The big one is finally here

County Board PRO John O’Leary with all the GAA news

NEXT Sunday’s much anticipated All Ireland semi-final showdown between Kerry and Dublin in Croke Park is certainly a season defining game for both sides.

It goes without saying that, when it comes to championship fare, Dublin have certainly turned the tables on Kerry in recent years and if losses to the Metropolitans in two All Ireland Finals and a semi final is not enough, just last April Kerry were also handed a drubbing in the league final.

So Kerry supporters are under no illusions as to what faces them on Sunday next against a side whose consistency has been their hallmark particularly since Jim Gavin took over the reins.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice, who came agonisingly close to guiding Kerry to victory over the Dubs in his first season as manager in Croke Park three years ago, will know that Kerry were somewhat off the mark when the sides clashed in the final last September, yet for all of that, he will also know that there was only a score between the sides at the finish.

Kerry will need to be on top of their game on Sunday next and take the game to their opponents from the off akin to that famous quarter-final performance back in 2009 when Kerry went for the jugular from the first whistle.

With the absence of Cork on Munster Final day, it has been a different kind of championship for Kerry this year playing two other Munster counties on their way to the semi-finals, but while Dublin sauntered through Leinster, they did get a stern test from Donegal in the quarter-final.

Kerry’s injury woes have eased in the past few weeks but it remains to be seen if these players will be fully fit and available for selection, either from the start or off the bench on Sunday.

The game is seen by many observers as a last hurrah for some of Kerry’s “ageing veterans”, but by the same token, it is also an opportunity for some of the younger members of the team to announce their presence in the cauldron that will be Croke Park on Sunday.

Speculation as to what the make up of the team will be has gone into overdrive in the past couple of weeks or so with the midfield pairing in particular coming in for special scrutiny, but all will be revealed when the team is announced on Friday evening next at 9pm on the Kerry GAA Website and Radio Kerry.

We wish the Kerry management and players the best of luck on Sunday and hopefully an All Ireland Final date on September 18 will be their reward.

Supporters Club

THE Kerry Supporters Club is taking buses to the All-Ireland semi finals in Croke Park on Sunday next.

As there is a big demand for seats, all seats must be booked by Thursday evening, August 25. Departure times on Sunday morning are as follows: Farranfore 6:30, Tralee 7:00, Listowel 7:30am.

For bookings please contact any of the following: John King 066 7124229, Donie O’Leary 064 7758099 or Martin Leane 068 48116.

Personalities from a number of sports gathered in Killarney where former Kerry and Munster midfielder Mick O’Connell was presented with a lifetime award for his “exemplary contribution to sport in Ireland” at a function hosted by the Association of...