Other Counties

Kerry face Dublin and Mick O'Dwyer wins with Wicklow

August 21st, 2007
by Weeshie Fogarty

 First things first and whatever about the display last Sunday that mouth watering clash we spoke about here last week is on. Kerry and Dublin in the All Ireland semi final. For me it's the ultimate show down. The country boys against the city slickers. The age old rivalry that goes right back to 1924 when Dr Eamon o Sullivan trained his men to victory over the sky blues. Then 1955 and the greatest Kerry win of all over Heffo and his so called unbeatable Dublin machine. 1962 and majestic Mick o Connell dominated the skies as we witnessed another Kerry semi- final win. 2001 and Maurice Fitzgerald's miracle kick from that side line ball in Thurles. What is it about Kerry and Dublin? The build up to this latest chapter will be unbelievable. And no I did not forget that epic 1977 semi-final described by many as the greatest game ever seen. However I do not subscribe to that theory. The packed Hill 16 in all its magnificent colorful glory. The Dubs. chanting, singing, pointing, taunting, drum beating, exalting their heroes to the highest heavens. It's all before us.

Boy were we lucky to win last Sunday. Very simply if Monaghan had an expert free kicker and really believed in themselves we would be gone. We have spoken here in this column of experience and the Kerry subs bench. Well last Sunday it was never more evident that these two ingredients pulled us through at the end of the day. The first danger signals began flashing early in the game when Monaghan began winning practically every breaking ball in front of their own goal and around the mid-field area. This is a sure sigh that players are not properly tuned in and here that six week lay off since the July 1st Munster final was standing out like a beacon.

It was here that experience told and a number of incidents were crucial in the final analysis. Darragh o Se, s first half block down in his own square and his brilliant high catch under his own cross bar late in the game... Declan o Sullivans 70th minute goal when Kerry were on the ropes. Mark o Se magnificent block down at the death when Monaghan were through for what appeared the winning goal. And then Thomas o Se,s punched point to see Kerry through. Our boys never panicked. They just kept plugging away despite the fact the long high ball into Kieran Donnaghy was not working and their attempts at combined play was ragged and disjointed. There must be an effective ready made plan B for the Dublin game if this long ball tactic is not paying dividends.

And then as we mentioned last week we had a list of subs rearing for action and the Kerry mentors while in my opinion leaving it  a little bit late sprang them just in time and what a difference this made. It is very troubling that we saw three of our six forwards taken off but with the exception of Colm Cooper and Declan o Sullivan they never really got going. The two o Sullivans Sean and Darren brought a great freshness to the late effort. Sean opened up wings with his lighting pace and Darren with his all heart lifting action style was involved in that late late winner by Thomas. And then there was the St. Marys Caherciveen man Brian Sheehan. Experience again as we have a young man here who in many peoples opinion should be on the first fifteen. His two points were beautifully taken. Cool calm and collected Brian will be pushing hard for a place against Dublin. The selectors now have some huge decisions to make. The big question for me is, was it the long lay off that resulted in this sub standard display or are we seeing mileage over the years effecting the legs of some of the players?. Should the selectors freshen up the side by starting three of four new players the next day or will they decide to begin with the same fifteen?. It is a big call for Pat o Shea and his back room men. The training has been very hard and highly competitive, I can vouch for this as I try to attend as many sessions as possible. Now another question for the trainer is, will he rest the players, freshen them up and adopt a completely different approach to Dublin.

The one thing we can be absolutely certain about is that the Dubs will play at a hundred miles an hour and our defense will have to smarten up greatly if they hope to contain their ever changing and effective forward line. We did not dominate mid field for a change and in relation to Curnow's Seamus Scanlon I certainly will reserve my judgment on this young man. He needs the experience on the big stage and I firmly believe he is a man for the future. Its going to be some battle out there in the middle of the field against Dublin as Ciaran Whelan is a spectacular fielder and is currently in great form. I kept a close eye on the marking of Colm Cooper off the ball and the sooner these umpires get permission to call fouls the sooner the great classy forwards like "Gooch" will be allowed express themselves. His man until carded was holding, blocking, standing in his face and doing everything to the Kerryman excepting marking him legally. How Cooper kept his cool if the face of this provocation amazed me. And while I am on the subject of sportsmanship the booing of supporters when Kerry were taking frees is something we can certainly do with out.

So now lets pay due tribute to this bunch of Kerry players especially those men who have been wearing the Kerry jersey since Paudie o Se was the man in charge. Irrespective what is said and written about last Sunday and whatever the result against Dublin these men are attempting to reach four finals in a row and throw in the 1997 and 2000 wins and  the losing semi-final and final appearance and we have here some of the all time great Kerry sides. We should not forget what service these men have given their county. Kerry will go in as under dogs Sunday week. Pat o Shea will be delighted with that and Dublin's Piller Caffrey will have sleepless nights over Kerrys poor display because he will know in his heart and soul that this outing will have brought Kerry on the proverbial mile.

Staying in Croke Park, lets pay due tribute to Wicklows historic Tommy Murphy Cup win two weeks ago when their last minute goal won the day over Antrim? Not of any great significant you might well reply. But when you add in the name Mick o Dwyer then for followers everywhere the significant of the victory changes dramatically. Without a senior victory in any competion to their name and without a senior win in any single match in Croke Park this has been a major break through for Wicklow. And unquestionably the person responsible for this change of fortune is the man from Waterville. I make no secret of the fact that I have, and always had, tremendous respect for this man. Now turned seventy years of age but with the enthusiasm and drive of a person half his age I played with and against him and watched him train and coach that legendary Kerry side of the seventies and eighties.

Leinster titles with Laois and Kildare added further to his reputation as a man with a winning touch and an overwhelming passion for this game of Gaelic football. Back in the sixties he trained and coached Waterville to three Kerry senior county finals. This feat forgotten about by most students of the game was in my opinion his greatest achievement. And why do I elevate this above all others. Well he was also the man who literally dragged them to those finals as he was playing at the top of his form around that period. He lined out at centre forward in those three deciders. Being a member of the East Kerry side that defeated them in those three finals I had a close and personal look at O Dwyer in action. Mick o Connell was also a huge driving force behind that magnificent Waterville team.

It caused a mini sensation early this year when it was revealed he was going to Wicklow, the no hopers, the county who never won single match through their senior history in Croke Park. Once again the tongues started wagging all over the country. O Dwyer is only doing it for the money. How much is he getting? All this type of stuff was once again going on. Well what ever travelling expenses Mick o Dwyer receives for spreading the football gospel around the counties both strong and weak he deserves every penny of it in my opinion. The man is literally obsessed with the game and the Wicklow victory has been a massive boost to that county. Donal McGillcuddy left his native Glenbeigh in 1961, took up residence in Wicklow and went on to serve as county board chairman for three years. One of his sons is a senior selector with Mick o Dwyer. Donal told me last week that the Waterville man has done wonders for the football morale of their county. The GAA summer camps for the kids have doubled and O Dwyer has visited all the schools as well as rotating the training for the county side to the grounds of all the different clubs. "He has lifted the spirit of the whole county" Donal added. "It's vital that he stays with us. And by the way Weeshie Michael Hassett is playing great club football down here in Wicklow". So well done to Micko on another astonishing achievement. 

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