Will Cork’s Canty be detailed to mark Cooper or Donaghy?

TOUGH one. There’s no wrong answer because Canty is like a gold credit card – you can use him anywhere.

Conventional wisdom would suggest he will be detailed to pick up Colm Cooper at corner back. Gooch is the key component of Kerry’s attack. Place him under lock and key, and Kerry will struggle not only for scores, but the creation of scores. Think about it — if you’re the Cork selectors, and you’re thinking who’s going to score more for Kerry, Cooper or Donaghy, there’s only one answer. Shut him down at source. That’s why Canty was detailed on Stephen Bray in the semi-final — big scoring threat.

Does that mean that Kieran Donaghy will be picked up at full-back by Michael Shields? Probably. The St Finbarr’s U-21 did well on big Shane O’Rourke against Meath. Also Shields marked Donaghy – tightly as is happens – when the sides met in the League under lights in Tralee last February. The St Finbarr’s man is tight and durable. But he’s also got a good record on Bryan Sheehan, and Cork feel he could snuff out the St Mary’s man. If that was the case, Cork could go with a conventional full back line of Shields-Canty and Kieran O’Connor who’s done as well as most detailed to pick up Gooch.

One other plus for the Canty v Cooper scenario — O’Connor has the beating of Bryan Sheehan for pace, allowing Cork to go with the Shields on Donaghy, Canty on Gooch.

But for what’s it worth, I go against the wisdom and believe Cork should start with Canty on Kieran Donaghy. The Tralee man offered snatches of his 2006 form in the semi-final against Dublin, and not just around the middle of the field. Before Darragh Ó Sé’s enforced withdrawal, Donaghy was burning Ross MacConnell for pace in attack. His confidence is high again and he’s a big day player. I don’t see Shields managing him in the air if Kerry’s delivery to the inside forwards is up to scratch. People talk about breaking it away from Donaghy, but only Canty can confidently expect to do that on a consistent basis. Remember, a full forward only needs to be lucky once.

There is a hole in my theory. What if Kerry again decide to bring Donaghy out to midfield and play with a two-man full-forward line? You might think that would suit a ball-player like Canty but would it appeal to the Cork management? Do they really want the Bantry man sucked out the field, exposing Shields and O’Connor to Gooch in space? Didn’t think so.

The smart money says Cork will want to keep Canty at home, minding the house, mopping up.

For what it’s worth, when I asked Kerry manager Pat O’Shea who be thinks will be marking Cooper, he replied: “Kieran O’Connor”.

Mind games? Cork haven’t all the headaches in this regard. Kerry similarly wish they could clone man-marker supreme Marc Ó Sé to pick up both James Masters (if he starts) and Donncha O’Connor. And like Cork, my bet is that they’ll want to keep the Gaeltacht man close to his own goal.

The Canty conundrum? I take the Cork selectors to put their faith in Kieran O’Connor to stifle Gooch, and permit their talisman to take to the skies alongside Donaghy. That way, they also get their Shields-Sheehan match-up.

In 2005, Cork had to replace Niall Geary after a 20 scorching from Cooper. They’ll want to avoid a similar scenario this time out, which suggests to me that O’Connor is the key player in the piece.