Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Kerry must always be on their guard against football’s original shapeshifters

Based on their early season form Kerry were installed as All-Ireland favourites, even when Dublin were still alive in the championship. I am sure the management have kept things on an even keel and the players are well aware of the pitfalls, but this idle talk can be fatal

Kerry's Sean O'Shea scores a point despite the efforts of Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan and Ronan McNamee during their League clash last June. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

I am writing this preview on the presumption that the 21 Tyrone players that see action on Saturday are 100% fit and ready to play. The realities of recovering from Covid are unknown to us and speculating about it is as pointless as two bald men fighting over a comb, as the famous Borges quote goes.

When Tyrone were in their pomp in the noughties playing some great football and winning All-Irelands one of their most effective strategies was their ability to surprise and ambush. In the big games against Kerry in that decade they always had a curveball to throw at us.