O’Sullivan: underdogs tag will suit Meath

FORMER Kerry captain Donie O’Sullivan believes Meath could profit from the same lack of expectation that accompanied Jack O’Connor’s side into their All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Dublin.

The Kingdom limped into the last eight on the back of a Munster final replay defeat to Cork and three unconvincing qualifier victories against Longford, Sligo and Antrim.

Dublin had overcome a highly-rated Kildare team in the Leinster final despite playing much of the game with only 14 men after Ger Brennan’s red card, and yet Kerry ended the last eight clash with 17 points to spare.

“If you were putting a euro on the game on Sunday you’d put it on Kerry but Meath are Meath,” said O’Sullivan. “Meath are not going to collapse or pack it in or anything and they’re in a good position.

“With Dublin the whole media thing probably got to them as well because, whether we like it or not that seeps in – that you’re going to win it. Meath are in a strong position because they’re the outsiders now. That’s the way it bounces.”

O’Sullivan knows from his own playing days how difficult it can be to shake off any Meath team, not so much from the 1970 All-Ireland final when Kerry beat them by seven points, but from that year’s Leinster final.

“There was always a great fighting spirit with Meath and Offaly. They never give up, never say die. In the Leinster final in 1970 Meath were down by about 12 points against, of all teams, Offaly and they won it. It’s a great quality in a team, they’re not going to die.”

The scoreline that day was a scarcely believable 2-22 to 5-12 and, though that it unlikely to be repeated tomorrow, O’Sullivan would like to see Kerry advance by a similarly tight margin.

“I would and, from Kerry’s point of view, I would hope so because a tough close game would be better for Kerry if they win and take on Cork because anyone watching Cork know that they’re not going to be beaten easy.”

Which Kerry team actually takes to the field this weekend is a talking point: the pedestrian outfit of early summer or the side that pummelled a stunned Dublin last time around. Cork’s graph, a fitful display against Limerick aide, has been far more persuasive and suggestive of a side experiencing a steep upward curve.

“They’re a more balanced team. Last year they beat Kerry in the Munster final, they drew with them (in the All-Ireland semi-final) and then Kerry beat them in the replay. But it’s a better Cork team, I’m sure, this year. They way they played last Sunday, if Cork play to their abilities I don’t think anyone will beat them.”

Should it turn out to be a second Cork-Kerry final in three years, the county’s recent meetings in Croke Park will inevitably garner much attention in the build-up. Kerry have held the Indian sign over their Munster neighbours time and again when it comes to meetings at HQ but O’Sullivan believes that will count for little.

“Going back as far as 1945, when Cork played Kerry in the final it was seen as more or less 50-50. It was like the Munster games before with Cork and Kerry, no matter who was favourites an upset was on the cards. But I don’t think Croke Park is a factor. If you have the players on the field it doesn’t matter.”