The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Donaghy adjusting to his new elder stateman role
TIMELY in one respect to assess the position Kieran Donaghy is in his own football career.
In 2006 he left a mark and a buzz on Kerry Football when he switched to the full-forward line that really hasn’t been seen arguably until this year with the onset of so many young players into the Championship ranks.
He is clear in his own mind about where he fits in now though with being the elder statesman following Bryan Sheehan’s inter-county retirement last winter.
“I see myself as an impact player off the bench who if injuries allow or my form improves might put myself in contention for a starting jersey. That’s the way it should be in terms of me having to fight for my place and whatever from role ends up being I want to help Kerry get over the line this year,” the Austin Stacks clubman said outside the new and very much improved dressing rooms at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
He still wants to see the young players develop further and assume the mantle for the county down the line.
“Kerry football never takes much of a dip and there are some exceptional players coming through in these four All-Ireland minor winning teams. Hopefully the young lads will keep their heads down and continue their progression but everyone has to remember that there are still a lot of learnings for them, ones that could very well come in the next few weeks with the ‘Super 8’.
“If they manage to come through all that I believe it should stand them in good stead.”
On the game itself last Saturday, Donaghy believed Kerry’s half-forward line getting the ability to go forward was a big factor in a convincing win.
“The two goals Cork got were very quick, but we responded well and they were a nice early wake-up call to get. When the half-back line can come forward with the ball we have the forwards capable of finishing off scores when they are found with the right ball and that’s something you feed off as a team,” he said.
The four time All-Ireland winner shares everyone’s excitement about the sense of the unknown the Super 8 will bring with it.
It’s going to be great for both fans and neutrals because I see a lot of the games being parochial – Kieran Donaghy
“It’s way better than possibly waiting six or seven weeks for an All-Ireland quarter-final like we were before. Having Galway as our first game in three weeks in Croke Park will be a belter and to have three games in four weeks is something we are all looking forward to.
“It’s going to be great for both fans and neutrals because I see a lot of the games being parochial and something like our replay with Mayo in the Gaelic Grounds in the All-Ireland semi-final in 2014 in terms of excitement,” he expects. While happy to have won Munster again, Donaghy believes there is more in Kerry this year, but says the way both Tipperary and Waterford failed to make it out of the Round Robin in the Munster Hurling Championship will make Kerry conscious of the potential pitfalls the new format brings as much as its advantages.