WHETHER he likes it or not, the reputation of being a clever tactician earned by Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice following last year’s All-Ireland championship success was considerably enhanced in the stirring Munster Final replay.
The line-up changes he made following the replay paid handsome dividends and he drove away from Fitzgerald Stadium and made a beeline for north Kerry on Saturday night with many new admirers reflecting on his influence and expressing their admiration.
The regularly sharpened Fitzmaurice axe fell heavily in the aftermath of the disappointing drawn game when he completely reconfigured his defence, bolstered midfield and tweaked a forward division that was certainly in need of some adjustment.
It worked. And, more importantly, it worked well.
Kerry’s five-point victory – which was considerably more emphatic that the scoreline suggests – was fashioned from the back with a dogged, tenacious performance by the revamped rearguard inspiring the side to push forward and free themselves of the shackles that appeared to hider them in the first game.
Gritty veteran Aidan O’Mahony was brilliant, the astute Marc Ó Sé wasn’t far behind and Shane Enright, in the other corner, was tight and tough as he needed to be.
In front of them, Paul Murphy and the classy Jonathan Lyne were both a revelation and the switch back to a central role appeared to suit Killian Young.
And behind them, Brendan Kealy is always capable of producing a spectacular match-saving save – as he did in the second half with a stunning full-flight parry – even if his kick-outs prompt an occasional sharp intake of breath.
Anthony Maher and the powerful David Moran bossed the engine room with the Duagh colossus – one of the best defensive midfielders in the game – completely curbing the treat of Alan O’Connor who was the man-of-the-match in the drawn game but a mere spectator on Saturday night.
In the creative chambers, when it was most needed, Kerry delivered the goods, with James O’Donoghue pulling the strings, Paul Geaney pulling the trigger and Brian Sheehan punishing Cork at every opportunity.
Donnchadh Walsh, one of the real greats in the modern game, was an industrious as we have all come to expect while Kieran Donaghy and, until injury sidelined him, Johnny Buckley, played their part in keeping Kerry in the game in the first half.
More by experimentation than design, Fitzmaurice and his selectors appear to have found the perfect blend of youth and experience but, as the championship progresses, it is the strength in reserve that will really stand to them in good stead.
It is likely to be the unbeatable trump card that will earn the green and gold a couple of days out in Dublin over the next eight weeks.
What a message it must send to the pretenders-to-the-throne when they see names like Cooper, Keane, Crowley, Fitzgerald and Geaney on the bench?
And, if that’s not enough to dismiss their aspirations, add in Walsh, O’Sullivan, Sherwood, Kelly, O’Brien and a man by the name of Galvin to highlight what is almost an embarrassment of riches.
With such power and talent at our disposal as we progresses to the business end of the championship, it could well be a case of nobody being able to beat us without our permission.
* Big match pictures: Konrad Paprocki. Click on individual images to enlarge and for information
