Talk of Kerry’s demise premature, says Canavan

By Colm O’Connor

Saturday, July 04, 2009

FORMER Footballer of the Year Peter Canavan has dismissed suggestions Kerry are a spent force, insisting that the Kingdom ‘don’t do demise very well.’

Jack O’Connor’s side have been written off in many quarters after their displays against Cork in the Munster championship yet the Tyrone legend is convinced last year’s defeated All-Ireland finalists can still challenge for the Sam Maguire.

Canavan said: "These are many reasons being bandied about by supporters and pundits and taking them at face value you would say that Kerry were indeed on the way down. A closer examination though of the ailing body may result in a different prognosis and one that would suggest to a very healthy recovery. Further probing has uncovered three parts of that body that are sure to aid recovery namely, Darragh Ó Sé, Colm Cooper and hunger!

Canavan is convinced Ó Sé, who won his first All-Ireland SFC medal in 1997, remains a key man for the Kingdom and says the Gaeltacht man will be desperate to end his inter-county career on the biggest stage.

"Darragh is one of the best midfielders in recent history and though aging still holds onto much of his formidable arsenal, Canavan said. "Masterful fielding, clever distribution, his power, his surging runs and his scoring ability. Time has done little damage to his array of weaponry though it has taken some of the speed out of his step and perhaps lowered his stamina levels slightly.

"Time has also added to his experience and leadership qualities. Having carried the battle to so many over the years (and won) I doubt if such a gladiator will bow out as meekly as the Munster semi-final would suggest."

Canavan described Colm Cooper as ‘one of the outstanding forwards of his era’. Despite poor showings in both games against Anthony Lynch the former Red Hand captain predicts a return to form for Cooper when Kieran Donaghy is back in O’Connor’s selection plans.

Canavan said of Gooch: "Has time eroded any of his qualities? No. In fact, as with his older team-mate above, he has boosted his experience levels, developed a stronger physique and learned more about his own temperament. Everything would point to a better footballer but we are failing to see this develop because of the lack of quality ball going in and, very importantly, the absence of Kieran Donaghy to spearhead their attack. The presence of ‘Star’ in the Kerry forward line takes untold physical and mental pressure of the shoulders of Cooper.

"So, write off talent at you peril. Both these players have it and when they do, anything is possible."

But he thinks Kerry’s hunger, desire, passion and pride may prove their greatest weapon in their bid to dethrone his native Tyrone of All-Ireland honours.

He reasoned: "If Kerry ever had a fault it never was that they lacked any of these emotions. Their displays at times may have suggested that the lacked the hunger but I believe that it is a different malaise that affects them at times. Their dominance of Gaelic football over many decades has led to an inherent belief in the totality of their own ability — a supreme self-confidence that no other county possesses.

"Admittedly, this is one of their greatest assets and has been a vital component of their successful history. It can at times, however, be a chink in their armour.

"This self-belief can sometimes mushroom into a feeling almost of infallibility. This over-cockiness can backfire on them when they underestimate an opponent and enter the game ill-prepared or simply implode when their game-plan does not work. It is rarely this happens though, and their opponents need to be playing at a very high standard in order to achieve this disruption.

"It should be pointed out that Kerry have seldom met such quality opposition at, what is to them, such an early stage of the campaign and fitness levels may not have been as good as Cork’s. In this assessment of Kerry I have certainly taken into account the fact that Cork’s development in these past two or three years has now produced one of the top teams in the country with serious credentials and serious title ambitions. So while the demise of Kerry is cautiously debated throughout the country I would hazard a guess and say that Kerry don’t do demise very well."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, July 04, 2009