The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Testing times as ‘dual’ players add complications
NFL DIVISION 1 ROUND 3 Monaghan v Kerry Sunday, February 18 Inniskeen, Co Monaghan Throw-in at 2.30pm
WHAT a difference a week makes? Quite a bit, possibly, in the case of this rescheduled Division 1 match between Kerry and Monaghan, which brings both parties back to Inniskeen to renew rivalries and seek two league points.
Quite how last Sunday’s postponed match – because of a frozen, snow covered Pairc Grattan – will affect both counties’ spring schedule is anyone’s guess, but suffice to say the Kerry and Monaghan management team’s had different plans for next weekend than a football match between them.
Whether next weekend’s scheduled off-week was pencilled in for rest or hard work, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Malachy O’Rourke can be assured their players will be getting none of the former and plenty of the latter next Sunday.
As to what team Kerry will start against Monaghan, all bets are off in terms of the team that was due to start last Sunday. It might be easy to say that the same fifteen would take to the field for the re-fixture, but there is the not so small matter of Sigerson Cup matches this week that will surely affect team selection at the end of the weekend.
Jack Barry and Barry O’Sullivan were named to start in Monaghan last Sunday, and the Na Gaeil-Dingle partnership will play together in Inniskeen this week, except as a UCD midfield partnership against Jordanstown in today’s Sigerson Cup semi-final.
Should UCD win that they will be involved in the Sigerson Cup final on Saturday afternoon, which would surely leave their availability (injury notwithstanding) for Sunday’s NFL in question.
Ditto Ronan Shanahan who plays a Sigerson Cup semi-final with DIT on Wednesday with the possibility of a final on Saturday. Brian Ó Seanacháin, who was a late substitute against Donegal on the opening weekend of the League is likely to play some part withUCD.
Even if UCD and DIT fail to win their semi-finals, the Kerry management will have to monitor the health of those players involved and will be eager to avoid a scenario whereby tit could be seen that young players are being asked to play too many games too close together.
Last week’s Kerry panel included Peter Crowley, Mikey Geaney, Tom O’Sullivan and Adrian Spillance who have worked themselves back to match fitness, and Spillane and O’Sullivan could profit with a starting jersey should any or all of those students be stood down next Sunday.
Monaghan have similar ‘dual’ issues as forward Conor McCarthy is playing with UCD while the UU Jordanstown team features Ryan McAnespie.
With Dublin and Galway winning last weekend, Kerry will be eager to keep apace with the top two, with Galway due to come to Tralee the following Sunday, February 25.
A two-point win for Monaghan would see them leap-frog Kerry into third place in the division.