More of where Kerry are

build-up to the Royals’ first half goal, his defending was very solid, he worked like a Trojan, and his attacking bursts where what we have wanted to see more often at this level. White’s blistering pace and directness were responsible for three of Sean O’Shea’s pointed first half frees, and it’s abundantly clear that wing-back is by far his best position.

Keane also appears to be putting his faith in Shane Enright to help to shore up the centre of the defence. Having been given the unenviable task of picking up Ciaran Kilkenny and Damien Comer against Dublin and Galway, the Tarbert man was again handed the number six jersey on Sunday.

Enright’s physicality was seen to good effect on several occasions, two great turnovers leading to two points in the second half and, when the game was well and truly in the melting pot at the very end, he threw his body on the line on the stand side to win a ball that he had no right to, which enabled Kerry to finally put out the Meath fire. This positional experiment may well continue.

Up front, Micheal Burns is really continuing to impress this spring. Three fine points from play, sending in the ball for David Clifford’s goal, involved in other scores, upping his workrate. He was excellent, and is making serious headway in his attempt to nail down a wing-forward position later in the year.

There was also plenty to admire in his club mate David Shaw’s senior debut. A tall, rangy attacker with bags of potential, Shaw showcased much of what he has to offer, especially in the opening half. Two points, a brilliant flicked assist for the captain’s green flag, and another rocket off the post when he maybe could have done better. The Crokes man certainly did enough to warrant another start in Castlebar next Saturday.

With the elements in the second half, Kerry only registered one point in the first 15 minutes (to four from Meath). They were struggling badly for any penetration. In the next ten minutes, they kicked six scores from six attempts. The common denominator here: the introduction of Tommy Walsh.

The big Kerins O’Rahillys man was superb when he came on. He was involved in four of those six points, went on to fire over a great score himself, and pretty much awakened his teammates, and the crowd, from their slumber.

Kudos to Dara Moynihan too, who fired over two points after coming in off the bench, and generally carried on from where he left off after his encouraging cameo in Edendork two weeks previously. Indeed, in an overall attacking context, Kerry kicked 20 scores from 27 chances, which is a none too shabby return.

However, there were plenty of negatives too, which Keane will have noted. Meath cut through Kerry for five goal chances (scoring two, Kelly saving two, and a bad pass failing to find the overlapping Bryan Menton when he was in the clear). Who was marking Keogan for the first goal? Why was Paul Geaney the last man at the back for the second?

Kerry’s kick-out strategy also malfunctioned on several occasions. The goalkeeper, both midfielders, the half-backs and half-forwards all must assume their share of responsibility for that. Diarmuid O’Connor could well come into the picture here very shortly. Added to that is that some key forwards are also struggling to find their best form at the moment.

Next up is the trip to Mayo, and that will give a much greater indication of where Kerry are currently at. James Horan’s men are fighting for their lives. They are almost in a must-win situation.

Beating them would copper-fasten Division One football for Kerry in 2021. A loss, however, would rejuvenate Mayo and leave the Kingdom potentially facing into two door-die confrontations, with Monaghan and Donegal, to prevent the relegation trapdoor from opening for themselves.

Castlebar will be no place faint-hearted. for the