Four-in-a-row for Seniors who never needed to hit top gear

AFIRST four in a row Munster’s titles for Kerry since the glory days of Mick O’Dwyer was achieved without even breaking sweat last Sunday in Killarney, but the doubtful questions posed here and in other places as regards the Kerry credentials before the game remain as strong as ever.

A ten-point victory came as no surprise and following the easy win over Clare in the first round this Kerry team is simply untried as far as serious championship football is concerned.

Two other championship games over the weekend, both in Ulster, were simply like chalk and cheese in relation to the Munster final. Donegal’s display against Monaghan and Tyrone’s complete destruction of Cavan in their semi-final replay was devastating stuff.

Full-blooded, all-action and flowing moves together with high scoring. And these are the games, just like the displays against Dublin, that Kerry will be judged on as they await their return to Croke Park for the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

However, Eamonn Fitzmaurice can only beat what is put before him and while a ten-point victory could not be more emphatic the overall display will leave a number of questions to be answered.

There were, of course, a lot of pluses to admire. Nine different players on the scoring list is as good as any manager could ask for, and the display of Paul Geaney at full-forward was a joy to watch.

The Dingle man is no flash in the pan and on his day is one of the best finishers in the country. He took his two goals in tremendous style. The first with his right leg and the second when he collected the ball, rounded his man and simply sprinted away from him and the finish with the left foot was deadly. Forward play at its very best. It was a joy to watch and, of course, his point kicking is also top drawer.

One aspect of the first goal scored by Geaney, which demonstrated exactly why young legs were so badly needed in the Kerry rearguard, was the scintillating solo run out of defence by youngster Brian Ó Beaglaoich.

Running on a pass in front of the stand, this brilliant and brave young lad drove up field, shipped a heavy knock the result of which later saw him substituted, and this penetrating run helped set up the first goal.

This one brief moment in the match proved that in today’s game – as we have seen with Dublin, Tyrone and Donegal in particular – that speed is the one vital aspect needed to achieve the highest honours. Kerry are moving towards that in areas; Dublin and Tyrone have it from one to fifteen.

Paul Murphy was brilliant. He took his goal superbly, as always put in a massive shift, his work rate is unbelievable, his running from defence to attack and back again was literally non-stop.

Shane Enright, Killian Young, Mark Griffin and goalkeeper Brian Kelly, with that brilliant second half save, have now shown that they, at that particular age bracket, are well and truly ready for the bigger tests ahead. And Peter Crowley, who didn’t play because of injury, is another in this middle age bracket of men now in their prime and in whose hands so much depends.

It was hard to figure out the reasons for the massed defence that Kerry set up from the word go, all players behind the ball from 60 metres out, letting Tipp come at them and then dispossessing them when the mistake was made. It did take the visitors 58 minutes to register their first point from play so the massed defence, whilst not pleasant to look, did its job there.

Is it looking forward to what way Kerry set up in Croke Park in August? I, for one, hope not. Hard and all as Tipp tried, and they did get that perfect start with a goal after 35 seconds, the difference between a Division 3 side and Kerry, the Division 1 team, was as everyone expected blatantly obvious. And this is the way it has been in Munster for decades and so shall it remain. There has been and is a lot of debate in relation to the Kerry defence being vulnerable when forwards run at them. We did concede two goals Sunday, but is it not a fair point that every defence in the country is susceptible when teams run at them. That is what top class forwards do. My belief is Kerry’s biggest problem facing three big Croke Park games, which must be won to regain the All-Ireland, is speed and mobility from one to fifteen. From the first whistle to the very last. We have the skill, we have the know-how, and we have the desire and hunger. It’s very evident the selectors with their team selections in the two games so far are attempting to address this problem. Croke Park will show up any weak links. The return of James O’Donoghue and Anthony Maher is a big plus; they too, as are Jonathan Lyne, Stephen O’Brien and Barry John Keane, in this middle age group I have been referring to previously. This performance against Tipperary won’t suffice down the line, but it’s better to know that now than when we compete against the big guns in an All-Ireland quarter or semi-final. Having not impressed against Clare or Tipp before the last eight on the August Bank Holiday is a bit worrying, though. But the big plus is there is plenty of time now for Eamonn and his men to get things prepared. Of course, the opponents whosoever they will be will determine many things. Three Munster titles in the one week, junior, minor and senior, is a tribute to the work being put in at underage level in this county, and a rare achievement in its own right. Beautiful football from the minors, but I am not surprised as I have seen what their manager Peter Keane achieved with my own club the Legion last year. And Stephen Wallace, the Junior team boss, fielding a complete new team this year to beat Cork was a superb achievement. Adrian Spillane, midfield for the juniors, was superb last week and proves that the apple never falls from the tree. A future star for sure. What price three All-Irelands titles in these grades?