The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Slaughtneil contingent make Derry a real threat
ALL-IRELAND UNDER 21 B HCFINAL Kerry v Derry Saturday, August 4 Nowlan Park, 2pm
IN competitions such as this it’s difficult to evaluate the relevant strengths and weaknesses of the respective sides and predict the outcome with any great deal of certainty, given that there’s no form guide between the teams, having never met each other previously.
Equally, if one bases their assessment on the games and results to date in the competition it’s equally not as clear-cut given that one doesn’t really know the strengths of the opposition which both have faced.
What is clear-cut is that Kerry have cruised into the final, while Derry, by contrast, have been tested in their two outings against Mayo and Meath. Whether the respective run-ins will prove to be significant to the outcome next weekend we will just have to wait and see. However, given that Derry played in last year’s A competition, losing to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final, and that ten of the squad are from Slaughtneil, with seven of those featuring in the starting fifteen, it’s logical to assume that they will provide formidable opposition for Kerry.
Those Slaughtneil players would have featured for their club in successive All-Ireland Club semi-finals, being beaten by Na Piarsaigh last season. It was a game which they had within their grasp in the first half, and, the experience gained from playing and competing at this particular level should be of immense benefit to those players.
Kerry, of course, are the defending champions, and with a lot of those players still involved it’s certainly a plus in their favour. Equally, the fact that the County Senior Hurling Championship is in full swing at the moment.
Some might argue that it provides difficulties for players in terms of balancing one’s commitments with both the club and the county. However, the plus factor comes from being involved in competitive action and this can be of huge benefit in terms of keeping players sharp and focused.
Certainly, the performances of some of the players with their clubs, in particular that of Kieran O’Regan with Kilmoyley last weekend, has been hugely encouraging.
One doesn’t know what players might influence matters most for Derry, even if their full-forward line of Ritchie Mullen, Liam Cassidy and Corey O’Reilly has been particularly productive to date.
However, a look through the Kerry panel confirms a wealth of individual talent, especially in the pivotal positions, some of whom have featured for the seniors in this year’s Joe McDonagh Cup competition and really is there a player better than Shane Conway playing in this particular competition?
Consider also that Jack O’Sullivan wasn’t a starter at the outset of the competition and that Barry Mahony was introduced as a substitute in the semi-final. It says a lot about the options that the management team have in terms of the starting fifteen and off the bench.
All things considered one would have to be pretty confident that Jason Diggins will bring the Richie McElligott Cup back to the Kingdom for the second successive year next Saturday evening.
Verdict: Kerry