With a bit of courage Kerry can develop an interesting side in league

THE next big encounter for the Kerry footballers will be the national league encounter against Dublin. Kerry will be without the Dr Crokes players so it is an opportunity for the Kerry management to try out some new blood. Management will no doubt be conscious that it’s Dublin in Croke Park and therefore may not be as adventuress as we might like them to be.

The February 4 encounter will be a huge encounter and no doubt the Dub supporters will be out in force. It will be interesting too to see what kind of team Dublin will put out for this game as Pat Gilroy has indicated that he will use the league to try and unearth a few players.

It will not be lost on the Dublin management that they were lucky to get over the line

against Kerry last September and return the Sam back to the capital, so I expect that Dublin who have made their intentions clear that they intend to defend their title and try and win back-to-back titles.

This is a feat that has failed a lot of recent All Ireland winners to use the league to find the few players necessary to achieve this and in my view they could be serious contenders to make this happen, but back to Kerry. The management will not want Dublin to build a confidence up against Kerry. They will want to keep that green and gold doubt in Dublin players’ minds hopefully for further down the championship .

The two best forwards in Kerry football last year Colm Cooper and Kieran O’leary, who a lot of people are scratching their head to this present day as to why the later was taken off so early in the All Ireland final, will be missing and, of course, will be a huge loss, but this is now the opportunity for others to step up to the plate and convince a lot of people that they are worth the Kerry scene.

It too is an opportunity to see how some fellows would operate in different forward positions . Eoin Brosnan too will be missing so will Kerry try Daniel Bohan at centre-back or try Peter Crowley of Laune Rangers there. He is an interesting player, but the question is: is he a corner-back or more suited to the half-back line?

He had a good championship with UCC at fullback and might just lack the height for full-back, which would release Marc Ó Sé to play at the centre of defence with Tom O’sullivan and Tommy Griffin – late arrivals for the year ahead. Shane Enright will have to get a starting spot and he’s a lad that I had good time for through last year’s league campaign.

Brian Mcguire should too come into the running. I like north Kerry defenders and there is a bit of the Eamon Breen and Liam Flaherty about Maguire in my book and if he turned out like any of them two we’d have a right player on our hands .

At midfield with Anthony Maher in a bit of bother and Buckley and David Moran not available what will Kerry go with? Seamus Scanlon seems the obvious choice or will they try a runner with Bryan Sheehan? I would have a look and see how Bohan might go there, as he is a big man and plays his best football going forward. With forwards missing Kieran Donaghy will be wanted inside at full-forward where he should have remained last September. JB Spillane could give a few options either at midfield or centreforward. Paul Galvin will start on the wing I presume and Donnachadh Walsh on the other side a two man inside line of Donaghy and Darran O’sullivan might cause a bit of consternation in the absence of Cooper.

James O’donoghue has to be given more time as he did well when in games through last year’s championship, but did not arrive on the final. Jonathan Lyne is another interesting player now I have often said to Legion to give him a run in the half-forward line as I believe he would do well there. Barry john Keane and others will have to step up to the mark.

I believe with a bit of courage we could produce a good team this year and challenge for the league and more.