The rocky road to redemption

THERE’S more than a few Kerry footballers partial to piseogs, but few were brave enough to discuss them within earshot of team management on the Kingdom’s trip north to Longford last night.

Kieran Donaghy’s return to arms for tonight’s second round football championship qualifier (5pm, TV3) brings the defeat of Longford three years ago conveniently to mind, but Jack O’Connor still likes to use his debut as Kerry coach two and a half years earlier as a valued point of reference.

An injury time goal from Granard’s Stephen Lynch gave Longford an unlikely 3-7 to 1-12 victory over Kerry in the first round of the National League in 2004, nourishing those in the south west with a pre-disposed antipathy to the idea of a medal-less Glen man coaching the Kingdom. That season O’Connor trusted his own instincts, and little else, en route to an All-Ireland success in September.

One of the defenders on that 2004 February Sunday was Eamonn Fitzmaurice, now one of O’Connor’s selectors. Little wonder, then, the talk this week has been about building momentum after their hiding in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, even if that means getting out of Pearse Park this evening with a point to spare.

That should be well within their compass, especially as Kerry’s team selection suggests O’Connor and co have reverted to the tried and trusted methods of gut instinct and form at Fitzgerald Stadium training. They’ll argue differently, but there was a sense that some were chosen to face Cork on the basis of reputation.

“I think it was more a case of fellas being picked in the hope that they’d find their form,” said one source close to the Kerry set-up. “But this time, they have definitely gone on the basis of what they see with their own eyes.”

The draw has also provided the opportunity to rattle a few cages and shake things up, but one feels that might have happened anyway. Kerry were never going to compete in Croke Park on the basis of what they displayed in Munster.

Padraig Reidy, Aidan O’Mahony and Bryan Sheehan have all been shunted sideways, with Darran O’Sullivan especially unlucky to join them.

The debate about his impact off the bench is a fair one, but I wouldn’t like to be the coach telling O’Sullivan he’s not better than some of those starting in his stead.

Tommy Walsh is fit again, Aidan O’Shea gets his chance, Marc Ó Sé has finally been released to the centre-back slot O’Connor has been eager for him to occupy all season, and Seamus Scanlon has been reunited with Darragh Ó Sé in midfield. Not before time too.

If there are exceptions, they are for exceptional players. Kieran Donaghy needs game time and Colm Cooper needs Kieran Donaghy. It’s open season on Gooch at present with anonymous message-board experts calling on him to be dropped, no less. What a boost for Glen Ryan, Longford and every county left in the Championship that would be. Delightful for everybody but Kerry.

Donaghy may not last 70 minutes, but it won’t be for fear about his foot injury. He hasn’t kicked a ball since the National League final in April, and whatever action he sees can be put on deposit for what could be four successive weekends of Championship intensity.

Jack O’Connor must accept the qualifier draw has been kind again to a county with a 100% record since the system was introduced. Paul Galvin and Tadhg Kennelly may be absent today but they can be done without this time. Kerry have everyone else fit and no excuses. People talk about them as a tired outfit after five successive All-Ireland finals but look at the starting 15 for the trip to Pearse Park — almost everyone has something to prove, to play for, to preserve — opportunity and doubt. That stretches onto the bench too, with the recalled Mike McCarthy, the dropped Aidan O’Mahony, the seething Darran O’Sullivan and Bryan Sheehan or the frustrated David Moran, Mike Quirke and Bryan Sheehan.

Momentum might do the rest.