Russell’s confidence booster

MIKE Frank Russell may take more important penalties in his intercounty career but Sunday’s strike against Dublin is already amongst his most memorable.

Russell's power drive past Stephen Cluxton sparked a remarkable Kerry comeback in the third round tie, but also restored the corner forward's confidence which, he admitted, had taken a bit of a bruising in recent times.

That self belief took a further knock in the early stages of the Parnell Park outing when an intended pass to Declan Quill was intercepted by Cluxton after 11 minutes.

"I squared it and I probably shouldn't have really, because it took the sting out of it," he explained.

So the penalty offered a sort of redemption.

"I wanted to take it because I had to 'put it right,' Russell admitted, adding that Eamon Fitzmaurice had been the designated penalty kicker.

"If we lost I would have been crucified. It was a pressure kick, kicking into the Dubs end but I just gave it everything I had. Thankfully we came back, but it wasn't just the penalty that did it. We showed great heart at the start of the second half and got a few quick scores. It was a great game for both teams ahead of the championship."

And a great game for Russell who has looked off form in the previous outings against Longford and Cork. The player openly admitted that things had simply not been going according to plan.

"We were beaten in the county championship as well and things weren't going well for me. I was on a bit of a downer. In fairness, I want to thank Jack [O'Connor] because he stuck with me and thank God it paid off. Hopefully I can repay him later on.

"At half-time we were a bit down after falling six points behind us, but Jack told us to stay with it. He is a great believer. We knew, too, we had made chances. We had two opportunities of goals We knew that if we stuck at it ... and if we got a few early points we would be back in it."

O'Connor expressed delight that Russell had played so well, given the number of his detractors in recent times.

"A lot of people had been questioning whether we should play him or not because he had been a bit off form. But, Mike Frank is a class player and always has been.

"It was very pleasing to see him back to his best form."

Russell was not the only player to win plaudits from the happy manager, whose side now have four points from a possible six before the NFL break.

"Eoin Brosnan was a big help when he went to the middle of the field and William Kirby had a fantastic game right through. We just finished very strongly. I keep telling fellows we haven't an awful lot of training which we haven't. But for whatever reason, we seemed to be very strong and very fresh at the end.

"The lads are very enthusiastic and very hungry, which was important. We were missing a lot of players, so there's ferocious competition for positions not just in the team, but in the panel. Hunger is great. It makes up for a lot."

But of course, the manager reserved special words of praise for the tireless talent that is Seamus Moynihan.

"We have a lot of young players and he is a stabilising influence. And, he is doing it from the engine room, out around the middle of the field. He has done it all before but it's great for the younger players around him to see him doing it again."

The Former Footballer of the year was also a little bemused by making the score sheet, late in the game.

"I didn't come up the field much. I think I ended up there from a quick free. I had given a one-two to John [Crowley] and the ball came back to me, luckily enough, and I kicked. Some times it could hit the corner flag, but this time it went over.

"In fairness to the forwards, they got two great points after that, Declan and Ronan O'Connor. Before that we had missed three opportunities and it looked as if we had blown our chance of winning the game. But, even a draw would have been a great result because we hadn't beaten Dublin away in such a long time."

Moynihan makes no secret of his love for life in the half-back line.

"Absolutely, it's where I play most of my football," he said.

"And, so far so good. Here's hoping I get a couple of more chances out there!"