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Gavin O’Connor looks at the Dublin v Kerry Allianz National League Final, Croke Park 3:30pm (Live on TG4)
Donnchadh Walsh in action in the All-Ireland final against Dublin last year. Photo by Dermot Crean
GAELIC football’s very own El Clasico (or An Clasaiceach) takes place again tomorrow, for what’s looking like a dress rehearsal for the biggest game of the summer.
The Allianz National League semi-finals, where both Kerry and Dublin won by 10 points, highlighted an apparent gulf in quality between Ireland’s top two sides and the rest.
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Given Dublin’s dominance in Leinster and Cork’s (whisper it) recent demise, Kerry and Dublin are practically odds on to meet in this year’s All-Ireland semi-final.
I know it’s dangerous to make forecasts when the Championship has not even begun yet, but it’s looking likely that Dublin and Kerry will meet without being firmly tested so Sunday could be the last day the two sides are put to the pin of their collar.
It makes this match all the more important.
Kerry welcome back team captain Bryan Sheehan into the starting, the injured Johnny Buckley making way for the St Mary’s man.
In general play, the two are different performers – Bryan Sheehan makes more attempts at winning clean ball around the centre, while Buckley is a better tackler and a man to clean up breaks.
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Going on the last meeting in Croke Park, the breaks will be so key tomorrow. In that match Kerry for the most part performed their duties limiting Cluxton to go long, but they did not break even around the middle.
A man that has put up his hand up as the heir to the Paul Galvin throne of ‘king of the breaks’ is Paul Murphy. The way in which the Rathmore man flies into the challenge with little care for his own safety would remind you of ‘Gally’ in his pomp.
Murphy is the epitome of the proverbial ‘great bit of stuff’ and his new post on the 40 yard line could be the key to Kerry winning.
Without the departed-for-the-season Rory O’Carroll and Jack McCaffrey, Dublin look less formidable, which will be a boost for Eamonn Fitzmaurice.
The Dubs have not lost a game this year and are looking every bit the runaway train they were last year.
They have the hold over Kerry in Croke Park over the last five years or so, but there is a sense this match means more for the Kingdom.
Kerry are on a six-game winning streak and I’m going to go against the bookies and plump for a Kerry win. – Verdict: Kerry by a point
