Kerry will get blend right to challenge the Dubs: Bryan

BRYAN SHEEHAN believes Kerry have the firepower to stop Dublin’s four-in-a-row drive.

However, the recently retired five-time Kingdom All-ireland winner says they must tighten up at the back to stand a chance against Jim Gavin’s all-conquering side.

Dublin are in ominous form already this year having reeled off four straight League wins and are clear favourites to add another All-ireland title this year and become the first team since 1981 to win four-in-a-row.

“Can they be stopped? They can, and I think Kerry have the personnel to do it,” Sheehan told the RTE GAA Podcast.

“I think they’ve the personnel and the firepower up front to beat most teams.

“They’re conceding too many goals at the moment. They’ve conceded seven goals in the League already. You’re not going to win games if you’re conceding goals.

“Kerry, yes I think they have the personnel to beat them. Mayo have the physicality and the intensity to go with Dublin but I still think they’re missing a forward. I still think they’re missing the marquee forward that’s going to punish them.

“I think Tyrone have some fantastic footballers at the moment in the forwards but for whatever reason they’re not getting the best out of them. At the moment you’re going to be talking about Kerry and Mayo [challenging Dublin].”

After starting the League with two wins, Kerry have since lost a couple as they prepare to face Dublin at Croke Park this Sunday and Sheehan feels they need their experienced players back to complement the fresh talent that manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has unleashed so far this year.

He added: “What I liked about it above against Monaghan, even though they lost, and I saw it above against Mayo, they had great character, great fight in them.

“They’re not backing from anything, they’re fighting on their backs and they keep going.

“They just need to get Johnny Buckley back in there, a Donnchadh Walsh back in there, Kieran Donaghy back in there, maybe James O’donoghue as well.

“We’re unfortunate that they’re not available at the moment but I’m really looking forward to the summer when you’ve all these fellas back and the ground is hard and these fellas are after getting the experience they have built up in the League, I think it could be a big year for Kerry if they get that right.”