THOUGH the gates of Fitzgerald Stadium are shut to outsiders and interlopers, there are whispers emanating from the Kerry camp that Eamonn Fitzmaurice, may ring the changes for Saturday’s Munster SFC final replay against Cork.
The Kerry boss has made it known that his side under performed on the park in the drawn match. With a full strength panel to choose from, Gavin O’Connor say there could be some notable inclusions and exclusions when the team is announced over the coming days…
1. Paul Murphy for Fionn Fitzgerald
Though Fionn Fitzgerald grabbed the headlines with his amazing last gasp point, the Crokes man was muscled out of it too often by Cork’s Donncha O’Connor.
For the first goal, Fitzgerald allowed O’Connor, to drift off him and setup Colm O’Neill who palmed it to the net. Fitzgerald was caught for the second as well when the Ballydesmond man ghosted passed the defender and nonchalantly lifted the ball over Brendan Kealy’s head.
Paul Murphy, who has got the all clear from his shoulder injury, looks a more tenacious and physical defender.
Paul Murphy could be back at corner back this Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean.
2. Anthony Maher to team up again with David Moran
Midfield was the area where Kerry really struggled last time out. Only for our forwards’ economy, feeding off every attack Kerry could muster, there is no way a draw would have been possible.
If Kerry can at least break even in midfield and get enough quality ball into the forward line, that should be enough to carry the day. To do so, Kerry will need their best midfield pairing of Maher and Moran who were not on the pitch together at any time in the drawn match, which tells its own story.
Moran going off because of a black card at the start of the half was a game changer, Maher came on, but couldn’t get to grips with Cork’s, Alan O’Connor, who was already in full flow.
Bryan Sheehan, is a superb footballer but is not really the man for midfield in this game. Because of his passing and free taking though, he should be accommodated on the ’45’.
Kerry lost the grip of midfield the last day out against Cork. Photo by Dermot Crean.
3. Stephen O’Brien to make way for Bryan Sheehan
The person to lose out in the half-forward line would most likely be Stephen O’Brien, who struggled defensively and made way for Colm Cooper, 13 minutes into the second half.
A man who soon followed him to the dugout, Johnny Buckley, found the going tough also, but did tackle well on Michael Shields, to set up Kerry’s first goal and got himself on the scoreboard as well.
Bryan Sheehan with Cork’s, Alan O’Connor, who was a thorn in Kerry’s side last Sunday week. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
4. Is there a spot for the Gooch?
One of the biggest cheers of the day came when Colm Cooper, knocked over his only point of the game shortly after his introduction into the match with 22 minutes left on the clock.
In truth, besides that score he didn’t do anything else of real note and looked a bit off the pace, which is understandable given he’s now 31 and returning from a horror ACL injury that put him out of action over a year.
It’s hard to know whether he’s up to speed to take up the defensive duties that come with playing on the half forward line. Having him and Sheehan in the same line would have plenty of flair, but Kerry could leave themselves open with Cork’s O’Driscoll’s bombing forward. Donnchadh Walsh, has a great engine, but doing the running for two men might be a bit of an ask, even for him.
Colm Cooper, kicked a second half point, but was not up to speed with the match. Photo by Dermot Crean.
5. Paul Geaney for Kieran Donaghy
This one would surely get a lot of people talking around Rock Street!
Although Donaghy, did not have a bad day last time out, bagging a goal and creating a number of scores, a change in approach in the full-forward might be something worth looking at.
Matching up against Donaghy was Eoin Cadogan, a big physical defender who gave as much as he got from Donaghy. Having a player like that on Donaghy who is also physical could be playing into Cork’s hands a bit.
The Cork full-back-line love to attack which leave gaps, gaps which a trio of, James O’Donoghue, Paul Geaney and BJ Keane could exploit more effectively. We saw the damage that Barry John and O’Donoghue did when Kerry were on top at midfield at the end of the first half and getting regular good ball into their hands.
With his goal in the All-Ireland final last year, Geaney showed he’s also a handful aerially. When he was sprung off the bench the last day he scored a point with his first kick at the posts and was inches away from a goal with his second.
Donaghy is not known for shooting the lights out, but is a great creator of scores. With good ball going into, James O’Donoghue, Paul Geaney and BJ Keane they can make their own.
With plenty to worry about they could give that Cork full-back-line a torrid evening and restrict their movements up the park which caused Kerry a lot of hassle in the drawn game.
Paul Geaney, made an instant impact in the drawn game despite precious little ball. Photo by Dermot Crean.
