KERRY NEED TO push up and put pressure on Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs, according to former Dublin goalkeeper John O’Leary.
The counties renew their old rivalry in Croke Park on Sunday in a sold-out All-Ireland football semi-final.
Dublin are the bookmakers’ favourites to set up a meeting against Mayo on 22 September but O’Leary feels that the blueprint for disrupting their open, attacking style was shown by Meath in the Leinster final.
By preventing short kick-outs, Meath’s forward lines forced Cluxton to kick the ball long and gave themselves a fighting chance of winning possession in midfield.
If Kerry don’t follow their lead it will be a major mistake, O’Leary said yesterday.
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“It’s the glaring omission from Dublin’s opposition that they haven’t put pressure on the Dublin kick-outs.”
“If you want to beat Dublin you have to put pressure on the Dublin kick-outs. If wing-backs and wing-forwards just give up possession and say we’ll give you the ball on the 50-yard line and try and defend from deep, to me that’s ludicrous.
“If you force any goalkeeper on any team in any county to kick the ball to the middle of the field, it is a 50-50 ball then.
“There are a lot of stats about kick-outs won and lost and to me it is irrelevant. If you are launching the ball to the middle of the field and there are six lads jumping for it, it is very hard to guarantee possession.”
Derek Foley, centre, was announced yesterday as winner of the 2013 Dublins Finest Supporter award. Pictured with former Dublin football goalkeeper John O’Leary and hurler Ryan O’Dwyer. (Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE)
Like Dublin, Kerry are unbeaten in their four Championship matches to date but the Munster champions have taken their foot off the gas and let large leads dwindle in their last two games against Cork and Cavan.
That lack of killer instinct could cost them on Sunday, O’Leary said.
“I expect Dublin to come out by a couple of scores. They’ve been playing really well this year and then Kerry have been a bit of enigma really.
“They ran amok against Cork in the first half and let Cork come back into it, and then they did something similar in the Cavan match, got ahead and then left Cavan hanging in the match.
“Based on form this year I think if Kerry keep playing the way they’re playing, even though they might get ahead, they will still give you a chance.
“Unlike what Mayo did against Donegal where they got the foot on the neck and then kept it there and didn’t take it off, Kerry haven’t done that so far this year. They get on the neck, take it off and give you another chance.”
Kick-out pressure can help Kerry crack Dubs -- John O'Leary
KERRY NEED TO push up and put pressure on Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs, according to former Dublin goalkeeper John O’Leary.
The counties renew their old rivalry in Croke Park on Sunday in a sold-out All-Ireland football semi-final.
Dublin are the bookmakers’ favourites to set up a meeting against Mayo on 22 September but O’Leary feels that the blueprint for disrupting their open, attacking style was shown by Meath in the Leinster final.
By preventing short kick-outs, Meath’s forward lines forced Cluxton to kick the ball long and gave themselves a fighting chance of winning possession in midfield.
If Kerry don’t follow their lead it will be a major mistake, O’Leary said yesterday.
“It’s the glaring omission from Dublin’s opposition that they haven’t put pressure on the Dublin kick-outs.”
“If you want to beat Dublin you have to put pressure on the Dublin kick-outs. If wing-backs and wing-forwards just give up possession and say we’ll give you the ball on the 50-yard line and try and defend from deep, to me that’s ludicrous.
“If you force any goalkeeper on any team in any county to kick the ball to the middle of the field, it is a 50-50 ball then.
“There are a lot of stats about kick-outs won and lost and to me it is irrelevant. If you are launching the ball to the middle of the field and there are six lads jumping for it, it is very hard to guarantee possession.”
Derek Foley, centre, was announced yesterday as winner of the 2013 Dublins Finest Supporter award. Pictured with former Dublin football goalkeeper John O’Leary and hurler Ryan O’Dwyer. (Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE)
Like Dublin, Kerry are unbeaten in their four Championship matches to date but the Munster champions have taken their foot off the gas and let large leads dwindle in their last two games against Cork and Cavan.
That lack of killer instinct could cost them on Sunday, O’Leary said.
“I expect Dublin to come out by a couple of scores. They’ve been playing really well this year and then Kerry have been a bit of enigma really.
“They ran amok against Cork in the first half and let Cork come back into it, and then they did something similar in the Cavan match, got ahead and then left Cavan hanging in the match.
“Based on form this year I think if Kerry keep playing the way they’re playing, even though they might get ahead, they will still give you a chance.
“Unlike what Mayo did against Donegal where they got the foot on the neck and then kept it there and didn’t take it off, Kerry haven’t done that so far this year. They get on the neck, take it off and give you another chance.”
No tickets left as next Sunday’s Dublin Kerry match will be a sellout
Conor Deegan: ‘We have to believe that Mayo are now a different animal’
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