Five things we learned...

Referees continue to be card happy in June

It was ever thus. Referees, under pressure from Croke Park, lay down the law early in the championship. Sunday’s game was not by any means a dirty game and, yet, we ended up with twelve cards over the seventy minutes (eleven yellow and one red).

Now it not being a dirty game doesn’t preclude there being a number of yellow card offences committed and we’re sure Padraig Hughes was technically correct in most of them – barring one, Donnchadh Walsh’s second yellow was more than harsh – but we simply can’t imagine a similar number of cards being flashed in a game later in the summer for a similarly feisty affair.

Battle for number 9 shirt has been joined

The first we knew of David Moran’s injury was when, instead of making his way onto the field, he made his way up the steps of the stand with Killian Young. It meant that Jack Barry would start in his place and give us a head to head comparison between the Na Gaeil man and Anthony Maher.

Those two players look set to do battle over the coming weeks and months for the number nine jersey alongside Moran, who if fit is a nailed on starter (the injury which kept him out on Sunday is assumed to be relatively minor).

On the basis that he was initially selected for the game Anthony Maher might be assumed to be just ahead of Barry in the pecking order right now. The Duagh man had a good game too, but Barry was no slouch either. This one is going to run and run.

Experience is held in reserve

Throughout the league we think we saw a pattern emerge. Eamonn Fitzmaurice would place his faith in youth for the opening three quarters of the match and then into the final quarter call upon experience to see the game out.

A very sensible strategy it was and is too. You saw it a lot with Anthony Maher coming on late in games to replace Jack Barry and on Sunday you saw both Kieran Donaghy and Bryan Sheehan held in reserve with Barry starting the game. It gave Fitzmaurice the option late in the game of bringing on two players who know a thing or two about seeing out a game – Johnny Buckley also came on and, though younger, would probably fall into the same category.

James is back

It’s not the case that James O’Donoghue hasn’t featured in the last two seasons since his glorious 2014 campaign, but it is the case that those campaigns have been hampered somewhat by injury. Far too much for his or anybody else’s liking.

His performance on Sunday suggested that he’s back to close to his very best. It will come as a blessed relief to him to start the championship season with no injury issues having played a lot of very good club football with the Legion of late.

With Colm Cooper having retired the Kingdom need somebody to step up to the plate – alongside Paul Geaney – as the go-to Kerry forward. Week by week get set to watch O’Donoghue improve and take that responsibility upon his shoulders.

Pairc Uí Chaoimh isn’t yet ready

We learned this on Monday afternoon, but it’s still worth noting. The Munster final will be on in Killarney because the new Pairc Uí Chaoimh will not be ready. We beg the pardon of the very fine business people of Killarney, but that’s a bit of a shame. It would have been something new to look forward to for fans and players alike. Also, after this year, we face into three years (minimum) without a Cork v Kerry Munster final in Killarney.