Five talking points from Kerry’sstirring win over Down

AS we always say there’s never a dull moment with the Kerry senior hurlers.

After a disappointing first half they put in a really stirring second half display against Down to put themselves right into contention for a place in the Joe Mac final. Here are five talking points from the game...

1. Dan Goggin is in the form of his career

He was on the pitch we reckon no more than sixty, seventy seconds at most before he took possession of the sliotar (Kyle O’Connor playing a deft pass). The Causeway man caught it and, in one fluid movement, slapped it between the sticks. Talk about a statement of intent.

It was the his first of four points from play, three of those coming in the second half. It was man-ofthe-match stuff from the first-half substitute, all the more remarkable given that he missed the first round through injury and wasn’t really expected back until the third.

His presence on the bench for the Down game sort of a break glass in case of emergency kind of deal. Behind by four points, despite having the breeze at their backs, was such an emergency and Goggin duly delivered what was required.

Whatever about the injury he was carrying, Goggin looked absolutely tack-sharp. His movement was top-notch, his accuracy equally so (he hit four points from four attempts), honestly it was probably just about the best the guy has ever hurled.

He truly is in the form of his career at the moment. A talented footballer – an All Ireland minor winner – he’s been off and on the Kerry hurling panel over the years, well he’s truly a key man now rather than a peripheral figure.

In the league he shot seven points from play against Laois, Kerry could do with a repeat this weekend. With him in this form it’s not altogether that fanciful.

2. Players fully bought in to Molumphy’s culture

We hear a lot about culture in sport, winning cultures, losing cultures, putting your finger on what precisely that means, though, can be difficult. Maybe a concrete example might provide us with an insight.

During the week Kerry coach Shane Briggs was a few minutes late for training and the players instantly picked up on it. It wouldn’t be accepted if an of them were late, so why should the coach be any different they surmised?

The players called it out, they held him accountable and on Sunday once the players and the rest of the backroom team left the dressing room to head for a well-deserved bit of grub at some Tralee hostelry, Briggs were there sweeping up, brush in hand.

It’s not just a class warfare thing either, the ground troops calling out the brass, it’s the same thing amongst themselves. They call each other out, they demand high standards of each other and, it’s showing out on the pitch at last.

It would have been easy for the players during the league to look askance at the culture and the standards being demanded of them, but in sticking with it they’re getting their just rewards.

Something tell us that rather than being annoyed, Briggs was proud of the players. Now where’s the mop?

3. Kerry right in the hunt

We were a touch worried at halftime on Sunday that it was going to be a case of one step forward, two steps back for the Kingdom after their win over Westmeath last week. That they’d win away, and slip up in the more winnable game at home.

In the end, of course, the green and gold rallied and took the victory by a handsome margin. Possibly that flattered them, but come the end of the group phase score difference could very much come into play.

As things stands Kerry are right in the hunt for a place in the final. Technically speaking everyone still can make it, but in reality it looks like the weekend’s results have left Laois (on four points), Kerry (on four points), and Offaly (on two points) as the likely contenders for the final.

Kerry are on course, without wanting to get too far out ahead of ourselves, for at least six points (providing they beat a desperately poor Meath in the last round), which could potentially be enough.

More likely, however, they’ll need at least seven points, that means a result against either Laois or Offaly in the next two rounds. Remembering that head-to-head comes into play, say if Offaly beat Kerry and both finished on six points.

Whatever about making a final it’s now looking highly unlikely Kerry will be relegated. With four points on the board and with Meath struggling badly, they’re in a strong position.

4. Treaty imports delivering

When you think of Fossa, you think of football, when you think of Fossa, you think of the Clifford brothers.

Well maybe after last Sunday you might think hurling too as the Kingdom’s pair of Treaty imports delivered a pair of points between them helping the green and gold over the line against Down.

What, though, has that to do with Fossa? Well it seems that it’s a Fossa connection that allows Kilmallock duo Killian Hayes and David Woulfe to line out with Stephen Molumphy men, through their parents.

Imports over the years have – without naming any names – been hit and miss, more misses than hits. Patrick Kelly was a big hit in his time, the former Clare hurler’s connection his mother’s Moyvane.

Of the current crop Louis Dee – a Ballylongford connection we believe – is a stand-out. As for the latest arrivals, it’s fair to say it’s taken them a bit of time to get their feet under the table.

Hayes, a former Limerick Under 20 hurler, only showed in flashes what he’s been showing over the last couple of weeks, while Woulfe has had a couple of injury set-backs. Hopefully now that he’s got his first championship score in green and gold he can contribute further still.

5. Down have a bit of a glass ceiling

Look, clearly, this was a nipand-tuck type affair. It wouldn’t have taken a whole pile for Down to have won the game even necessarily.

Had Paul Sheehan’s free not dropped short, had Dáithí Sands not made contact with Dáithí Griffin’s helmet (not remotely maliciously we should say), then could Down have gone on and nicked it by a point or two? Absolutely.

And, yet, there was something about the way they fell short that leaves one to wonder if they have it within them to bridge the gap to being genuine contenders.

After all they had everything going their way in this game. A pair of first half goals, the sides level at half-time, the breeze to come into the Horan’s end in the second half and rather than picking up momentum they stalled.

Yes, all credit to the Kingdom for that, but Down should have been making the running. Kerry were the fitter side down the final stretch, they believed in themselves that bit more too you felt.

Ronan Sheehan has done wonders with the Mourne men, we’re not saying otherwise, we do wonder, though, if they’ve reached their ceiling. They’ve been in league finals, league semi-finals and come up quite short.

There’s something commendable in a side getting the most out of itself, but if they were to genuinely push on they really ought to be making the most of chances like the one Kerry presented on Sunday.