At the end of Kerry’s ‘Golden Years’ era in 1986, the next four All-Ireland football championships were shared by Meath and Cork — the significance being that the Royals had been as good as wiped out in Leinster over the preceding 15 years, while the Rebels managed to escape the clutches of Kerry just once in 12 Munster final meetings.

FORMER Kerry captain Donie O’Sullivan believes Meath could profit from the same lack of expectation that accompanied Jack O’Connor’s side into their All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Dublin.

JOHNNY CULLOTY isn’t the type of man who would be nostalgic about the past. Though he has every right to be, given his record of proud service to Kerry football as a goalkeeper supreme, turned corner-forward, and as a hurler of note.