League final just another game for Keane and Kerry

PETER Keane’s most recent occasion to be in Croke Park in a working capacity, if you like, was a hell of a lot more satisfactory than that of the majority of Kerry players he will bring there on Sunday.

Keane was there last September managing the Kerry minors to a third All-Ireland title in a row under his guidance, whereas six weeks earlier the Kerry seniors were starting their inaugural Super 8 campaign with a fatal loss to Galway that defined their summer and precipitated their early exit from the Championship.

Exactly what state of mind both parties will rock up to Croke Park in next Sunday is anyone’s guess, but Keane was typically understated about the prospect of going back there sooner, perhaps, than expected.

By accident or design - and Keane is happy enough to perpetuate the mystery - Kerry are in next Sunday’s Division One final against Mayo, the only team to beat the Kingdom so far this year.

“At the end of the day it’s another game, which we’re happy with,” was Keane’s take on what will be his first game in Croke Park as senior manager. “You get the opportunity to bring the lads to Croke Park and won’t they learn, and that’s the beauty of it. You start out with a plan to have seven games in the League and now you’ve eight so that’s useful.”

Given that these two teams only met a fortnight ago in Tralee - with Mayo winning by two points - the easy narrative is that of Kerry seeking to avenge that loss, but Keane doesn’t see Mayo in Croke Park as any much different or bigger test.

“I think every game was a test for us. Take the Dublin game, the Tyrone game the first day was a test, Cavan definitely put it up to us above there, Galway was a real test. Every game we’ve played has been tough and a good few of them we’ve scrapped out on the right side of tiny margins.

“We’ve thrown in a few players and they’ve held their own. You had Diarmuid O’Connor playing in the middle of the field, you’d Graham O’Sullivan starting a game for the first time. You got James (O’Donoghue) back, you’ve David (Clifford) back. We’ve Jack Sherwood back from last weekend, Jason Foley got on, so you’ve a lot of ingredients in the mix and you’re using different ingredients every day.”

Reflecting on Sunday’s win over Roscommon, Keane was pleased that the players responded positively to that Mayo loss the prevfous weekend.

“You’re always looking for a response and a bit of a bounce back after a defeat and the lads bounced back well today in fairness. It was a tough enough game, there wasn’t a whole pile soft out there. The scoreline might suggest otherwise but it was a tough enough game. (Roscommon) were probably at a bit of a disadvantage there at the end of the first half, they lost a man to a black card for the last six or seven minutes of the half and we closed out the half pretty well.”

And David Clifford’s return? “It’s the county championship since he played, that’s four or five months ago, and that’s a long time for any fella, so form that perspective it’s great to see him on the field. Hopefully we will have Paul Geaney back in the next week or two as well.”