Experience still counts for Kerry

THERE were times when football diehards involved with the four ‘weaker’ counties in Munster would almost have questioned the justification of them participating in the championship.

One such mentor in Limerick famously described their existence in the 1970s as providing cannon fodder for Kerry and Cork on an annual basis. A single provincial senior title won over 100 years ago and a sole minor success in 1956 testifies to Limerick's low standing in the provincial scheme of things.

The county qualified for six senior finals in the last century against Cork in 1901, Tipperary in 1922 and Kerry in 1905, 1934, 1965 and 1991. In contrast, Kerry were involved in all but 13 of them and won 66 titles. However, all that is largely irrelevant in the context of tomorrow's Bank of Ireland decider in Killarney, save for highlighting what's at stake for Liam Kearns' team.