Kerry SFC preview: Would it be facetious to suggest teams in the championship breathed a sigh of relief when Dr Crokes exited the competition back in mid July?

Daniel Bohan first describes himself as the Bionic Man, then decides Lazarus is a more appropriate comparison.

Kerins O’Rahillys 0-11 Austin Stacks 0-10

All fixtures are tomorrow unless stated

Kerins O’Rahillys maintained their rich vein of form in Division 1 of the County League, defeating in-form Dr Crokes by two points, 1-12 to 1-10 on Saturday evening.

Given almost 50 league campaigns have come and gone since, it’s quite possible the last time Kerry failed to score in a half of league football before last Sunday came after 1966.

Happy the bride the sun shines on, an old saying goes, and so it was yesterday for a radiant Hilary Stephenson who married Kerry footballer Kieran ‘Star’ Donaghy between the wintry showers in Waterville.

Dr Crokes 1-13 Austin Stacks 0-8

Only this week, I was reminded why Jim McGuinness’s first All-Ireland title as coach of Donegal was much longer than two seasons in the making.

Questions and facts. Facts and questions.

Austin Stacks1-14 St Kieran’s1-11(AET)

WE were sitting in a café on the Ormeau Road, talking football, when Declan Bogue told me that he was writing a book.

KERRY’s reigning football champions will fly the club flag in isolation at next weekend’s semi-final stage.

THEIR pursuit over the last decade has been frustrating and fruitless but yesterday brought atonement for Dr Crokes in the form of their seventh Kerry football title.

THE memories of past defeats may be scarring, but the experiences of county final day in 2005, 2006 and 2009 gives Dr Crokes a distinct edge heading into tomorrow’s Kerry SFC final in Austin Stack Park (3.30pm).

HIS inter-county career has been laden with honours, but it is glory on the domestic front that Kieran Donaghy craves most. Next Sunday is a prized opportunity as Austin Stacks are aiming to end a sixteen year Kerry SFC title drought against Dr Crokes.

DARA LONG propelled Austin Stacks to their first Kerry SFC final in nine years with a dream performance at Fitzgerald Stadium yesterday.

DISAPPOINTINGLY the entertainment value from this Kerry SFC quarter-final in Fitzgerald Stadium diminished in a second half of contrasting fortunes.

COLM COOPER was in sensational form as Dr Crokes eased into the Kerry SFC quarter-finals after Saturday’s facile victory over Kenmare at Templenoe (3-15 to 1-4).

DARRAGH O SÉ believes that Kingdom supporters will not appreciate the current Kerry team until they’ve gone.

WILLIAM KIRBY gives short shrift to anyone peddling the view that Austin Stacks’ storied tradition gives them a head start on the opposition.

FIVE points from replacements Graham O’Connell and David T Clifford proved the deciding factors as Austin Stacks defeated An Ghaeltacht 0-13 to 0-8 in yesterday’s poor Kerry SFC third-round clash at Austin Stack Park.

JACK O’CONNOR has declared his intention to remain at the Kerry helm for another season but the future intentions of three of the county’s key players remain open to question.

It is likely to be a key match-up in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final, but Mayo's Ronan McGarrity is playing down the importance of his midfield battle with Kerry kingpin Dara Ó Sé.

AUSTIN STACKS, with county midfielder Kieran Donaghy inspirational, advanced to the second round of the Kerry County Senior Football Championship with a 2-11 to 2-9 win over Laune Rangers.

TOMAS Ó SÉ is confident that Kerry’s All-Ireland defeat will not result in the retirement of players or management team.

WE came to the big house desperate for something seismic, a definitive judgement. Answers to impossible questions that only great occasions and sides provide.

Padraig Joyce will captain a provisional panel of 43 players confirmed by Ireland manager Pete McGrath for October's Coca-Cola International Rules Series in Australia.

RELENTLESS, isn't it? Cork's fallen, battered corpse is still warm, and we're trampling over it, hunting down some meat on the 'People's Final', whatever that means.

Kerry 1-19 Cork 0-9

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor has sprung a double surprise by benching Dara O'Cinneide and Mike Frank Russell for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Cork.

Kerry 2-15 Mayo 0-18

GOALS win games, as any fool knows. The thing is, they lose them too. Just ask Ciaran Whelan or, after yesterday’s misfortune, poor James Nallen.

OVER the next two days in Croke Park fans can look forward to seeing arguably the best scoring forwards of the year in action - Paddy Bradley, Stephen O'Neill, Ross Munnelly and Colm Cooper.

Tony Leen

Mick O'Dwyer Championship Watch

Jim O’Sullivan

KERRY coach Jack O’Connor wants his All-Ireland champions to take the most direct route to Croke Park — because he fears the pitfalls of the qualifier route.

FOOTBALLER of the year Tomas Ó Sé has been cleared by Croke Park’s Central Disciplinary Committee to play in the Munster SFC Final against Cork on July 10.

JOHN QUANE has experienced many heartbreaking afternoons in 15 years as a Limerick senior footballer.

Kerry 2-10 Limerick 0-10