Article September Week 3 2005
Kerry V's Tyrone
All Ireland Football Final 2005
And so the moment of truth is at hand, the clash of two counties who so desperately need to win this All Ireland to prove to one and all that they are without a shadow of doubt the best team in the country and more importantly not alone the best team but a great team. And this word great will be branded around when the journalistic experts give their considered opinions on the final result.
Whatever else you may hear it is my opinion that this is one of the biggest games both Kerry and Tyrone have played in many years. Following Tyrone’s win over Kerry in the semi final two years ago they need to repeat that victory to prove the win was not a one off or that they caught Kerry on the hop. To beat Kerry once in a big championship game in Croke Park in memorable for any county, after all even Paudie O Se admitted that Kerry were the Manchester United of Gaelic football, and on BBC TV during the week I heard one expert refer to them as the Brazil of Gaelic football, however to beat Kerry twice at headquarters would copper fasten Mickey Harts side as a truly great team.
On the other hand even though things will be played down here in the spiritual home of football it is generally agreed by the hard core followers I have spoken to that another defeat by the Northerns would be a serious blow to the honor and pride of the Kingdom. We are never left forget that we have failed to beat another Northern side Down in a championship clash in Croke Park and this bunch of Kerry men will not want to return home Monday night with the bitter taste of defeat in their systems. It is, and make no mistake about it a clash between the North and the South and when listening to some Northern speakers they make no secret of the fact they firmly believe that it is a case of them and us and we are “against” them. So add in all the iffs and buts, pros and cons and you have the making of a memorable All Ireland.
Before Corks great win over Galway in the recent hurling final it was common knowledge that the Rebels were much more experienced than their opponents and since then even the Galway men have admitted that it was lack of big match experience that scuttled their dreams of glory. This is one cliché that definitely will not be trotted out in defense of either side in the run up to Sunday. These are two highly experienced teams, battlened hardened, with All Ireland titles under their belts in recent years and the shrewdest of mentors on the line and to cap it all we will see two of the best forwards in the game in action, namely Colm Cooper and Owen Mulligan. Its gets more mouth watering as we think about it.
In a county where football is second only to religion, on the other hand I often wonder is it? great credit must go to the whole squad and the men in charge for reaching a successive final in an age where many felt it was next to impossible. And remember that Seamus Moynihan is on the road with the Kerry seniors since 1992 and he together some others are seeking their fourth Celtic cross. This is dedication above and beyond the call of duty.
So lets have a look at the prospective of both sides, the strong and weak points, for and against. One thing is absolutely crystal clear and that is Tyrone have had a far more grueling road to the decider than Kerry and their clashes in particular against Armagh will stand them in great stead, it is generally accepted that one hard championship game is worth twenty training sessions. They have proved that they will stand up to the greatest pressures in the boiling claulderm that is Croke Park and Peter Canavans superb kick into the baying Dublin supporters on the Hill in the semi final to win the game was truly a magnificent effort. It’s a staggering fact that Tyrone will be playing their tenth game in the championship as opposed to Kerry’s fifth and the road they have traveled has been much harder than anything Kerry encountered. Tyrone people will tell you, and they have good cause to do so that this testing battleground will stand to their side in the final analysis.
I was at their win over Dublin and their game plan is fairly predictable at this stage, they invented the swarming game and they will pull their entire half forwards and mid field men behind the ball, hoping to crowd out Kerry. Disposes the opposition through crowding swarming tactics and break as fast as grease lighting, they are superb at this, get the ball into the open spaces to Stephen o Neill, Peter Canavan and Owen Mulligan and depend on them mainly to get the necessary scores. And these three are proflic scorers and are right up there with the most consistent marksmen in the championship this year. Add in Sean Cavanagh rampaging forward from mid field displaying his Cavanagh shuffle as he regularly gets on the score board and you know that there is no shortage of scoring power in their attacks. Will Canavan start, we will wait and see, and they certainly will not want to start him and be forced to take him off if he is not performing up to scratch.
So what about our boys. I have been watching them training and they are fresh, fit and appear to be in great shape, Pat Flanagan has certainly worked wonders with them and one thing is certain they will not be beaten for want of preparation, the men behind the team have an impeccable record since they took over. Great lessons have been learned since ’03 and that defeat by Tyrone, that day we were horsed out of it and the swarming game shook our side to the very core when players could not even get their passes away.
The panel is much stronger physically, and is also well versed themselves in playing the crowding game and can if necessary bring our mid fielders together with Liam Hassett, Owen Brosnan, Declan o Sullivan and Paul Galvin behind the ball. The morale of the story is, if you can’t beat them, join them, or as a prominent official remarked to me lately in relation to Tyrone, “there is more than one way to skin a cat”. The defense has been in great shape all year especially the full back line and here the battle for honors in my opinion will be decided, if the afore mentioned Tyrone forwards can be held within reason then I firmly believe we have the scoring power to win.
The general consensus of opinion is , that if Colm Cooper is held then Kerry are in trouble, however this argument dose not stand up when you realize that eleven of the Kerry team got on the score sheet in the semi final and nine in the quarter final. If “The Gooch” is held and prevented from scoring too much nevertheless his contribution when on the ball is vital and one of his greatest attributes is bringing others into play and setting up scoring opportunities. He has superb vision.
Kerry have been concentrating hugely in keeping possession and their passing with both hand and foot is near perfect with the result that there is great movement all over the field thus putting players into positions where scoring opportunities arise. As usual mid field will be important, however expect it to look like Times Square on New Years night, crowded out, and the breaking ball will be vital, who picks up the breaks, Tyrone are experts at this facet of the game and have it down to a fine art.
You could go on till the cows come home analyzing the whole thing, then what will the weather be like, will the referee suit one of the teams above the other, what will he be strict on, he will have a big say. And injuries early in the game to a prominent player could have a big bearing. I have stuck by Kerry all year in this column, mainly because of their great substitute bench, the best in the land. It’s immaterial who starts it’s the changes that are made during the battle that could swing the result and we have hugely experienced men on the bench, and the word experienced is vital when the sub. is handed his slip of paper to cross the white line.
I expect to see the our exemplary young captain Declan o Sullivan become the second man from a small Kerry parish to accept the Sam Maguire from another Kerry man from another small Kerry parish, Sean Kelly. It’s going to be a cracker, there is a huge amount at stake for both counties as I have referred to, Tyrone are a great team maybe not as good as when we last met, Kerry have done everything that Jack has asked of them since he came in, their dedication to the cause has to be greatly admired . This without a shadow of doubt is their biggest championship test to date. We should just get there.
Weeshie's Week 
