Five Questions Kerry Need To Answer If They Are To Beat The Dubs

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Dublin teams have beaten Kerry in their last three championship meetings, but can the Kingdom answer the questions asked of them in this titanic battle. Gavin O’Connor reports… 

1. Do Kerry believe they can beat Dublin?

One of things you will see written over the past couple of weeks is “Dublin have Kerry’s number”. After three comfortable wins inside 12 months and going for a four-in-a-row of championship victories, it’s difficult to argue against that assertion.

In the same way that Kerry are perceived to be inside the heads of Mayo men, it is Dublin who now look to have that advantage over Kerry. ‘Hunger’ has been one of the  buzzwords in the build-up, but if Kerry are heading into the final stretch in the lead or neck and neck with the All-Ireland champions will they believe they can do it?

Kerry line up for the national anthem before the Munster Final. Photo by Dermot Crean.

Kerry line up for the national anthem before the Munster Final. Photo by Dermot Crean.

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2. Will Kerry bring something new? 

The rumour that Bryan Sheehan was about to return to goal for the first time since his minor days, ranks as one of the more apocryphal stories in the lead up to a big match in Croke Park. What it proves is there’s a desperation from the public for a new approach facing Dublin.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice has gone on record this week saying “I don’t think we need anything dramatic from left field. We’ll have to play better than we have played the last couple of times”. Maybe it’s as simple as that.

The side have experimented this summer with condensing the area between the 65 and 45 when the opposition are in the attack with the hope creating a turnover and a counterattack.

No doubt we will see that and variant of the high press on Cluxton kickouts that at points has served us well in the last couple of meetings. But you feel there will have to bring something new to the table to finally get past the Dubs.

Stephen O'Brien shrugs off Tipps, Robbie Kiely during the Munster Final. Photo by Dermot Crean.

Stephen O’Brien shrugs off Tipperary’s Robbie Kiely during the Munster Final. Photo by Dermot Crean.

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3. Can Kerry exploit Dublin’s weaknesses?  

In truth it’s hard to find too many weaknesses with this Dublin side. Their record speaks for itself. Since losing to Donegal in 2014 they have only lost twice. The last coming in March 2015 in Killarney as it happens.

Kerry put three goals past Dublin in the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final. Since then, the side have accrued one solitary goal in four matches in Croke Park against the Dubs. They have simply been shut out.

The absence of two All-Star defenders, Jack McCaffrey and Rory O’Carroll and possibly another, James McCarthy (even if he’s named in the starting 15)  has to weaken any side. Their replacements have looked the part, but have they really been tested? It is crucial Kerry find this out.

Kieran Donaghy, shoots for the posts in this year's National League Final. Photo by Dermot Crean

Kieran Donaghy shoots for the posts in this year’s National League Final. Photo by Dermot Crean

4. Where are Kerry at? 

Right since the very beginning, Fitz has insisted that he picks his players from performances in training. Whether that holds true is another story, but after three handy wins against two Division 3 teams, for this year at least, training is all he has to go by.

For this reason we might see a surprise inclusion in the starting 15. Maybe Brendan O’Sullivan has been flying it in training? Perhaps Paul Geaney has been firing blanks? We just don’t know where these guys are at.

There’s also the Paul Murphy conundrum. After spending a year turning him into a forward, does the Rathmore man go back in defence when it really matters? Seems a wasted experiment if so. Does the Gooch get a start? If so, where? There are so many unknowables at this point you could write a thesis on what team Eamonn could run out on Sunday.

Paul Geaney in action for Kerry against Clare in the Munster SFC semi-final at Fitzgerald Stadium in June. Photo by Dermot Crean.

Paul Geaney in action for Kerry against Clare in the Munster SFC semi-final at Fitzgerald Stadium in June. Photo by Dermot Crean.

5. Can Kerry push Dublin’s buttons?

It’s unfortunate that as Kerry people we have to focus so much on the opposition, but here we are in 2016 absolutely desperate for a win…any way at all.

Two Dublin men walked in the semi-final against Donegal. Though true blues might argue the toss over the Diarmuid Connolly and Eoghan O’Gara dismissal, It gave us an indication that there is a streak of indiscipline in this Dublin team Kerry can nip at.

Although you feel with Jim Gavin, the shrewd operator he is, he will have drilled into his players not to get caught up in any extra curricular activities.

Paul Murphy shoots for a point during the Munster Final. Photo by Dermot Crean.

Paul Murphy shoots for a point during the Munster Final. Photo by Dermot Crean.

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