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Gavin O’Connor looks at Kerry against Donegal in the Allianz National Football League Division 1 (Round 4) Austin Stack Park, Sunday 2:30pm – Live Coverage on TG4…
Paul Murphy in action against Donegal in Tralee last year. Photo by Dermot Crean.
AFTER Kerry defeated Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland and the departure of JimMcGuinness, there was feeling that the northern side had had their day.
But it appears they could be back with a bang.
In the past, former talisman McGuinness made it wildly known about his lack of interest in the league, but judging by the way Donegal have flew into this campaign his successor, Rory Gallagher, seems to be taking a different view.
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Gallagher’s men have hit the ground running. From just three games they boast a +29 score difference, that’s 20 more then the all conquering Dubs who they sit alongside with at the top the table.
Just as Kerry did, Donegal crushed Down (3-15 – 0-7) and made very light work of Cork (2-14 to 1-7) also.
Kieran Donaghy, surrounded by a sea of yellow, breaks through in the league game against Donegal last year. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Though it must be noted that both those sides look to be in a bit of a shambles at the moment.
Donegal followed up those wins with another victory, this time in Castlebar against Mayo (1-14 – 1-12) last week. Mayo, along with Down are the only side to not register a point.
The attack will be spearheaded once again by Micheal Murphy and Paddy McBrearty.
In midfield, one to watch is Odhrán MacNiallais who’s in great form. A stylish footballer, MacNiallais can glide passed players with runs from deep and chip in with a few scores also.
Kerry managed to get the show back on the road in Newry last week against a very poor Down side (0-22 to 0-6) looking destined for the drop.
It was badly needed after two losses against Dublin (2-14 to 0-14) and Roscommon (1-10 to 0-14) where the side looked very sluggish and off the pace.
The beginning of the league has so far been a tricky time during Eamonn Fitzmaurice in his tenure, but they do eventually step into gear and get out of trouble just in time.
The Kingdom has not been a happy hunting ground for Donegal in the past. They travel in search of a first win in Kerry since 1988 and this might be their best chance yet of getting one.
They have been hammering the scoreboard but you’d wonder if that was down to the opposition they have played, two of which sit rooted to the bottom of the table and another seemingly in freefall.
Kerry on the other hand have come up against Dubs in Croke Park and a Roscommon side whose win in Killarney is not looking too out of the blue following their 18 point mauling of Cork on leeside.
I think the game will be a high scoring entertaining match and with the help of a big partisan crowd, spurred on by the thought of a hurling and football double, I fancy Kerry to just edge it.
Verdict – Kerry by 2
