Limerick lack that clinical edge

MAYBE the answer is 13-a-side. Remove the full back and full forward from the equation, and allow players to use their enormous levels of fitness in a more productive way.

If yesterday's two provincial finals showed us anything, it is the massive part fitness and physique now plays in gaelic football. In Limerick, there was hardly a yard's space for anyone to manoeuvre in. It was hardly surprising: both managers had advertised the fact that they would not be pushed around, and so it proved.

However, the fact that his side stood up to Kerry will be of little consolation to Limerick manager Liam Kearns. The bottom line is that the home side missed a glorious chance of history yesterday through a critical lack of experience.

In the final five minutes, Eoin Keating could not be dissuaded from attempting long-shot, long-range frees, when it would surely have been playing the percentages to find a colleague and work the ball closer to goal - perhaps winning another free in the process.

That one of Keating's late efforts would have gone over the bar but for the athleticism of Darragh Ó Sé is not the point he should have been instructed to use the frees more productively.

It is unfair on Kerry to identify Limerick's lack of experience as the only reason the Kingdom got out of jail; the second half tour de force of Eoin Brosnan was a hugely important factor in balancing the scales around midfield.

In the first period, with his colleague John Galvin despatched to the attack, veteran John Quane led the destruction of the Kerry midfield. Consequently, Limerick found themselves five points ahead midway through the half and their confidence soaring.

Though they continued to toil manfully in the second half, Limerick looked like a side awaiting Kerry's comeback. Realistically, a six or seven point half-time lead would not have flattered Limerick, but once Mike Frank Russell equalised for Kerry late on, the home side were hanging on.

Will Limerick have as good a chance again? Maybe not, but the only thing that will change next Saturday will be the venue. The fact that Kerry did not see fit to introduce Seamus Moynihan at any stage is a worry, and suggests that he is unlikely to start second time around.

Limerick certainly proved they can trouble the best - Stephen Kelly, Conor Fitzgerald and centre back Stephen Lucey were impressive throughout, but where are they going to acquire that extra 5% belief that will take them over the finishing line? My view is that they've had their chance.

Not that Kerry should be too happy. Brosnan produced a thundering display to break Limerick's midfield monopoly, but one has to wonder does the running/carrying game of Hassett and Galvin, or further back from Fitzmaurice and Tomás Ó Sé really suit their scoring stars, Russell and Cooper.

The corner forwards looked lethal anytime they were fed early, and Russell's goal was the only foothold they had in the first half. But they were noticeably quieter after half time as Kerry carried the ball to the heart of the Limerick defence. It may have been the reason that Dara Ó Cinnéide had such a quiet game from general play certainly the tenor of the final was more to the liking of a bustling full forward like John Crowley.

However, one has to admire the manner in which Kerry dug in and hung on yesterday. Their defence held Limerick to three second half points, and Darragh Ó Sé and Tomás Ó Sé were exceptional in the final stages of the game. Undoubtedly there is a new edge to Kerry this year, but on occasions yesterday, they drifted close to the border line with some challenges - Aidan O'Mahony and Paul Galvin were lucky to escape censure on two occasions when the referee wasn't looking.

Speaking of Gerry Kinneavy from Roscommon, he was guilty of some strange decisions in the final stages of the game, with Kerry abuse raining down from the stands for two incidents in particular, featuring Eoin Brosnan and, in the dying minutes, Tommy Griffin.

When everyone presumed that injury time had finally elapsed, Limerick broke for one final chance of glory - but in keeping with their panicky second half, the experienced Damien Reidy threw a leg at the ball, and ballooned it wide. Perhaps it was just as well neither side had done enough to claim a provincial title.