Championship

All questions will be answered in Croker

August 1st, 2006
by Weeshie Fogarty

It was always going to be a Kerry victory last Saturday. Defeat would have heralded one of the all time great upsets and despite the promising noises we heard about Longford, they were poor and especially naïve. At this level and, playing Kerry in their own back garden, the visitor's were going to be punished severely for any failings. The Leinster county, with just one provincial title to their name, shot themselves in the foot even before the ball was thrown in. Winning the toss Longford elected to play against a very strong wind. And whatever ambitions they had of beating Kerry, any slight chance they might have been clinging to, were blown out the gate as they choose to play into the elements. The wind was very strong.

A vivid memory of my own playing days was of a remark that Donie Sheehan, the great East Kerry trainer of the 60s, made before one of his four championship wins. It was a replay against Mid Kerry in 1965, there was a fierce strong wind and the debate was underway in the dressing room before we went out. Will we play with or against the wind if we win the toss? Donie stood up on a bench, called order and said, "if we win the toss we play with the wind. In big games make every post a winning post and let the opposition try to catch us in the second half if they are good enough." Our captain Donal Lynch won the toss, we jumped into a six point lead and Mid Kerry failed to catch us. However, let me stress that with or against the wind, I believe Kerry would still have won the game.

All the pre-match talk was the placing of Kieran Donaghy on the verge of the square and fair play to the selectors, they got it exactly right. They were taking a gamble as these six forwards had never before begun a game together and we wondered how the changes would work out. Well, it worked even better than what everyone expected and whatever happens for the rest of the championship it was thrilling to watch as the high ball was pumped in the box and the Austin Stacks man pulled them down from the sky time after time. I counted Donaghy winning the first six balls that came to him and with the wind to help with the high deliveries, Longford were all over the place. Then with his great basketball experience, Kieran set up his team mates with some lovely deft touches. He was also involved in the four Kerry goals and Colm Cooper, Mike Frank Russell and especially Eoin Brosnan were in their element. Taking the passes, giving the passes and rattling the net. It was like the old Kerry team with Eoin Liston at full forward and a little bit of the old direct football many of us long to see once again.

Darragh O'Sé was outstanding at midfield and while the defence was in trouble for periods with the nippy Longford forwards running at them, I certainly will wait for another day to pass final judgement as a far greater test waits. Mark O'Sé, it must be said, is having a great year and some of his fielding around the square was superb. Of course, everything in the garden is far from rosy and major doubts still remain and will be answered next Saturday. Nevertheless credit where credit is due, the boys went out last Saturday and did what was asked of them. It was by far Kerry's best display to date in the race for the big one. Kerry being Kerry, the supporters want nothing short of an All-Ireland title and following Saturday's victory all the people I spoke to referred to just one thing - the Armagh game.

Now, what is going to happen in Croke Park next Saturday? That is the question that will be on every follower's lips this week. Armagh will, in my opinion be favourites to advance to the semi-final. There is a huge amount at stake for both counties. Armagh are smarting at the talk that they were only good enough to win one All-Ireland in recent years despite dominating Ulster. And they have made no secret of the fact that nothing short of the Sam Maguire will satisfy them. It's win or bust, they have made their ambitions well known.

On the other hand, Kerry have a huge lot riding on this one game --number one is to beat a northern county. This has been the one big talking point in the Kingdom since Tyrone and Armagh deprived us of All-Ireland victories in recent years. It was always going to come down to this. Now is the moment of truth and, for both counties who have given so much entertainment and football pleasure in recent years, it is the last throw of the dice. I believe both sides know that there will be a break-up of whatever team loses next Saturday. Players have a lot of mileage on the clock and are beginning to show signs of tiredness.

Last year the football followers and management in Kerry stated that we did not have enough hard championship matches as opposed to Tyrone. It was generally accepted that Tyrone's long journey to the final, including all those draws stood to them in great stead. Indeed it is generally accepted that it was their extra fitness which was the deciding factor when beating Kerry in the final. Now the roles are reversed. Armagh are the opponents and it is Kerry that has had the extra games. The replay against Cork and the qualifier against Longford. So how will our boys react to just six days rest?

Well, talking to a few of the players following the Longford win all were in agreement that this game was worth at least 20 hard training sessions. And remember you can not reproduce the intensity of a championship clash in training, so a big plus here for Kerry. On the other hand and this is a crucial factor, the Kieran Donnaghy cat is well and truly out of the bag. Joe Kernan will be glued to his replays on video during the week and all Armagh eyes will be on our full forward.

Kerry will, and this is my early guess, start the same 15 that began against Longford. There might be some positional changes. It is worrying that we keep coming back to this one player. So young, so inexperienced, so much resting on Donaghy's young shoulders. Let's hope that all goes well for him. The Tralee man's style certainly suits Colm Cooper and Mike Frank Russell.

This weekend's game is a mouth watering clash and I never cease to be amazed at what Kerry football throws up year after year. Our teams continue to give us thrilling and exciting days in the stadiums around the country and next Saturday is no exception.

Last week I gave a firm vote of confidence to our boys, and the week before I expressed grave doubts of their ability to beat Cork. This game against Armagh I really believe could go any way. If you were a big backing man you would put your money on the northern side, however Kerry are born to perform in Croke Park. It could be boasted that Kerry money built the magnificent stadium. How will we fare at midfield is the big question. Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul with the Kieran Donnaghy switch? If we dominate midfield we could win the match.

This is the beauty of Kerry against Armagh, only the day itself will answer these questions and it will be the end of the road for one of these two great counties. A very hesitant vote to Kerry.



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