Championship

Born to star in the greatest Gaelic Football arena of all on the greatest day of all

September 13th, 2011
by Weeshie Fogarty

I attended my first All ireland hurling final two weeks and had the privilege of seeing what is accepted as the greatest hurling teams of all time bring off another magnificent victory. Kilkenny are a wonderful team and their exemplary manager Brian Cody has now joined Dr. Eamon o Sullivan and Mick o Dwyer as having guided their counties to eight All Ireland victories.  While this column is about next Sundays football final one can draw certain comparisons between Kerry and Kilkenny and in particular one area of the Kerry team which continues to give many "experts" cause for debate and concern.  And that is, the Kerry defence and the age profile of some of our greatest ever defenders.  Five of what will be the probable starting six defenders are all over the age of thirty and have a good bit of mileage on the clock.

This is a fact and of course might be the cause of some concern. I accept that. However I was stunned by the awesome display of the Kilkenny defence against Tipperary. They were in my opinion mainly responsible for the winning of that match. And, five of that defence was all aged twenty eight years or more while two of their greatest ever servants Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin are both aged thirty two. Age can sometimes be all in the mind.

Kilkenny were badly hurt following their defeat by Tipp in last years decider and it has been very evident all the year that Kerry were equally deeply wounded following their defeat by Down in last years championship. That was a game that Jack o Connor knows should have been won despite two missing players. A wrongly disallowed goal and two Holy Mary saves by the Down goalie from Kieran Donaghy were our down fall.  All the great teams in all sports who are so used to winning on a regular basis are at their most dangerous following a defeat. They will leave no stone unturned to regain their title. Kilkenny have proved this and with their charismatic, hugely experienced manager reached their sublime peak for their recent final. Hunger is the great sauce and defeat hurts deeply.  Jack o Connor is in my opinion and I have said this here on many occasions the best football manager in the game to day. With Ger o Keeffe, Diarmuid Murphy and a back up team of trainors, medics etc they have the team in peak condition mentally and physically for what promises to be a fascinating final.

A lot of work and late night discussion has gone into this team during the year and now with each and every player (excluding a late injury) primed for the day all that remains is a game plan.  Its impossible to imagine that Kerry will play Dublin as Tyrone did. The Northern side gave them loads of space in the forward line and they were literally torn asunder as the Brogan brothers and Diarmuid Connelly ran riot. It would be pure guess work on my part to preempt what Jack o Connors plan will be, he always comes up with something new. Suffice to say we should definitely see players falling back to fill the open spaces and unlike the Mayo game I can't se Mark o Se being left all alone and unprotected in front of the goal as high balls are aimed in his direction. This would be suicidal. The match up of who shadows who will be given huge deliberation.  Speaking to two of long serving Kerry defenders last week I was struck by their massive determination in relation to their own personal approach to the game. They are primed to the hilt no matter who they are assigned to mark.

If we learnt one thing and one thing only from Dublin's win over Donegal in that abysmal semi final it's the fact that they are unquestionably more battle hardened and experienced than what we have seen over the last few years.  Yes they are younger and more all action with fast movement of the ball from backs to forwards and more and vigorous that Kerry and will have the backing of their fanatical victory starved supporters.  Those devastating and harrowing defeats to Cork last year and Kerry in 2009 have served them well. But now they will meet the masters of the big occasion.

This amazing bunch of young men who are as good if not better than has ever in the history of the county left for Dublin to claim the ultimate prize. Hugely experienced, wonderfully skilful, each and every one so comfortable while in possession of the ball, prepared superbly, born to star in the greatest Gaelic football arena of all on the greatest day of all. Their record over the past ten years is staggering; their insatiable hunger for victory is unbelievable in this day and age. Each and every player will look deep inside himself and assure that he is ready to play his part in this magnificent team. Because it's the TEAM that will win this All ireland.

I could be pontificating here on all the separate areas of the teams but from a Kerry perspective I have felt all the year that Jack o Connor and his men have been on a special mission. No stone has been left unturned to have everything right and players carrying injuries early in the year have received only the very best treatment and now have all come good.

There is for me one nagging doubt that will not be answered until Sunday. The Dublin march to the final has been much more demanding than Kerry. Tyrone and Donegal in particular were far more testing battles that Limerick and Mayo were for Kerry. This could have a big bearing in the game. The easier rout could well see Kerry fresher and sharper. On the other hand the only real test was the Munster final against Cork where we were lucky in the end to survive.  The hard rout or the easier rout which is the more advantageous?  On this the final result may well be decided.

I have stayed with Kerry all year and I wont change horses now in mid stream.  Dublin I expect will have massive problems containing the brilliant Kerry forwards each one individually as good as the best I have ever seen representing the county. The only selection problem Jack o Connor will have is whether to start or hold back Paul Galvin. I believe he should start and avoiding injury could be Kerrys match winner. The Finuge man I am full convinced is capable of a blinder.  Kieran Donaghy too is due to have one big game this year. He has been quite by his own high standards and will be a key target man. 

And in conclusion there is Colm Cooper. If, once again as in the Mayo game he is played near the goal and plied with plenty ball he is simply unmarkable.  It would be the ultimate achievement for this gifted player to follow in the footsteps of two other Killarney townies Johnny Culloty (1969) and Donie o Sullivan (1970) and accept the Sam Maguire cup on the Hogan stand.  And of course he would become the first Dr Croke man to return to "Beauty's Home" as winning captain. We wish Jack o Connor and his men the very best of luck.



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