
Kieran Donaghy is dragged down by the Mid-Kerry goalkeeper, Michael Moriarty, for a penalty in Sunday’s county final. Photo by Dermot Crean
Donaghy
Let’s not kid ourselves here, Stacks would have struggled to pick up this year’s county championship without their talisman. His enthusiasm is infectious and he is, on current form, unmarkable.
Donaghy was instrumental in both goals that put daylight between them and Mid Kerry. The ten point lead allowed Donaghy to stay around the square as he wasn’t required to muck in around the centre of the field.
An early blitz should be the blueprint now. The defence has shown this year it is well capable of sitting on a big lead after Donaghy creates it.
Greg Horan is chased by Mid-Kerry’s Donnchadh Walsh during Sunday’s county final. Photo by Dermot Crean
Youth
With five of the starting team 21 and under, this side is stocked full of young talent. Shane Carroll, Shane O’Callaghan, Conor Jordan, Fearghal McNamara and Greg Horan are part of that 21 and under group and were, without doubt, four of the most instrumental players in the side over the year.
Shane Carroll, finished the championship as the side’s top scorer. Shane O’Callaghan is, along with Donaghy the most exciting player in the team, while Greg Horan and Conor Jordan have grown in size and stature over an incredible campaign for them.
These four players now all have a decent shot of featuring in Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s plans for this year’s, McGrath Cup.
Management
Huge credit must be given to Stephen Stack and his men. A monumental effort has gone in since that devastating loss to Dr Crokes last year. The plan for 2014, began the night of that defeat when Stack and William Kirby, over a few drinks, made plans that they would all work harder.
Sticking to their word, what followed was constant improvement throughout the year with every game, most tellingly of all when it really mattered on Sunday.
The three changes they made before throw in worked a charm. Mid-Kerry didn’t adjust in time and never recovered from the damage done. Checkmate Rockies.
The amazing Rockie support on the terraces during the match on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Incredible support
Stephen Stack called the Stacks fans “the greatest in Europe” and how could you argue with that when the terraces for the drawn game in Tralee resembled something like you’d see at a Borussia Dortmund home game.
The buzz and colour the Rock fans bring to games is something quite extraordinary for a GAA club side.
Kerry knows the black and amber army well, now it’s time for Munster to get acquainted.
