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Gavin O’Connor looks at the Austin Stacks v South Kerry, Garveys Supervalu Senior Football County Championship Round 2 Replay at Connolly Park, Saturday 6:30pm…
Two key men for both sides in the game tomorrow. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
LAST weekend we were treated to a cracker down in Cahersiveen, so there are high hopes for this Round 2 replay which will be the first Kerry SFC match played at Connolly Park in 25 years.
Despite both sides being guaranteed another game in the championship, the sense that these teams could be involved again in the championship gave the match a knock-out feel.
The Rock will hope Kieran Donaghy will be fully fit and raring to go. Due to a quad injury he has been used sparingly and was on the bench last weekend, but played the entire second half and extra time.
Donaghy created Stacks vital second half goal for David Mannix whose afternoon’s work finished with 1-8, but it was Bryan Sheehan who grabbed the headlines with his last gasp equaliser.
South Kerry are a fine unit but don’t possess the same attacking quality that many other of the top sides have including Austin Stacks.
What will be key and it was the difference last weekend, is how many frees The Rock give away inside scoring range. And remember, inside scoring range is 50 metres when Bryan Sheehan is about…even against a breeze.
Another big factor is whether Brendan O’Sullivan will start the game or not. Wayne Guthrie stood out, head and shoulders, in the drawn game. O’Sullivan would be a massive addition to South Kerry around midfield which could swing it their way.
But if Stacks can keep their discipline and Mannix can keep firing at the other side of the pitch that will go a long way in Stacks securing the victory.
Verdict – Austin Stacks by 1
