Cooper takes centre stage

MUNSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL:

“I’ll be playing there at the weekend probably,” he said yesterday at the launch of the Opel Gear for Clubs initiative.

“The advantage we have with our forwards is that a lot of them can play in a couple of positions. Declan [O’Sullivan] can play inside and come out and we’re able to adapt. I’m sure for every game it’ll change. Management have tried me there and looked to change the set-up of our play a little bit. We’ll probably see that evolving during the season.”

The reason, he explained, is simple. While other challengers to Donegal’s All-Ireland title have seen an influx of new blood to their attack in the past couple of years, Kerry have stayed, more or less, with the same proven sextet. So, you move them around a little, take your top inside scoring-threat and ask him to assume an entirely different role.

“When you’ve been there for six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years, then people are going to learn your strengths and weaknesses and things like that. We haven’t changed dramatically over that period of time.

“This year the management have put their own shape on things and if you change things up then you keep the other teams guessing a little bit. The game has changed as well and you have to evolve. Teams are playing different systems and structures and you just have to match up as best you can and keep teams thinking.”

He won’t just be leading the attack, however. With his Dr Crokes team-mate Eoin Brosnan still out injured, Gooch will also lead the team this weekend. “I’m going to be captain at the weekend, I’m just stepping in with Eoin out. He is the captain of the team for the year as far as we’re concerned and when he gets himself back to full fitness, he’ll be in the mix then and if he’s playing he’ll be the captain.”

Of course it’s not the first time Gooch filled in as skipper. The last time he did, in 2006, he ended up with one hand on the famous Sam Maguire on the steps of the Hogan Stand, sharing the presentation with Declan O’Sullivan.

September is a long way away now though, and so are the days when Kerry could take for granted a Munster quarter-final against Tipperary, not even in Killarney. Chasing their third Munster minor title in-a-row, it could rightly be said that Tipperary are now the coming force in Munster football.

“I wouldn’t have seen it ten years ago to be honest, because they didn’t have any level of consistency. They might be very good one year but they mightn’t be good again for five years.

“Looking at their minor teams now they’re in their third Munster final in a row which is a phenomenal achievement. They’re beating the Kerrys and the Corks and they don’t fear them anymore.”

That new-found confidence also holds true now at senior level, he reckons.

“They put us to the pin of our collar in Thurles last year and possibly should have won the game [Kerry eventually won by six, 0-16 to 0-10]. The day of fearing Kerry as a big force. They’ve got over that. I just think they don’t feel like a second-tier team anymore. They got a bit of a run in the qualifiers last year, they beat Wexford [and Offaly, and Antrim, before falling narrowly to Down].

“They’re doing a lot of work there. John Evans was there previously. I don’t know exactly what they’re doing but they’re making progress.”

Enough to get past a new-look Kerry this Sunday? Now that would be progress!