There’s work to be done, isn’t there always?

IF Eamonn Fitzmaurice and his back-room team wanted a stiff test for their players heading into a Munster Final showdown with Cork on July 2 well they certainly got that in a wet and blustery Cusack Park on Sunday.

Clare have proved over the past couple of seasons that, under Colm Collins, they are developing into a decent side and can now mix it with teams who traditionally would have blown them away. In the end Kerry’s quality came to the fore and they were relieved at the final whistle to pack their bags and head for home.

Performance levels will have to improve across the board if they are to retain their provincial crown, but after being put to the pin of their collar for long periods on Sunday they showed great character and resolve to negotiate their way through a sticky situation.

It could have been made even more difficult had Jamie Malone’s 44th minute shot hit the net rather than rattling back off Brian Kelly’s crossbar and away to safety. That could have pushed Clare four points in front and they were certainly in the ascendency at that stage.

They had set up as we all had expected with a sweeper system and it frustrated Kerry especially in the first half. I felt Kerry, although Clare had men back in front of Paul Geaney and James O’Donoghue, were very slow in their movement of the ball through the lines during the first half.

With the wind to our backs we should have been looking to deliver quicker passes into our danger men. I was sitting right in line with our full-forward line for the first half and they were making really hard intelligent runs, but the ball was being held up outside.

I understand that sweepers make it difficult to get perfect passes in, but sometimes it’s a case of trying to hit a pocket of space for the inside line to run in to. On the few occasions we moved it fast we got joy.

Anthony Maher played a sublime kick pass to James in the first half and he popped a fine score. It was well executed fast football which is what we are good at. Clare to their credit had us in trouble at times because they were intent on getting runners through the middle and getting quick delivery into the likes of David Tubridy and Eoin Cleary. They caused us problems for a lot of the game but in fairness they are two decent front men who would give any corner back enough of it.

I felt Kerry missed the influence of David Moran in that first half not only what he offers in his ability to win ball and get us moving, but we really missed him from a leadership point of view.

As the teams headed down the tunnel level at half time with Kerry about to face a stiff breeze I wondered who would be the guys to step up and get us out of a hole. Throw into the mix we were down to fourteen men after Donnchadh’s sending off (why he got a yellow for the second incident baffles me!) and this really was squeaky bum time to coin a famous phrase.

Step forward Peter Crowley. The Laune Rangers man for me was the catalyst to why Kerry took control of the game around the middle third and started to take the game to Clare.

He was excellent. He never shirked responsibility and was constantly looking to get on the ball and drive us forward. He won breaks and tackled very well. Peter has, over the past few seasons, established himself as rock in that Kerry defence and after his display on Sunday has shown that he is a real leader of this group.

Step forward James O’Donoghue. Every score into the breeze was crucial and James showed why, when he is injury free and at the top of his game, he is one of the best around at killing teams off with his scoring ability.

He was marshalled well all day by a combination of Clare backs, but they still couldn’t contain him. His movement off the ball was frightening and that is a nightmare for any defender.

His free taking was on the money but it was his scores from play which really caught the eye. The pick of the bunch for me was the point in the second half where he cut across the ball off his left into the breeze to split the posts. It signalled to me that the Legion man is getting back to where his confidence was a couple of years back. Finally step forward Stephen O’Brien. The management have to take the credit for this one. It just wasn’t happening for Barry John Keane so they made the call and got Stephen in. It turned out to be an inspired move.

The way the game was going it needed a direct ball carrier that can score. O’Brien ticks both those boxes. He worked hard, won some vital ball out around the middle and got on the scoreboard too. He has certainly put his hand up to start in a few weeks time. His goal was worth the entrance fee alone. From the moment he collected the pass I’m certain he had goal on his mind. He weaved his way through selling the cheekiest of dummies and finished superbly. It just goes to show where Kerry have an advantage over most teams.

When Eamonn can look to his bench and bring the likes of Stephen in it typifies the quality he has at his disposal. Not only are subs being brought in, but they are able to have an influence on the game because they are top players. The players will get the heads down again this week. The carrot of a Munster Final against Cork has been dangled. Training will take on a life of its own for the next few weeks. There is work to be done for sure. Isn’t there always?