It’s all on the line as Kerry host Kildare

THERE’S nobody taking this one lightly now.

A few weeks back casual Kerry fan probably took it for granted that the visit of the Lillywhites on Paddy’s Day would be two points in the bank for the Kingdom. It was always a dangerous assumption.

Kildare are a better side than their standing in the table would lead one to conclude. Up until last weekend – and excepting their clash with Dublin in Croke Park in the first round – Kildare were a little unlucky in their games. A decision here or there went against them and they missed out by a point or two in the end.

Cian O’Neill’s men lost out to both Monaghan and Tyrone by a point at home and, away to Donegal, Kildare scored three goals and still didn’t manage to take anything from the game (they lost by two points).

In a league where narrow margins make all the difference those defeats left Kildare gasping for oxygen after the opening four rounds. It left them desperately needing to take something from last weekend’s game with Mayo in Newbridge.

Somewhat worryingly from Kildare’s point of view, in the game they needed most to win, they put in their most disappointing performance of the season so far. A seven point defeat – and some reports suggest Mayo could have won by more – was most certainly not what the doctor ordered.

Even with Kerry struggling as they seem to be at present, a similar performance will see Kildare leave Stack Park this weekend with their tails between the legs and with their relegation to Division 2 confirmed (even a draw will relegate them).

That should make the Lillywhites a most dangerous foe for the Kingdom on Saturday. The time for caution is long past, Kildare simply have to be bold and positive and against Kerry that’s the correct approach to take.

If Kildare are positive and attack Kerry then Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s men will give up goal-scoring opportunities. Against Dublin last Sunday, Kerry conceded twice and gave up an additional three clear cut goal-scoring chances to the Dubs and that was far from a one-off occurrence.

Kerry gave up a similar number of chances against Galway and Monaghan. Kerry have conceded nine goals in five games, conceding on average two goals a game and that being the case Kerry fans have little room for complacency.

Should that pattern continue – and we’ve no reason to think it won’t – Kildare have a great chance of taking something from the game. That’s got to be the biggest worry for Fitzmaurice and co this week.

Just what they can do about it in a short period of time is open to question. There’s no flick they can switch or magic wand they can wave to tighten up the Kerry defence overnight.

The issue seems more of a systemic one than anything else. Yes, Kerry would be much stronger down the middle of the defence if Tadhg Morley were available, but it’s about more than individual players in our view.

Problems that manifest themselves in defence often times have their root elsewhere. Kerry need to defend better as a collective. Lambasting a defender for struggling when caught one-on-one with a midfielder or half-forward rampaging towards him probably isn’t the way to go.

And remember some of Kerry’s defenders have done well at various stages. Ronan Shanahan stood up well to the Dubs. Brian Ó Beaghlaoich probably had his best game to date in Croker.

At other times Jason Foley, Shane Enright and Paul Murphy have impressed. Murphy has probably been Kerry’s player of the league so far. For sure Kerry need to be more tenacious and aggressive at times at the back, but the blame doesn’t solely attach itself to the back six.

Are the midfielders doing enough to protect their defence? Are the half-forwards? It’s nobody’s fault and it’s everybody’s fault, including obviously the management

team for whom this has been a recurring issue going at least as far back as the beginning of last year’s Munster championship.

Kerry will be vulnerable to strong runners from an athletic Kildare midfield of Kevin Feely and Tommy Moolick. The Kildare inside line is pretty decent too don’t forget. Paddy Brophy and Daniel Flynn are well capable of punishing Kerry should the Lillies get on the front foot.

A lot will obviously depend on the fitness or otherwise of Kerry’s star turns in attack, Paul Geaney and Seán O’Shea. Kerry will likely need to be firing on all cylinders to do the business here – and it’s every bit as much a must win game for Kerry as it as for their visitors.

You’d hope that the management team would give Dáithí Casey some much needed game time regardless of O’Shea’s fitness, but the Kenmare man’s possible absence opens the door to the Crokes man at number 11.

Casey has impressed and improved Kerry every time he’s been introduced – bar the Dublin match, then again, not even Lazarus could have risen Kerry from the dead at that stage – but his game time has been rather bemusingly limited.

It’s a similar story with Killian Spillane. We’ve seen him only in cameos. It’d be nice to see what the Templenoe man can do over seventy minutes of competitive inter-county action.

Despite Kerry’s poor form they’re still favourites for this game, despite their propensity to cough up goals, you’d have to imagine they possess enough up front to overcome those deficiencies.

Take nothing for granted, however. It should surprise nobody if Kildare managed to turn over the Kingdom this weekend. Nothing would give Fitzmaurice’s former right-hand man more pleasure we suspect. Verdict: Kerry