Fitzmaurice out to end Dubs hoodoo

EAMONN FITZMAURICE has thrown down the gauntlet to his Kerry side ahead of Saturday night’s mouth-watering visit of reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin as the Kingdom look to end their 33-game unbeaten streak.

Jim Gavin’s Dublin had looked vulnerable in Allianz Division 1 draws with Tyrone and Donegal but blew last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Mayo out of the water two weeks ago and could be bolstered by Diarmuid Connolly’s return.

Kerry were the last side to defeat the three-in-a-row-seeking Dubs in league or championship two years ago and Fitzmaurice believes his charges should revel in the occasion of the sold-out Tralee clash against a side which has tormented them in recent times.

“This is what makes football great and what makes sport great. Everyone and anyone is going to be talking about records and can Dublin be stopped. They’ll be asking whether Kerry can do it or will it be someone else,” he said.

“But that doesn’t impinge on us. It is not as if I’m going to be hammering the table in the dressing-room beforehand talking about records.

“We are going to try win a game. We try and win every game.

“Obviously, with Dublin, there are added incentives because they’ve had the upper hand on us for the last couple of years. There is huge motivation there from our point of view, more so than any other team.

“This is the stuff that keeps them going; thinking about the best team in the country coming to their home patch on a Saturday night. You know beforehand that it is a sold-out fixture.

“There is going to be a great atmosphere here and that is the reason the lads are in it, that’s the reason we’re in it; big games, big nights. You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t looking forward to it.”