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Mike O’Halloran on a make or break match for Kerry as they face Offaly in Tullamore tomorrow in the Leinster SHC (throw-in 3pm)…
Kerry needs a big game from John Egan this Sunday.
Kerry face Offaly on Sunday in a make or break game where the winner takes all.
I think we all expected that Kerry would be travelling to Tullamore with two wins under their belt, but unfortunately they fell to Westmeath in Tralee – Westmeath had already beaten Offaly.
When I started previewing Kerry’s journey in Division 1B and The Leinster Round Robin Series, I was hoping that the reporting was not going to be one-eyed.
Continued below…
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I counselled that there were going to be good and bad days and as in all journeys there were going to be inclines and descents, turns and detours but from once there was progression towards journey’s end then all was well.
Kerry took a huge step in Portlaoise when they defeated Laois, there was an uphill climb when they met Limerick in Killarney, two dead ends in Tralee and Clare, with losses against Clare and Wexford.
A detour to Birr put them back in the right direction with a heart-stopping win over Offaly.
Carlow found their way to Tralee for Kerry to redirect them out the road defeated. Westmeath negotiated their way to Austin Stack Park and punctured the front and back tyres of the Kerry bus.
There was lots of talk by some people (who seldom see the Kerry hurlers play) about the “lovely open brand of hurling” they were playing. Unfortunately lovely open hurling does not win big games anymore as Kerry found out in their last game.
Kerry had a taste of the kind of defensive set up they might face when they were out played by Waterford “behind closed doors”.
It might be going too far to say that hurling is heading down “the puke hurling” road, but the defensive tactics being deployed by some teams certainly could lead to the Stadia of Thurles and Croke Park becoming the Vomitaria of hurling.
I have no doubt that when Kerry arrive in Tullamore they will be met by an Offaly team that will have learned a lot from the first outing in Birr.
It is fairly obvious that Westmeath had done a lot of homework on the Kerry method of play, given that they held most of the scoring forwards to very few scores and Offaly will try to replicate this.
Kerry for their part surely have given thought as to how they might overcome Offaly who just about got over Carlow by three points, relying on one player to score thirteen points.
Kerry shackled Dooley well in Birr and only allowed Offaly shots from distance late in the second half when they were pressing to get back into the game.
Kerry must also not concede as many frees as Carlow, because Dooley will punish all discretions. The shackles put on Dooley in Birr will have to be tighter on Sunday, otherwise he will put Kerry on the rack.
I think we can depend on the Kerry backs to hold up their end even though it is very hard to understand why Keith Carmody switches positions with Jason Diggins.
The move of Darren Dineen to midfield will no doubt strengthen that sector but it is strange to move Tom Murnane to centre back as he has played most of his hurling on the wing.
Huge changes up front one of them enforced with Michael Boyle out through suspension. One must question who is going to win any ball in the air, as neither Michael or Brendan O’Leary make the starting fifteen.
Attempting to win ball in the air has been the cornerstone of the Kerry plan in all games I’ve seen, with nearly all puck outs going towards O’Leary.
Kerry will need big games from Shane Nolan who is selected at centre forward. Shane will have to contribute more from open play. Jack Goulding is beside him and he will have to work very hard to get ball to Egan and provide scores himself.
Shane has not been his glorious self recently, he came on as a sub in the game in Birr and scored a point he will need to score a lot more on Sunday, Sunday could be his day to regain his mojo.
Great to see young Jordan Conway starting. He had a huge game in Birr. Philip Lucid also starts, the Ballyheigue man now has a chance to stake a claim for the future.
There will be no shortage of free takers with Nolan, Egan and Lucid excellent from placed balls. The inclusion of Brandon Barrett is a massive plus for Kerry as there are few players in Kerry with his determination bravery and skill. Kerry will need goals and any of the six forwards named can supply one.
Expect to see the O’Learys introduced if needed earlier rather than later.
This leg of journey for Kerry may come to and end on Sunday if they are defeated by Offaly, but the baby steps taken over the past three years should eventually lead to giant strides over the next few years.
Even if Kerry cannot overcome Offaly on Sunday they will have done enough for the past three seasons for the progression to continue in the years to come.
This group of players must be nurtured because, a crop of players like these only come along once in a generation. I am very reticent to tip Kerry to win. I hope they do but it will be difficult.
If a win is pulled out of the fire in Tullamore it will be a feat to be honoured and it could lead to a place in the semi-final as Kerry would fancy their chances against Laois. Win or lose this team needs to be supported in their journey into the future.
