Championship

Kerry beat Waterford and the Kerry Captains Saga

June 5th, 2007
by Weeshie Fogarty

 The historians and a handful of newspaper correspondents had plenty to write about 50 years a go this year when Waterford stunned the sporting world by beating Kerry in that never to be forgotten Munster championship played in Walsh Park Waterford. The legendary John Joe Sheehy a selector that black day for Kerry announced to the players in the silent  dressing room following the match that. "We will not return to Kerry until darkness descends".  Not so this week as we witnessed a facile win for Pat o Shea's men in Dan Faher's field last Sunday. However there was a little bit of history in the making which may set the quiz masters a few problems.

When was the last time Kerry had three captains playing in a Munster championship match? Answer, last Sunday. So let's get this decision or rule whatever you prefer to call it clarified in relation to the man who captains our county as we set out to retain the All Ireland title. Skelligs Rangers won the South Kerry Championship last year in thrilling style. South Kerry had won the County Championship beating Dr Crokes in that dramatic final played in Killarney. Skellig Rangers as is traditional in Kerry then had the nomination of the Kerry captain for the 1997 season. They informed the county board that the Kerry management would decide who would captain Kerry if there was more than one South Kerry man starting on the first fifteen. And if there was no South Kerry man on the field then Darragh o Shea would assume the coveted mantel of captaincy. Are you still with me on this issue? But one question remains unanswered. If Darragh was not on the field for some reason and South Kerry had no player on the field of play then who would be the Kerry captain? It would I presume again be back to management.

And so we began the road to Croke Park last Sunday. Declan O Sullivan and Killian Young were on the starting fifteen. Declan went up for the toss so he had been nominated captain. He was then substituted in the second half, leaving Killian as captain on the field. Then the Renard man was substituted. No man from South Kerry on the playing field, so the arm band of captaincy was passed on to Darragh o Shea. Three captains on the one day. And let's speculate a little here. Brian Sheehan was also ready to enter the fray, so he could also have been the Kingdom leader in Fraher Field last Sunday. Now let me add here that I don't know if Brian was injured or not and why he did not take part in the action as Kerry advanced to meet Cork in the Munster final. However I do know that the stylish St, Mary's man was deeply involved in crucial examinations so this may explain his abstain from the field of play. And just to confuse the captaincy issue further let's not forget that Sneem's Ronan Hussey captained the side earlier in a league match.

So the long running question of who will captain Kerry continues to run and run and for me it gets more confused. There is for and against the present situation which I have explained above. I should be the very first to back up the present ruling as my own club mate Johnny Culloty achieved the ultimate honour in 1969.  Dr Crokes won the East Kerry championship. East Kerry with Culloty playing corner forward won the county championship. Crokes had no representative on the county side so they nominated the Killarney as captain and Johnny climbed the steps of the Hogan stand to receive the Sam Maguire. A few years ago a motion to county convention to change the method of picking the Kerry captain was overwhelmingly defeated, the old order remained. It is my opinion that in to day's world the captain of the Kerry team should be the choice of the management. Give the honour to the best man, he to be decided by management. Very simple. It's a merry go round at the moment and takes greatly from the honour and glory of leading your county. I have heard arguments that the captain is not relevant and is there to call the toss of the coin only. This to me greatly diminishes what is one of the very special events that can occur in a Kerry footballer's life. I rest my case.

It was all so easy for Pat o Shea's men as they advanced to meet Cork. Waterford it must be said were very disappointing on the day. Last year in Killarney they really put it up to Kerry. It appeared to me that last Sunday they were a little overawed by the occasion and the presence of the television cameras and simply stood back from Kerry in the first half and let them dictate all aspects of the game. They were never going to win and Kerry simply set about their business and with a 14 points lead the short whistle it was done and dusted. So what will the Kerry back room team has learned from this non event? Not very much I believe and in fact following that excellent first half the question might be asked , after scoring 2-9 why only six points following the break.

Waterford had more possession and if they had any couple of forwards that were some bit accurate they would have finished with a more respectable look on the score board. However it's a well known fact that being so far ahead of your opponents in any sport simply changes you way of thinking, the urgency went out of Kerrys play in that second half and they sat back on their lead allowing Waterford much more possession. Now last week I posed the question here. As kerry attempt to reach their forth All Ireland in a row was there a danger that fatigue due to high mileage might set in? That question still remains unanswered so we will credit that second half sit back to having the game out of reach of Waterford.

All eyes were on the Kerry championship debutants and they performed very well. Padraig Reidy did Scart proud at corner back. He was outstanding and in my opinion it was a toss of a coin between him and Mark o Se for my man of the match. Killian Young also had an excellent game and his run to set up Eoin Brosnan for the goal was brave and timely. Michael Quirk has added great aerial power around the centre with Darragh, he tired a bit towards the end but the management will be happy with their decision to start him before Seamus Scanlon and Tommy griffin. The options with Darragh at midfield   as Cork prepares to cross the county bounds in July are now three fold.

It was great to see Kieran Donaghy back to the verge of the square following his lengthy lay off due to the broken collar bone sustained in the league against Donegal. He badly needed this outing and his lack of match practice was very evident. It is only natural that he appeared to be rusty and his timing in relation to passing and kicking options will have to improve greatly for the Munster final. The fear of a repeat injury must also have played on Stars mind. Now he will have four weeks to sharpen up his silken skills and we should se a different man facing Cork's hero Graham Canty. What a battle between these two this promises to be in front of the Cork goal. However credit where credit is due and Waterford full back Thomas O Gorman had a fine game and cleared his lines in great style during the course of the hour holding the Kerryman scoreless. Mick Ahern and Gary Hurney were also outstanding for Waterford.

Declan o Sullivan and Paul Galvin will have benefited greatly from this run out while Eoin Brosnan's two goals were taken in his usual dashing style. Two superb finishes low to the corner while on the run. Fourteen championship goals from the Crokes man moves him well up the best ever goal scoring list for a Kerry forward. Colm Cooper ball winning and passing set up many scores and while adding five points, three from play demonstrates that his all round game will be crucial to Kerrys winning chances against Cork.

Mike Frank tired in the second half and Paul o Conner who replaced him will push hard for a place on the starting team for the Munster final as will Brian Sheehan. But what is the position with Declan Quill? The free scoring Kerins o Rahillys man appeared to have dropped well down in the pecking order. Darren and Sean o Sullivan got the call up before him below in Dan Frahers field and both will play a big part in Kerry's run during the coming months. The Kerry bench is strong and Mossie Lyons handled a huge amount of ball when introduced.

The big one against Cork will answer a lot of questions and even at that with this back door system in operation a loss for any of the two finalists will not be the end of the world. However I believe there is far more at stake for Kerry in many areas than there is for Cork. As the wonderful John B Keane once remarked to me. "A Munster final against Cork in Killarney will leave you shattered, lifeless and as limp as a wet rag". Roll July 1st.

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