Expect Kildare to take their chance
Even allowing for the hesitation and fear in Kerry’s play, the young tyros so splendidly aligned by James McCartan and marshalled on-field by Martin Clarke were a breath of fresh air – even to those who didn’t particularly want to inhale.
At four weeks remove and with a greater challenge looming large, the gloss from Down’s dethroning of the All-Ireland champions is diminishing. We know in hindsight that Kerry were fatally wounded, didn’t have the stomach for battle and were second best in all aspects of the game on the day. Having underestimated Down all year, I now run the gauntlet yet again and ask whether or not Down really are as good as they’re made out to be or whether they have they yet been properly tested in this year’s championship?
