Conceding no goals to Dublin would be a huge statement for Keane and the defence
Sean O’Sulluvan likes what he has seen from Kerry so far but feels conceding no goal to Dublin on Saturday would be another important step forward
THE New England Patriots woke up on Monday morning in Atlanta as Super Bowl champions once more. Their star quarterback Tom Brady created history by claiming his sixth Championship ring, a feat that may never be matched. The game itself was the lowest scoring Super Bowl of all time and will be remembered as a dour affair, if remembered at all. Will that bother Brady or Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who became the oldest head coach to win the Super Bowl at the ripe old age of 66? I doubt it. They took care of business when it mattered and they did it not by scorching the scoreboard or with Brady throwing copious touchdowns.
The Patriots won because of their defence. Belichick has to take a lot of the credit. Going into the game his side faced one of the most potent offences in the League. The LA Rams score for fun but the Patriots squeezed them and never allowed them to get into their rhythm. It wasn’t a great watch but it was effective and got the job done.
It may not be the Super Bowl or the All-Ireland Final in Tralee on Saturday evening but it’s a big game nonetheless for Kerry. It’s a big game for Peter Keane and it comes very soon into his tenure. Dublin roll into town sitting firmly on top of the perch that Kerry once occupied and the worry is that the Dubs don’t look like giving it up anytime soon. They are an incredible team with a very shrewd manager at the helm, and trying to devise a way to beat them I’m sure took up a lot of time on Kerry’s trip home from Cavan on Sunday evening.
The journey was shortened, of course, by the fact that we had came away with the win and the points. For long periods it looked like that wouldn’t happen as Cavan proved difficult opponents. Yet Kerry found a way to grind it out even when reduced to 14 men following Tom Sullivan’s black card and sin binning. It was actually during that time that we turned the screw and finally got our noses in front, which showed great character from the lads.
Sean O’Shea again proved what a talent he is by notching 12 points and keeping us within touching distance throughout a scratchy first half. Right now he’s our Tom Brady! The worry ahead of the weekend’s clash is what happens if he is shut down by Dublin’s backs?
As in the Tyrone game, the Kerry game plan was structured around not conceding big scores and again it worked. The recurring problem, however, - and it was what hindered Kerry especially in the first half - is that with so many players working back to defend is that when we do get the ball back we have little or no outlet up front. Our front men are getting too withdrawn.
I understand we are only two games into a new season and there will be plenty time to get that part of the system to function but if Kerry are to match Dublin on Saturday they will need to get a decent return anytime they visit the scoring zone. The game plan itself won’t change and why should it? We haven’t given up a sniff of a goal chance so far and if they can do the same again in Tralee that will give them a huge opportunity to beat Jim Gavin’s men. They will need more from their forward line though, especially our inside line. It’s an area where we can get joy.
Dublin eased to victory last Saturday against a poor Galway side but the League champions had their feathers ruffled in Clones a couple of weeks ago. Why? Because Monaghan targeted their full back line, especially using the new offensive mark to great effect. I think this is definitely something Kerry need to look at. If we are dropping men back then why not leave a target man like Tommy Walsh, for instance, high up the field as an outlet for us. It can be incredibly hard work to go and turn the ball over from the opposition and to literally give it straight back to them because you can’t find a team mate is demoralising.
Defensively our structure so far has been sound. As I alluded to earlier, we are not easy to penetrate and seem to be stopping runners through the centre which has been a major challenge for us in the past. That was enough to get over Tyrone and Cavan but to beat Dublin we are going to have to come with a bit more and it’s up front we need to start delivering.
Depending on who is available for selection I can’t see Peter changing it too much. Dara Moynihan was rested against Cavan due to a high workload over the past month but I would expect him to come back in as a starter. David Moran and Mark Griffin both returned but probably don’t have enough done to merit a place on the first fifteen. I would like to see Tommy Walsh get a start. He offers us something different inside and now with Kieran Donaghy gone it leaves the role of target man up for grabs, which Walsh has shown he can do.
Dublin will be the first real test of the ‘new’ Kerry. Peter Keane and his management will, I’m sure, say that it’s just another fixture but it’s hard to stem the excitement amongst supporters when you go up against the Dubs. Going into the game with four points from four is a good place to be. The pressure is off and they can really have a go. I don’t expect us to win but if we can continue being solid at the back and just get more return from our forwards then I think we can get close.