Former Kerry star, Barry O’Shea, says Kerry will be better prepared for the Munster Final replay on Saturday, but need to be more aggressive and tougher this time out…

Everybody I spoke to during the week about this replay was picking a different team.

If you spoke to ten people, all ten had a different idea and a different team.

For the replay, Aidan O’Mahony and Paul Murphy come into the back line, with Peter Crowley and Fionn Fitzgerald making way. Anthony Maher returns to partner David Moran in midfield. In the forwards, Stephen O’Brien and Barry John Keane lose out for Paul Geaney to come in.

A lot of people are saying it’s a stronger team, but it’s hard to know. I think people are putting too much emphasis on the personnel. The most important thing is that Kerry, as a unit, are more aggressive, tougher and generally that little bit sharper.

Aidan O’Mahony is coming into this game with no inter-county minutes this year, but if there is a game that the Rathmore man won’t let down Kerry in it’s against Cork.

There is a certain element of trust in him from Eamonn Fitzmaurice and his selectors. There has been a lot of talk over the past months about picking players on form, but I think Aidan O’Mahony, no matter what his form is, you just got to trust him, especially in a battle with Cork.

Having Aidan O’Mahony – along with Anthony Maher back in the team – brings a bit of physicality and it’s something Kerry badly need. They were bullied in the drawn match and they can’t afford to let themselves be pushed around again.

Once Kerry are up to the pace of it physically, they have the footballers, but in modern game you have to battle first and play your football after.

Cork have gone for the exact same team as last time and both sides know a lot about each other already so maybe that aspect can be over emphasised.

Kerry know what Cork are capable of and vice versa so it’s all on the day. I don’t think because Cork picked the same team it’s a disadvantage.

They picked the same team because they played extremely well and were unlucky not to win and there was no guy in there who warranted being dropped.

For Kerry, Barry John Keane is a guy who is unlucky to have lost his place. He scored three points, two from play and looked dangerous. In the second half of the drawn match, the Kerry team had nine attacks.

James O’Donoghue got zero possessions in the whole half, so that will just tell how much the corner-forwards were starved of possession, so it’s harsh on Barry John.

A team has to blend. There is more to a side than individuals, but I’m sure Barry John will have a big part to play before that game is over.

Preparing for the replay would have started from the final whistle in the drawn match. One of Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s strengths is he’s very professional.

Straight after the match, the players went to the Hotel Europe in Killarney and did a pool session. They would have been making sure that guys were eating properly and got plenty of rest after the game.

They way they’ll look at it is, it’s another championship game whether it’s a replay or not. Even though it’s a young enough team they are very experienced. I think if the group are mentally strong the fact that it’s a replay won’t have any bearing on them.

I think Cork played extremely well the last day but I’m just wondering how can Cork play any better? I expect more of the same from them; they’ll be extremely aggressive and dangerous in attack, but I just think Kerry have a huge scope to improve.

If Kerry show more aggression and improve their tackling, that will go a huge way towards victory. Midfield is the key – if Kerry can get on enough possession, they have the forwards to win it.

Even though Cork’s defensive system did so well the last day, it was helped because they won midfield.

Anthony Maher and David Moran have proven that they can work well together over the last 18 months. You can have every confidence in that midfield partnership as they carried us to an All-Ireland last year.

I think it will take a massive effort by Cork win, because Kerry will be armed this time.