KINGDOM’S DRIVE FOR FIVE
NFL DIVISION 1 TABLE Kerry star O’brien desperate for another win & a chance to right Croke Park wrongs
Tomorrow, Killarney, 3pm (TG4)
A FIFTH victory on the bounce tomorrow could be enough to send Kerry back to Croke Park – where Stephen O’brien wants to end their barren run.
Kerry are winless on their last four visits to GAA headquarters, an unusually long streak for them of all counties.
It started with the draw and replay defeat to Mayo in the 2017 All-ireland semi-final followed by the regulation League game with Dublin in which they were trounced last year and then a ‘Super 8s’ wipeout against Galway in the summer.
But if Dublin or Galway drop points on the road then a Kerry win against Monaghan in Killarney tomorrow would see them into the League final with two games to spare – the setting for their last victory at Croke Park, when they scored
Tonight, Machale Park, 7.15pm (eir)
WHEN James Horan first took charge of Mayo eight years ago, they had already accumulated three successive wins over Galway.
By the time he finished in 2014, that run had extended a surprise one-point win over the Dubs two years ago.
Getting back there ahead of the Championship and acquitting themselves well is an itch that O’brien wants to scratch.
“Definitely,” said the Kingdom attacker. “Last year we did not cover ourselves in glory either in the League or the Championship in Croke Park so the more that we can play up there the better.
“I don’t think we are getting carried away with ourselves. We won the last two games by a point so they could easily have been two losses.
“I don’t think anyone is getting carried away but it is nice to be coming out the right side of it.
“It is nice to string a few wins together.”
Since the Mayo defeat in to seven games in League and Championship, which included a recordequalling 17-point romp at Pearse
Stadium in 2013.
Horan was succeeded by the
Noel Connelly and Kerry
Mayo
Dublin Galway Tyrone Roscommon Cavan Monaghan P 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 W DL 4 0 0 3 0 1 2 0 2 2 0 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 3 1 0 3 +/- 9 7 15 -9 -6 -8 -1 -7 2017 the Kerry panel has changed considerably, with that process accelerated again last winter thanks to a spate of retirements and other experienced players falling out of favour.
But manager Peter Keane has the scope to regenerate the side with the glut of successful minor teams of recent years.
“They are unreal,” says O’brien of the emerging crop. “They are very talented and they are taking to it like a duck to water.
“We knew that those young lads were going to be very good because they won so much at underage.
“It is great to see them coming through now. It is very exciting for Kerry supporters to see Pat Holmes combo, who made it eight with a fourpoint Championship win during their only summer in charge. Since then, Galway have won all four meetings – three of them in the Pts 8 6 4 4 3 3 2 2 fellas of
19/20 playing with absolutely no fear, tearing into the opposition.”
Arguably the standout player in that regard has been
Sean O’shea (inset) at centre-forward, who had a fine debut season last year but appears to be kicking on, despite Keane repeatedly voicing concerns about his hectic schedule with UCC in the Sigerson Cup.
His Kenmare clubmate O’brien added: “I think he is used to the load. In the first couple of Sigerson games he was off at half-time or just after but hopefully he will get in a best of rest now that the Sigerson is over.
“He is honest; he is a very honest lad. He is from my club so I would have seen him come up all along. He is just a great player to have for both club and county.”
Kerry v Monaghan
Mayo v Galway
Championship - and bid for a third straight victory over Mayo in Castlebar alone when they come to Machale Park this evening.
It’s important for Mayo that they get a foothold in Connacht again. Central to doing that is beating Galway in the summer. In the meantime, they can’t allow the Tribe to continue to dominate them.
Sadly for Mayo, there was nothing unusual about their implosion against Dublin but they can bounce back here.