THESE ARE HEADY times again for Kerry football, as Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s young side continued their dominance of Munster on Saturday with an emphatic win over Cork to set them up for a tilt at All-Ireland glory.
Paul Geaney found the net twice at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as Kerry, running out 17-point winners, claimed a sixth straight provincial title and now head into the Super 8s and a first meeting with Galway with all the momentum at their backs.
In recording their biggest championship win over Cork since 1938, Kerry further underlined their clinical and devastating edge in attack, as a star-studded forward line dismantled the hosts.
Fitzmaurice’s side have also made improvements defensively this term and look a well-oiled unit heading into the business end of the summer, with a mix of youth and experience proving to be a formidable blend.
“Our young fellas were brilliant again, huge for us as a group to see them in their first Munster final,” Kieran Donaghy said.
“You wouldn’t know it looking out at them. It’s huge for us going forward. The finishers came on and all had an impact which is what we want. Training is going well and we’re just trying to keep on top of it.
“They’ve come through, they’re all the winners, they’ve won two All-Ireland minors, they’ve Hogan Cups. They’re just winners. When you’re a winner like that and you’ve come into a set up as they are, as good as they are, they know how they play the game and I think minor coaching is gone to such a level now that when they come in it’s not the step up it was 15 years ago.
“Their body shape is also allowing them to come in, they’re on weights since they were 14. They’re coming in in much better shape so it’s brilliant.”
Donaghy, who came on as a second-half replacement for David Clifford, added that if the group can keep their heads down and continue to work hard, Kerry’s potential knows no bounds.
“These are really exciting times, don’t know what’s going to happen. You just hope they keep their heads down and keep working and keep getting better and keep striving to get the Kerry jersey to where it’s going to be over the next decade or two.
“They’re an exceptional bunch, four minor teams in a row coming through and the U17s out there today [Saturday], aren’t too bad either. Kerry football never really takes too much of a dip.
“These boys are coming but it’s a long road as well. We have to be real as well. They have a lot of learnings over the next few weeks and hopefully that will stand them in good stead if we get through.”
Donaghy, who has now won eight Munster titles, says he is pushing hard to earn a starting place, but the 35-year-old also knows his role is to make as much impact off the bench as possible.
Looking ahead to the Super 8s phase of the championship, Donaghy said there is real excitement around the new format.
“I’m really looking forward to them,” he added.
“I think they’re going to be very exciting. You really don’t know what they’re going to throw up and that’s exciting. You don’t know where you’re going, where you’re playing. We know we have Galway in Croke Park in three weeks, which will be a belter of a game.
“In the past, we were six weeks, seven weeks after a Munster final waiting for a game and you’re going up against a crowd that were battle-hardened and it’s always dodgy for us.
“So the Super 8s are going to be outstanding and I think for the fan and the neutral in particular, there’ll be a lot of good games. Either sitting in front of the telly or going to games that are close to them.
“There’s going to be a lot of games almost like Kerry and Mayo in the Gaelic Grounds in 2014, a lot of parochial fixtures where the passion and the blood-flow will be going and the crowd will be there in big numbers in great venues.”
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Delighted for Carty!
Correct choice in James Ryan. 22years of age and any team in the world would have him starting. So important to us for the future. Congratulations to him.
@David: except saracens who would start itoje and kruis over James all day. Not saying James isn’t top notch but just sometimes the paddies can get carried away. E.g krus and itoje and alun W.J are all ahead of James atm. But he has time on his side!
@Kevin O’brien: you make no argument for what you say so it’s hard to disprove but there’s little evidence to suggest that on form you’re right
@Kevin O’brien: sweet Jesus. I guess this is based on a certain set of games where the first two named locks were victorious?. It’s easy to view all of the above as “ahead” of Ryan when you’re surrounded by massive men who punch holes for, and with you. Imagine what Ryan would have been like against those teams if he had a back row of Saracens and England’s ballast and quality supporting him. At 22 Ryan has a huge level of expectation upon him. AWJ is a legend and has a great all round game, but Itoje and Kruis don’t have Ryan’s skill (although I’d like to see more of it), They’re all great players and any one of them would be a great partner for Ryan on a Lions tour.
@Kevin O’brien: except Saracens didn’t even start Itoje at lock against Leinster.
@Kevin O’brien: nah. I stand by what I say. But hey have a knock you are entitled to your opinion too. All great players.
@Kevin O’brien: no they’d move one of them to 6. James Ryan would be an allblack if he was from there.
Best player in the country by far
Goat of the year
@JMG: Greatest of all time of the year? Or you think he is an actual farm animal?
Nice triggsy
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: finally a decent player from micheals