This game’s going to decide who will lead out the All-Ireland champions as they face either Waterford or Tipperary in the Munster Championship opener next summer.
Kieran Donaghy is in line for a fairytale end to 2014. Off the back of the club championship injuries plagued his season right through to the early stages of the championship for Kerry, but his remarkable return at the All-Ireland semi-final stage has already been rewarded with an All-Ireland medal and another Allstar award. No doubt the county captaincy will offer some added motivation to a man who has seemingly done it all.
Darran O’Sullivan or Donnchadh Walsh though will be equally hopeful of leading out Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s troops next season. O’Sullivan previously captained Kerry to glory in 2009 and the honour would be a nice touch after a frustrating year for him on the injury front. While Donnchadh Walsh’s experience would certainly suit the captaincy role.
2. Can Stacks end that 20-year wait for a title win?
Austin Stacks. the most celebrated club in Kerry, were destroyed by Dr Crokes in last year’s final, and beaten by Dr Crokes in 2010 final as well. Both results added to their championship draught which now stretches two decades.
Only Laune Rangers have won more Kerry senior football championships than Stacks, who will be desperate to put title number 12 on the board this weekend.
Mid Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan and Donnchadh Walsh are the well known forwards in this quality Mid Kerry attack, but there’s plenty more classy attackers — both young and old.
There’s former Kerry minor and U21 Gavan O’Grady from Glenbeigh Glencar who won a Cork SFC title with UCC in 2011, and played in the 2013 Sigerson final. While Gary Sayers from Keel won Sigerson Cup medal with CIT in 2009, and is also a former Kerry minor and U21.
Off the bench in the semi final too was ex-Kerry senior footballer Sean O’Sullivan and the four time All-Ireland winner scored two points in that victory.
Sean O'Sullivan. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
4. Who’s next on the Kerry conveyor belt?
Austin Stacks have a number of talented youngster in their ranks who Mid Kerry will certainly have to keep close tabs on.
Fergal McNamara won a Sigerson Cup title with UCC last February, starting at corner-back for the university. Shane O’Callaghan was on fringes of Kerry senior panel this year, while Greg Horan and Conor Jordan were midfield on the Kerry minor team last year.
While Wayne Guthrie, Barry Shanahan, and the classy Shane Carroll all have recent Kerry underage experience. Mistakes and failures of years gone by won’t weigh heavily on these lads’ shoulders.
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
5. Munster club championship dilemma…
Who’s going to represent Kerry in the Munster club championship? If Stacks win they play the new Cork champions Ballincollig on November 16th. But if Mid Kerry win then it’s Dr Crokes again who go forward.
Crokes won the club final last week and they would progress as Mid Kerry are a divisional team and they can’t represent Kerry. Crokes have won the last three Munster club titles.
Without their talisman Colm Cooper Crokes were knocked out of this year’s championship by a James O’Donoghue inspired Legion.
Here's your 5 talking points ahead of the Kerry SFC final
1. Kerry captaincy for the year ahead
This game’s going to decide who will lead out the All-Ireland champions as they face either Waterford or Tipperary in the Munster Championship opener next summer.
Kieran Donaghy is in line for a fairytale end to 2014. Off the back of the club championship injuries plagued his season right through to the early stages of the championship for Kerry, but his remarkable return at the All-Ireland semi-final stage has already been rewarded with an All-Ireland medal and another Allstar award. No doubt the county captaincy will offer some added motivation to a man who has seemingly done it all.
Darran O’Sullivan or Donnchadh Walsh though will be equally hopeful of leading out Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s troops next season. O’Sullivan previously captained Kerry to glory in 2009 and the honour would be a nice touch after a frustrating year for him on the injury front. While Donnchadh Walsh’s experience would certainly suit the captaincy role.
2. Can Stacks end that 20-year wait for a title win?
Austin Stacks. the most celebrated club in Kerry, were destroyed by Dr Crokes in last year’s final, and beaten by Dr Crokes in 2010 final as well. Both results added to their championship draught which now stretches two decades.
Only Laune Rangers have won more Kerry senior football championships than Stacks, who will be desperate to put title number 12 on the board this weekend.
3. The attacking prowess of Mid Kerry
Mid Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan and Donnchadh Walsh are the well known forwards in this quality Mid Kerry attack, but there’s plenty more classy attackers — both young and old.
There’s former Kerry minor and U21 Gavan O’Grady from Glenbeigh Glencar who won a Cork SFC title with UCC in 2011, and played in the 2013 Sigerson final. While Gary Sayers from Keel won Sigerson Cup medal with CIT in 2009, and is also a former Kerry minor and U21.
Off the bench in the semi final too was ex-Kerry senior footballer Sean O’Sullivan and the four time All-Ireland winner scored two points in that victory.
4. Who’s next on the Kerry conveyor belt?
Austin Stacks have a number of talented youngster in their ranks who Mid Kerry will certainly have to keep close tabs on.
Fergal McNamara won a Sigerson Cup title with UCC last February, starting at corner-back for the university. Shane O’Callaghan was on fringes of Kerry senior panel this year, while Greg Horan and Conor Jordan were midfield on the Kerry minor team last year.
While Wayne Guthrie, Barry Shanahan, and the classy Shane Carroll all have recent Kerry underage experience. Mistakes and failures of years gone by won’t weigh heavily on these lads’ shoulders.
5. Munster club championship dilemma…
Who’s going to represent Kerry in the Munster club championship? If Stacks win they play the new Cork champions Ballincollig on November 16th. But if Mid Kerry win then it’s Dr Crokes again who go forward.
Crokes won the club final last week and they would progress as Mid Kerry are a divisional team and they can’t represent Kerry. Crokes have won the last three Munster club titles.
Without their talisman Colm Cooper Crokes were knocked out of this year’s championship by a James O’Donoghue inspired Legion.
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