Championship

Up there with the very best

August 4th, 2009
by Weeshie Fogarty

THE question is often thrown my way – so what was the greatest performance you have ever seen from a Kerry team in Croke Park? Impossible of course to answer with any degree of absolute certainty. Different decades, different eras, different styles, different rules, different players, different opponents. However, I can say with absolute certainty in this case that Kerry's performance last Monday against Dublin, especially the first thirty five minutes, was equal to the best that any Kerry supporter has ever seen on the hallowed ground.

This was something very special, something to store away with the multitude of memories that this and other Kerry footballers have enriched our lives with over the years. As Kerry raced to the dressing room at half-time to a standing ovation from their delirious supporters leading by the unbelievable margin of 1-14 to 0-3 their opponents sadly, left the field to a chorus of boos from their stunned followers.

There was something very special about this latest Kerry victory. As the whole country are aware they had been written off by the vast majority and in fairness this was quite understandable following their much documented entry through a number of back door games where division four teams made the men in green and gold look very ordinary.

Everything about this team had changed and changed utterly in the intervening week since the Antrim match. We were all hoping for one big performance from the boys and to say we got it may very well be the understatement of the year. This was Kerry football at its mesmerizing magnificent best. Dublin were absolutely blitzed as the Kingdom displayed all the skills of Gaelic football from the moment Tommy Griffin stormed out to break up the first Dublin attack instigating a scintilling move involving the outstanding Mike McCarthy. The ball finished with Colm Cooper and in a twinkle of an eye Stephen Cluxton had conceded his first goal of the championship when Gooch as only he can finished with deadly precision.

The scene was set and we simply sat back and savored what was unfolding before us. Brilliant moves, pin point passing, superb support play, traditional Kerry points from far out the field and each and every man seemed so assured, skilful and comfortable while on the ball. Yes indeed Kerry footballers are born to play in Croke Park. The running, freshness, fitness and ravenous hunger for the ball from each and every man was credit to the men behind the scene charged with the task of preparing and training the players and without this freshness and fitness what we witnessed would not have been possible.

Jack O'Connor, Ger O'Keeffe and Eamonn Fitzmaurice got their tactics spot on and their decision to abandon the long high ball into the big man around the square and revert back to all low ball (with exceptions of course), was simply a master move. I have often spoken here of Kerry selectors more than other county displaying deep shrewdness on the line, and we saw it again last Monday.

When the Jack O'Connor trained Kerry defeated Mayo in the final a few years ago they turned in a first half display similar to this Dublin game. The early blitz, the powerful all action play from one to fifteen, but with one difference. It was then the aerial blitz on the small Mayo full back line that stunned their opponents. Johnny Crowley, Dara Ó Cinnéide and Colm Cooper was the full-forward line that day and a bombardment of long high balls completely unhinged the Mayo defenders.

Last Monday then Declan O'Sullivan at fullforward was pivotal to many Kerry moves, and the ability of all the forwards to make themselves available for that low short fast passing game plan had Dublin simply clutching at straws and they looked like coming to grips with the Kerrys incisive attacks on goal. Another vital element, which threw the Dubs completely on the back foot was Kerry's early ability to nullify Stephen Cluxton precision kick-outs most of the time.

This has been a vital ploy in the Dublin game plan and Kerry had men covering all the open areas thus making it very difficult for their opponents to set up their all action attacks. No need for me to write on the praises of the many Kerry heroes because from Diarmuid Murphy to captain Darran O'Sullivan at number fifteen each and every one was as good as the next.

The defence was magnificent while the forwards purred like a well oiled machine. Seamus Scanlon is vital to this Kerry drive for victory and Tom O'Sullivan capped a stunning display with his first ever point for his county in a championship game. And finally Darragh Ó Sé making an astonishing 79th championship appearance for his beloved Kerry was outstanding and what an inspiration he is to his team mates and the hoards of joyous Kerry supporters.

Management and players will put this victory behind them very quickly because there are more searching tests ahead. They must now reproduce this form and presumably Mayo will come through against Meath and speculation will start all over again. This is in essence the magnificent and magic and beauty of Kerry football.

In conclusion let me finish with what I wrote in this column last week, and I quote: " This present Kerry side are littered with footballers every bit as good as the legends that have gone before them. They don't need any reminding from the like of me that it is now their turn to rise to this latest challenge and recapture their best form. It was done before against all the odds and it just might happen again."

I equate this defining win with that of the men of '55 also against Dublin.

Fogra: We extend an open invitation to one and all to attend a Radio Kerry two hour Terrace Talk special, which will be broadcast from my own Killarney Legion club complex on Monday, August 17. To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the GAA and the 80th anniversary of our club. The GAA President Christy Cooney has kindly accepted our invitation to attend as guest of honour. A galaxy of Kerry's All Ireland winning goalkeepers from 1953 upwards will also be special guests on the programme as will world renowned musician Liam O'Connor.



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