Kerry Have Enough To Beat Dublin On Sunday

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Gavin O’Connor says Kerry have enough to get over their great rivals on Sunday…

Kerry huddle before National Football League opening game against Mayo in Kilaraney. Photo by Dermot Crean.

Kerry huddle before National Football League opening game against Mayo in Kilaraney. Photo by Dermot Crean.

Kerry v Dublin, Allianz National League, Fitzgerald Stadium, Sunday, 2pm throw in. 

A HELL of a lot can change in a year.

At this point 12 months ago there was a “crisis” in Kerry football and Dublin were “unbeatable”.

Fast forward to this Sunday, it’s Kerry who are the champions while Dublin are still left scratching their heads and wondering how did it all go wrong?

But we can’t be too smug; Kerry’s record against Dublin since the 2009, is well, to put it mildly, dismal. In the games since that 2009 drubbing, the record stands as seven games played, six wins for Dublin, one for Kerry.

The solitary win in six years coming in 2012 in Croke Park. Only two games in that time have been played in Fitzgerald Stadium, the game in 2013 will stand out in people’s minds as a match where Kerry only kicked four points in total.

Many people can take or leave the national league, but I think everyone will be hoping this poor patch we’re going through against our most storied of rivals will begin to swing the other way again this Sunday.

Though they would never admit it, Eamonn Fitzmaurice along with his Dublin counterpart, Jim Gavin, will want to gain enough knowledge as possible with one eye on a championship meeting in August or September.

The team news is that Kieran Donaghy will run out for the first time as Kerry captain, the Rock man being well acquainted with the opposition’s support from previous encounters,  no doubt the travelling Hill will give him hell to pay once more.

Anthony Maher, will make his first appearance in the new year, moving into midfield, while the ring rusty, Tommy Walsh will make way.

One thing that can be said now is, Kerry have some great competition for places in midfield between Walsh, Maher and Sheehan.

At this point it feels like David Moran is a guaranteed starter – what a difference a year makes indeed.

So, not much change at all in the three teams Eamonn Fitzmaurice has picked in the league this year, perhaps advancing to the latter stages of the competition rather than experimentation is priority.

What may take a slight sting out of this match is both sides have a win notched up after losing their opening round games; Dublin failing in Cork yet again, then bouncing back against Donegal, the side that rocked them in the summer.

A worry for Kerry is, they may be still behind the pace after a late start to the season.

Against Mayo, the extra few weeks under Mayo’s belt really showed. Dublin also have the three or four week jump on Kerry. It’s still so early in the year, that maybe the difference.

I’m going to predict a Kerry win. It’s a settled side, the forwards buzzed in the latter stages of the Derry game and the Dubs can’t beat us three times in a row in Killarney, surely not?

Saying that, I’d gladly take ten lost games in Killarney in the league for one game in September.

Verdict – Kerry by 2

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