An Ghaeltacht all out to tame ’Haven
The Kingdom kingpins will meet Cork champions Castlehaven on Sunday week in Killorglin in the provincial semi-final, determined to make a bigger impact than they did after their historic first county title two years ago.
"Let's hope that we go out with a better approach this time," suggested Kerry star Tomás Ó Sé, who picked up his Man of the Match award in Killarney yesterday for Sunday's stellar performance in the 0-12 to 2-4 defeat of Laune Rangers.
Ó Sé cringes at the thought of their provincial date with Nemo Rangers in Páirc Uí Chaoimh two years ago, a game they almost won, despite themselves.
"We went to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and amid the euphoria of winning the county, we were not as tuned in as we should have been.
"This time, I hope it's different. We've two weeks of a break, and we'll watch Castlehaven on tape," he said.
His brother and captain Darragh added: "We were naïve the last time. We went up to Cork on a face-saving exercise, and yet we could have beaten Nemo. We're more serious this year the side is mature enough now. Opportunities like this mightn't come around too often for a rural club, so we're anxious to win it."
The Ó Sé brothers (including Marc, who held Michael F Russell scoreless in Sunday's Kerry final in Tralee) are the foundation of the side, with much of the scoring onus falling on fellow inter-county aces Dara Ó Cinnéide and Aodhan MacGearailt.
However, captain Darragh Ó Sé insisted yesterday that it was their lesser-known colleagues who came up trumps on Sunday.
"I thought the defence as a unit handled the spaces Rangers left very well. Cathal Ó Dubhda was a very effective outlet for us as well.
"People should remember that the panel has been training without the inter-county players since last January. It's only in the last month we've been together.
"We're naïve still in certain ways, and not as slick as some teams. Laune Rangers are a slicker team than us, but we can learn from these games, and add a bit of cuteness to our play."
Added Tomás Ó Sé, Kerry's only Allstar nominee this season: "We've so many inter-county players, and there's pressure on them every week. But five players will never win you a game.
"We didn't play as a team in the first half, we did in the second half and it wasn't the inter-county players who won the game for us, because fellas had to dive on the ball, and work extra hard. We only conceded two points in the second half, and that's not down to five players."
From a psychological point of view, coming back twice from half time deficits against Rangers they also trailed by four points in the drawn game will help rid An Ghaeltacht of an unfair "nearly men" tag.
Insisted Tomás Ó Sé: "We've won two of the last three county finals, and I'm happy with that. We had a lot of fellas telling us that we haven't the gumption to win games.
"But there have been club games behind in West Kerry, in bad conditions in the middle of winter, where we've dug out victories. But because we lost a couple of high profile games, that's why people talk so much about it."
Gaeltacht lost the 2000 Kerry final by a point to Dr Crokes, but bounced back to claim their first Bishop Moynihan trophy a year later, defeating Austin Stacks. Last year, they were shocked at the semi-final stage by Kilcummin, but have underlined their durability by coming back again this term.
Reflected losing Laune Rangers coach, John Evans: "The better team won on Sunday. A team kicking four points does not deserve to win a Championship.
"I think Gaeltacht have matured a lot, and have learned how to work the ball out of defence.
They were quite naive throughout the Championship, always going through Darragh Ó Sé. "They are a good team. They've shaken the monkey off their back having fought back twice, that will stand them in good stead."
An additional boost is the form of their midfielder and captain, who seems to have regained his fitness after the summer ankle injury that kept him out of the Munster final.
Indeed, many Gaeltacht and Kerry fans are still wondering why he is not in Australia with the International Rules squad, who clearly lacked his leadership last Friday.
"The ankle is good now, there's no ill-effects. I feel in very good shape," he said.
