1.Take a back seat, Brian Fenton. Diarmuid O’Connor has developed into the most complete midfielder in the country and the Na Gaeil star is very much the key to Kerry’s aspirations of success in this year’s championship.
A fine athlete, powerful, energetic and gritty, the 23-year-old is a super fielder and he is blessed with an engine that ensures he is just as capable of asserting his influence late in the game as he is at the throw-in.
O’Connor (pictured) was sensational against Cork yesterday, controlling the game from the middle, strong in the tackle, good with the defensive chores and astute when on the attack.
A very deserving recipient of the man-of-the-match award, his great understanding with clubmate Jack Barry could make all the difference for the green and gold this season and his ability to pick off a point or two in a game is an added bonus.
2. Like a fine wine, Stephen O’Brien keeps on getting better and better. The all-action wing forward was brilliant against the Rebels yesterday and he proved – not that any proof was needed – that he will have a major role to play in the quest for Sam.
O’Brien’s pace and his ability to retain possession at full throttle makes him a defender’s nightmare and he is not shy about having a pop whenever a chance – or a half-chance – of a score presents itself.
The Kenmare attacker (pictured) has been one of great servants of Kerry football in the modern era and his speed, his stamina and, perhaps most importantly of all, his incredible work rate and willingness to defend make his a priceless asset.
Simply put, Kerry are a much better side with O’Brien in the starting line-up. And that’s that.
3. So after the pure silliness of swapping custodians every second game during the national league campaign – when the training ground should have told them all they needed to know – it would appear that the Kerry management team has decided that Shane Ryan is the preferred first choice goalkeeper.
That the Rathmore man (pictured) started in the national league final and again in the opening round of the championship would seem to indicate that he is the chosen one and that will give him great confidence as the season progresses.
There was a time when England soccer manager Ron Greenwood couldn’t decide whether Ray Clemence or Peter Shilton was his preferred number one but, eventually, he had to make his choice and stick to it. Jack O’Connor had to do the same.
Having two top class goalkeepers in the squad, with Shane Murphy of Dr Crokes anxious to prove his worth, is reassuring.
4. Close on two decades ago sports science enthusiast Paddy Tally walked into the Tyrone dressing room and handed each player a hand-held device ultimately designed to improved lung capacity. Whatever ground-breaking techniques the Tyrone man is deploying now to give Kerry that extra inch appears to be having the desired impact.
There were a few occasions yesterday when Kerry appeared to be ever so slightly under pressure at the back, particularly when Cork attackers ran at pace through the middle. But the door was bolted quickly and the danger was averted.
There is absolutely no doubt that Paddy Tally has achieved what Donie Buckley struggled to impose and that the Kerry rearguard is far more solid now that it had been. Just look at how far the likes of Jason Foley, (pictured), Tadhg Morley and Brian Ó Beaglaoich have progressed under Tally’s guidance this season.
It lays the foundation for the campaign ahead: A mean defence, a solid midfield and marquee forwards – is there anything else you need Jack?
5. It’s a nightmare to get there, a nightmare to get out of and not the most comfortable of venues in which to watch a ball game but Páirc Uí Rinn did its job yesterday.
The official attendance was 10,743 and, despite concerns that there wouldn’t be enough to go around, it became evident on Friday that anybody that wanted a ticket had several opportunities to get one.
What those that did take the time to make the journey saw was a slightly sluggish Kerry performance – as could be expected for a side without even a challenge game for five weeks – but they were sharp enough when the need was greatest and they pulled away almost at leisure over the last 15 or 20 minutes.
Undoubtedly, Kerry’s greatest asset this season will be the ability to spring game-changers from the bench as was very much in evidence yesterday when David Moran (pictured) came on and made such a huge difference while the experience of Micheál Burns and Paul Murphy also proved key.
KillarneyToday.com: Always first with the news that matters. To advertise call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
