Gavin O’Connor looks at the talking points from yesterday’s Kerry v Dublin clash…
1. When the going got tough, Kerry got going
In the first six minutes of the second half, with hail and snow belting their bodies, Kerry kicked four points without reply.
The fourth from David Moran, being the pick of the bunch in that purple patch. Moran cut through the Dublin and judged the harsh wind perfectly to sweep it over the bar.
From going a point down at half-time, Kerry were now three points up. Ultimately how Kerry reacted to the dreadful conditions was the winning of the game.
Barry John Keane, celebrates the excellent individual score he got at the start of the second half against Dublin. Photo by Dermot Crean.
2, On current form, David Moran is the best midfielder in the country
Since the drawn Mayo against game last year, David Moran has been Kerry’s most consistent and best performer. Though at points in the first half he struggled with the pace of the Dublin attacks, he soon found his rhythm and was intrinsic to Kerry’s victory.
Roaming from 45 to 45, he sweeped up ball and got Kerry moving. From kick-outs, that long arm broke ball for his team-mates and dominated midfield. Only Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea has quite as big an impact around the middle. At the moment I’d just edge Moran ahead of him.
With hail stones teeming down, David Moran, grabs the game by the scruff of the neck and pings the ball over the bar for Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean.
3. There’s now great competition for places
Considering the three men who did the most damage the last time we played Dublin in the championship were not available – Colm Cooper, James O’Donoghue and Donnchadh Walsh – the victory against a side that has had our number of late is very encouraging, even if it is just the league.
You only have to have witnessed the way, Paul Murphy, Fionn Fitzgerald and Jack Sherwood threw their bodies around with careless abandon, they weren’t just fighting to win a game, they were fighting for their place.
With one of last year’s All Stars Peter Crowley and seasoned defenders Marc O’Se and Aidan O’Mahony, still to come in as well, competition will be rife inside the panel.
The Kerry team line up before the start of the Allianz National League round 3 match against Dublin in Fitzgerald Stadium. Photo by Dermot Crean.
4. Kerry tactically on top of Dublin’s kick outs
As was highlighted on RTE’s League Sunday, Kerry stifled Dublin’s attacks by marking zonally instead of man to man on kick-outs.
The last time both sides met in the championship, in 2013, it was a similar story with Kerry forwards pushing up high on Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs with great effect.
Cluxton wasn’t in goals on Sunday, so he may have done a better job than replacement keeper Sean Currie, who found it tough at points.
There’s also a sense we may have showed our hand to Jim Gavin, if we are to meet again this year. Something for both managers to mull over.
Johnny Buckely for Kerry looks for a teammate, while Ciaran Kilkenny and Cian O’Sullivan look on. Photo by Dermot Crean.
5. Dublin are hurting
Sunday’s match had quite a lot of fire for a league game. Most of it came from Dublin at the end of the game when scuffles broke out and, Micheal Fitzsimons rightly saw the line for a dangerous charge on Fionn Fitzgerald which drove the Dr Crokes man crashing to the ground.
You get the sense that Dublin still carry a lot of hurt because of how 2014 panned out for them. They felt the Sam was rightfully theirs because they were the best team in the country.
Kerry were the side that swooped in and gained another All-Ireland in their absence, so they will really want to rectify that come the summer, which is beginning to tip this latest instalment of the Dublin Kerry rivalry to boiling point.
Something to savour.
Scroll down for more photos…
Kieran Donaghy, gets acquainted with his marker, Rory O’Carroll. Photo by Dermot Crean.
The travelling Hill, made it’s way down south to Killarney and were in fine voice as always. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kieran Donaghy, rallies the troops before throw-in against Dublin on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kerry’s Stephen O’Brien and Mikey Geaney try to gain possession with Dublin’s, Johnny Cooper, Cian O’Sullivan and Darren Brady. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kerry’s Johnny Buckley gains the ball while Dublin’s Johnny Cooper attempts the tackle. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kieran Donaghy contests a ball with Rory O’Carroll. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kerry’s Stephen O’Brien gets a run on Dublin’s Micheal Fitzsimons. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Bryan Sheehan was near flawless kicking from the ground. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Paul Geaney takes on Philly McMahon. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Barry John Keane, in hot pursuit of Dublin’s Cian O’Sullivan. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Paul Geaney celebrates his score in the second half. Photo by Dermot Crean.
‘The twin towers’ reunited, Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh line up along side each other. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Mark Griffin about to be tackled by Dublin’s Cian O’Sullivan. Photo by Dermot Crean.
