Kingdom prepare for spring stock-take

Kerry 0-13 Offaly 0-9

Though Saturday night’s victory over cellar-dwellers Offaly rated no better than fair with their coach - “we played very poorly at times,” admitted Jack O’Connor - there are positives to consider and concerns to mull over ahead of their first true test of 2006, a visit to Tyrone next Sunday.

Darragh Ó Sé did not produce the comeback season in 2005 that he hoped for, but he’s been leaping like a spring lamb this term. A man of the match display on Saturday was embellished by a flawless exhibition of distribution; in stark contrast to the careless passing from many of his colleagues.

Offaly manager Kevin Kilmurray could have little criticism of his charges, especially for their doomed attempts to curb 30-year-old Ó Sé.

“Darragh is playing his best football ever. When he is on that form he is unstoppable, and there isn’t a man in Ireland who is going to mark him when he’s like that. Last year he struggled and struggled, but he’s come back superbly and has been in that sort of form for the past few games,” Kilmurray suggested.

The gamble of playing Eamon Fitzmaurice at centre forward is looking anything but now, and his club colleague Paul Galvin returned from suspension with two second-half points.

Seamus Moynihan is back training with the squad, though he is not yet up to inter-county speed, while Kerry’s most consistent performer over the five League games to date has been Rathmore’s Aidan O’Mahony at centre back. He is even developing a knack for scoring long range points.

And yet, we all wonder where is the extra thimble of stardust to take Kerry past their northern nemeses, Tyrone and Armagh, in 2006. In attack, it is yet to present itself. Sean O’Sullivan contributed another two points, but he retains that worrying habit of spilling precious possession.

Colm Cooper contributed six points again against Offaly, operating in third gear for most of the game. But Kerry need another consistent scoring threat to deflect attention and pressure from their prized asset. Declan O’Sullivan and Eoin Brosnan will always weigh in, but neither are natural born killers. Michael F Russell didn’t start, and failed to sparkle when introduced.

“We’re always tinkering with things,” reflected Jack O’Connor. “We’re still only training one day a week. We don’t want to push them, the lads have just been ticking over, though we’ll start to up that now with the days getting longer. You won’t get fellas operating at full tilt in a match on one night of training.”

Across the hallway, Kilmurray had his eyebrows raised when I suggested a lot of people locally fear Kerry will come up short again in 2006.

“Is that a serious question?” he frowned. “What money have you in your pocket? Don’t worry. Kerry will be thereabouts again. They are one of the best teams in the country, and I mean ‘team’. They’re extremely cohesive and tight. When we started gaining a bit of momentum in the second half, they were able to retain possession and play their way back into the game. That comes with experience and time, and we hope to get it over the next few years.”

In the longer term, another Munster U21 defeat at the hands of Cork will present its own difficulties, but for the time being, it will offer the likes of Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes) and Paul O’Connor (Kenmare) a chance to impress at senior level, while reintroducing Bryan Sheehan and Darren O’Sullivan to the attacking arsenal.

Progress is relative for Kilmurray’s Offaly, and they must beat Monaghan next weekend to have a chance of Division One survival. However, when the coach declared he was struggling for negatives after Saturday’s defeat, it was an understandable sentiment.

With full forward Paschal Keelaghan operating out the field (with Marc Ó Sé in tow), inside duo Thomas Deehan and Niall McNamee gave the Kerry defenders plenty of trouble, claiming five points from play between them.

Kerry changed ends at the break 0-6 to 0-5 in front after first use of a stiff breeze. However they found Nigel Grennan, Scott Brady and Ger Rafferty in resolute mood.

Paul Galvin had not played for Kerry since last year’s All-Ireland final, but was quickly back in his stride after his introduction midway through the second half. He fisted a 51st minute point to edge Kerry 0-9 to 0-6 clear, but after Deehan responded, Offaly had a glorious chance for the game’s only goal, but substitute Sean Ryan failed to capitalise on a moment of hesitancy by Kerry keeper Diarmuid Murphy.

Scorers: Kerry: C. Cooper (0-6, 3 frees), Sean O’Sullivan (0-2, 1 free), P. Galvin (0-2), A. O’Mahony, E. Fitzmaurice, Declan O’Sullivan (0-1 each). Offaly: T. Deehan (0-5, 2 frees), N. McNamee (0-2), C. McManus, P. Keelaghan (0-1 each)

KERRY: 1. D. Murphy; 2. M. Ó Sé, 3. M. McCarthy, 4. T. O’Sullivan; 5. A. O’Mahony, 6. T. Ó Sé, 7. M. Lyons; 8. D. Ó Sé, 9. W. Donaghy; 10. S. O’Sullivan, 11. E. Fitzmaurice, 12. E. Brosnan; 13. C. Cooper, 14. D. O’Sullivan, 24. R. O’Connor.

Subs: M. F. Russell for O’Connor (half time); P. Galvin for S. O’Sullivan (48 mins).

OFFALY: 1. P. Kelly; 2. K. Lynam, 21. S. O’Sullivan, 4. N. Grennan; 5. G. Rafferty, 6. S. Brady, 7. K. Slattery; 8. N. Coughlan, 9. A. McNamee; 10. J. Reynolds, 11. C. McManus, 19. C. Quinn; 18. T. Deehan, 14. P. Keelaghan, 15. N. McNamee.

Subs: S. Ryan for Quinn (50 mins).

Referee: G. Kinneavy (Galway).