The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Concerns remain about Kerry’s inability to close deal
Sean O’Sullivan was impressed with many facets of Kerry’s performances against Dublin but the concern remains that the team is unable to close out games when leading late on in the contest
WHEN you consider that both teams are only two weeks back into full pre-season training, Kerry and Dublin have to be commended for serving up a really high quality game on Saturday evening.
The reason why players are in such good shape has a lot to do with the approach taken by the individuals themselves. I can’t speak for the Dublin guys but I know for sure that the Kerry players trained while on holiday in south east Asia. It seems to be the done thing now where fellas are expected to get some amount of work in so they return in decent condition. If only we had taken the same attitude back in the day!
When the squads I was part of went on holiday it was full on party time. The only running that would be done would be up to the bar to get the next round. If someone mentioned a workout or going for a jog they were quickly told to quieten down and put more money in the jukebox. We would land back in Farranfore after ten days of carnage probably needing another holiday to recover from it.
Nowadays it’s different and it shows how professional the game has gone. Of course, the Kerry boys got to enjoy the time away but you can be sure that they had a certain number of sessions to get in and by sessions I mean physical activity and not the other ones!
The first half last Saturday in Croke Park was played at a fairly low key pace, typical of an early National League game. In saying that I was again disappointed with how Kerry started. For some reason, and it’s a credit to Dublin possibly, we are notoriously slow at getting out of the blocks against them. Look back at the past games and we are always doing the chasing early on.
Dublin didn’t even have to be at their most powerful dynamic selves and yet we were again worried that Kerry could be left behind by half time. There were tactical changes aplenty, most notably for Kerry with Sean O’Shea moving to midfield and Paul Geaney operating at no.11. O’Shea is one of the most natural footballers in the country and could play anywhere without looking out of place.
The experiment of playing Geaney further away from goal is one that just doesn’t sit well with me. Paul is a poacher, a lethal inside forward, and at this stage of his career just doesn’t have the legs to cover the mileage a centre forward needs to. I understand it was worth having a look at, but come the summer I’d expect to see him closer to goal.
All eyes, of course, were on our new captain and how he would handle the so-called pressure of leading the team. Well, Clifford answered all those questions in a fashion that we have now become accustomed to. Like Geaney, David played a more withdrawn role
which suited him a lot more. Again he has the ability and movement to flourish whether he plays inside or out and his goal proved that.
With Kerry trailing by three he collected possession in an area where Davy Byrne would have not felt under any immediate danger. Think again Davy. A couple of seconds later Byrne was sitting on his backside and Evan Comerford was picking the ball out of the net. Clifford just has that X-factor that puts the fear of god into defenders whenever and wherever he gets his hands on the ball. He is either going to score or create a score, and to have a player like that in your team is priceless.
Another massive positive for Kerry was the performance of James O’Donoghue. After a mixed end to last season, James has stayed injury free and turned in some excellent club performances with Killarney Legion. He brought that form into Saturday and it was brilliant to see him getting on the ball, making things happen and most importantly showing us that he still knows where the posts are. He clipped over three points in the first half and can be very happy with his performance.
I really feel that James needs a bit of luck going into 2020, in fact I think we all agree at this stage he deserves it. He has been robbed of a lot of appearances for Kerry by injury and we have missed what he brings. If Saturday was a snippet of what he can produce going forward, then all of a sudden Kerry’s already potent forward unit looks even more dangerous.
There was a significant increase in the pace and intensity to the game once it resumed after the break. It’s as if both managers demanded it and the players certainly delivered.
There is no getting away from the fact that there is no love lost between these two sides, and it was no surprise that tempers boiled, especially towards the latter stages. The referee didn’t help matters with a lot of inconsistencies but with so much going on in terms of new rules being introduced he must be given the benefit of the doubt.
With Kerry in a good position, ahead by three and with a man to spare, it looked like they would close the game out but a harsh black card on Graham O’Sullivan helped turn the tide in Dublin’s direction again. Graham was unfortunate but I also felt that if he had been a little more aware of his positioning he could have got to the ball without ever making contact with his man.
Dublin seized the initiative and with Kerry visibly tiring they pushed a point ahead deep into additional time. Kerry didn’t help themselves with Shane Ryan making some poor decisions with his kick-outs late on, which allowed Dublin to keep the pressure on. With time up it was left to Clifford to rescue a point which no doubt Kerry deserved.
The concerning thing for me is that yet again we put ourselves in a decent position to beat Dublin but we just couldn’t seal the deal.
Attention now turns to Tralee on Saturday and the visit of Galway. Padhraic Joyce enjoyed a narrow win in his first competitive game in charge with one point separating his side and Monaghan at Pearse Stadium.
With Joyce promising to play a more expansive type of game than his predecessor Kevin Walsh it should make for a lively battle under lights in Tralee. Kerry will be looking to make home advantage count and having seen a lot of positives in Croke
Park they should have enough quality to claim the two points.
The Kerry players got to enjoy the time away but you can be sure that they had a certain number of sessions to get in, and by sessions I mean physical activity and not the other ones!