Our football columnist, Barry O’Shea, tips Kerry to just shade it on Sunday…
THE week before the All-Ireland Final is not the easiest thing in the world to deal with.
It was the worst part of the whole thing for me. I was always a bit edgy, I didn’t want to be around people a lot of the time. I might get a bit narky with people because my mind was on the game.
As soon as I met up with the team the day before the final on the train, I was ok, because I was inside the bubble that the team creates, having craic with the rest of the players who were all going through the same thing as me.
The whole thing is about just trying to get to throw-in in Croke Park and that can’t come quick enough.
Ideally your build up should always be the same. whether it’s a final or a first round game.
Continued below…
Radio duties this week meant I arrived up in Dublin earlier than expected and I can say that the atmosphere has been bubbling nicely. Kerry people up here have been wearing their Kerry jersey into work, more to wind the Dubs up than anything else.
From a supporter’s point of view there’s nothing better than landing in Dublin of a Saturday for a few drinks and taking in all the buzz and anticipation that is around the place for All-Ireland final weekend, you can’t beat it.
It’s been a famine by Kerry standards the last few years which has added a bit more of a buzz around Tralee. Not too long ago Kerry played in six All-Irelands in a row. People are starting to realise that these things don’t come around every year anymore so they are more inclined to appreciate it.
The games against Mayo got hearts pumping as well so they have whetted the appetite for the final. In fairness to the Kerry supporters – people like to knock them around the country – but I think they will be out in force this Sunday.
For the game, I think Kerry will play something similar to what they did in the first half of the drawn game with Mayo. The half back line sat back and they held their line and didn’t get sucked forward.
They soaked up a lot of Mayo attacks and I think they’ll do something similar on Sunday. I don’t think there will be too many defenders running up the field attacking. It will be cagey and a battle of wits for long periods.
It wouldn’t be wise for us to take Donegal on at their own game. We just have to tweak it a little bit and impose certain elements of our game on them. At the end of the day, Donegal have to worry about what we’re going to do as well.
The team has been named, but I’m expecting a few surprises as regards the formation and where guys will play.
I’m not privy to what’s going on in the camp, but there have been surprises all year and I don’t think Sunday will be any exception.
Fitzmaurice nearly always gets it right and when he does he usually has something up his sleeve. Going out and doing the same thing again doesn’t work, especially these days when sides are so well prepared.
With the changes that were made, the switch to bring Marc O’Se in and Shane Enright out was an obvious one, given Marc’s experience in finals and the good display he put in at the Limerick venue.
Stephen O’Brien in and Mikey Geaney out is a more a case of horses for courses. In fairness, Mikey Geaney did great work in the second Mayo game, he kept Lee Keegan very quiet who is one of Mayo’s key attacking threats.
That was a job that Mikey Geaney did on that day. On Sunday Stephen O’Brien will likely be pinpointed for another job, whether it be on the wing or in the full forward line.
Kick-outs will have the biggest say in who wins on Sunday. Donegal have won 70% of their own kick-outs this year which is very high. That will definitely be an area where Kerry will look to put Donegal off.
I’ve held my cards close to my chest this year, but I think Kerry can do this by two or three points.
