Five things we learned...

Blood sub loophole needs tightening

Killian Young came onto the pitch to replace Fionn Fitzgerald with for ty nine minutes on the clock. It was announced as a temporary replacement. The Renard man remained on the pitch for another thir ty one minutes. In any man’s language that’s not temporary.

Including Young, the Kingdom made seven substitutions on Sunday (six is what’s allowed for in the rulebook). Indeed four permanent substitutions Kerry made were on the pitch for less time than the ‘temporary’ sub from Renard. It’s a loophole that really does need tightening.

Kerry broke no rules by using seven replacements on Sunday. Other teams have used this loophole before and will continue to do until such time as it’s tightened. A five or ten minute period should be allowed after which the sub must be made permanent we’d suggest.

Nowhere to hide from ruthless Fitzmaurice

From time to time, over the years, the word ruthless has been applied to Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s management style. The Finuge man doesn’t seem the type to fall prey to sentiment. Just the cold, hard facts.

Should we be surprised then to see him whip off players during the halftime break of both Kerry’s championship games to date? Not in the slightest. Neither man could have much grounds for complaint. Even Donnchadh Walsh, despite a spotless record of sterling service to the cause, escaped scrutiny.

Indeed Walsh must now be worried that he’ll fall victim to the same fate that befell colleague Barry John Keane. Keane was taken off at half-time in Ennis and lost his place for the Munster final. Until Sunday Walsh has been having a really strong campaign, but it wouldn’t surprise us if he were to lose out now.

Kerry crush it in third quarter

There was something reminiscent of Kilkenny in their pomp about how Kerry approached the third quarter of Sunday’s game. They’d left the door ever so slightly open to a Cork revival despite a really impressive first half – there was just four points between the sides at the break, two kicks of a ball.

Kerry quickly extinguished any hopes the Rebels had with a third quarter blitz that saw them reel off five points in succession to open out a nine point advantage. Cork did help Kerry along the way – Ken O’Halloran’s ill-advised dash from goal ahead of David Moran’s point – but huge credit must go to just how tuned in and eager the Kingdom were in that period.

Restraint works best with Donaghy

We’ve often fretted that with Donaghy on the pitch, Kerry have appeared over-eager (and not to Donaghy’s benefit) to get the ball into him as soon as possible. Well after last Sunday we don’t need to worry about that any longer.

As a matter of fact the first long booming ball into Donaghy came in the fifty seventh minute. That’s a remarkable level of restraint and clearly a pre-planned decision and, then, when the balls did come they caused consternation in the Cork defence.

Young guns left waiting

For all the talk during the league of the Kingdom being rejuvenated with young players, there was a very familiar look to the Kerry team on Sunday. Kevin McCar thy – 23 years of age – is the only bolter from the league in the star ting fifteen and even the subs had a seasoned look about them. Seán O’Shea and Tom O’Sullivan (one time minor stars both) will likely struggle to keep their places in the twenty six once Bryan Sheehan and Jack Savage return.