Gavin O’Connor looks forward to the Munster Final on Sunday between Kerry and Cork…
Barry John Keane (seen here during the Cork v Kerry league match earlier this year) has earned his place in the starting 15.
THE last time Cork came to Killarney and beat Kerry in their own backyard, Take That were at number one, Gerry Adams was controversially granted a Visa in the US and Stan Collymore broke the then Premier League transfer record when he went from Forest to Liverpool for €8.4 million.
Now that fee would just about get you half a Danny Welbeck!
Since July 1995, when Billy Morgan led Cork to fortress Killarney with Niall Cahalane leaving with the Munster Cup, Kerry are 27 games unbeaten in the championship against all opposition.
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Such unshakable superiority comes with one caveat though; Cork have been nearing ever closer to ending that unbeaten record. In the last seven games involving the pair in Killarney, there have been three draws, in all those games Kerry got the equalizing score.
In the games Kerry won, they did so by only two points, most recently in 2013, when despite leading by seven at half time, Kerry just about got over the line despite enduring a barrage of Corkonian attacks late on.
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David Moran and Eoin Cadogan contest a kick out in the league game earlier this year. The midfield battle will be crucial to the outcome on Sunday. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
It would be foolish for any Kerry supporter travelling on Sunday to expect a handy win. Yes, history has shown us this fixture normally ends in a Kerry win, but it also shows us it’s very rarely straightforward.
The absence of Colm Cooper has raised eyebrows, but given the recovery time it takes to really come up to speed after sustaining an ACL injury, maybe we’re expecting too much from Gooch for him to pick up where he left off in 2013.
Anthony Maher is arguably the most notable exclusion from the team. The Duagh man would be down as a guaranteed starter given his performances over the last year, right up to Tipp game. But we really shouldn’t be at all surprised at this stage as Eamonn Fitzmaurice and his management team are fond of reminding us there are no sacred cows in his side.
Barry John Keane has earned his start. The Strand Road man has been Kerry’s best performing forward in 2015. It looked like he would be consigned to being an impact sub, but when it comes down to it, as they say “you can’t beat breeding!”
Waltzing back into the side with only 15 minutes of football played this year is Donnchadh Walsh. It’s a testament to his importance that despite lacking inter-county match time this year, he will be entrusted once again to be one of the chief destroyers in the middle of the park.
A lot has been spoken about the bench. Not surprising considering it contains 21 All-Ireland medals, 17 All-Stars and two GAA Player of the Year awards.
These days the team that finishes the game is almost as important as the starting 15. A few bruised egos coming off the bench will do the side no harm if things prove a bit too close for comfort going in at the final stretch.
Can you imagine the roar The Gooch will get when he returns in front of his adoring public once more? Worth a couple of points and it could come down to that.
Anyone who travelled down to Pairc Uí Rinn in March knows exactly how Cork can hurt Kerry, running at us with pace. It’s often said that this is one of Kerry’s great weaknesses, but in fairness if any side gets a run on you it’s going to be hard to deal with.
In the league, Cork doled out an 11 point beating, scoring three goals in the process, which cut Kerry open to an alarming degree. The ball was practically walked into the net for two of the goals, Kerry lines being breached by slick off the shoulder hand-passing at pace.
A repeat of such moves on Sunday and Kerry will be in a lot of trouble.
Cork have the forwards to hurt, but they will need them to stand up, seniors players such Donnchadh O’Connor who always is amped up for Munster football’s big day.
Inside forwards, Colm O’Neill and Brian Hurley are as good as any in the country and given enough ball Kerry will be chasing shadows.
As ever midfield will be the place where the game is dictated. Kerry are stronger in that sector, so they should be able to supply the forwards with enough ball to win out.
In one of the most traditional days in the GAA calender, I’m not going to go against what is the most regular outcome – a tight and entralling Kerry win.
Verdict – Kerry by 3 points
