Gooch a fan of keeping fans out

The decision to close Kerry training sessions to the public has helped to ensure there is no hype overload ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final with Dublin, according to Colm Cooper.

Earlier this year, Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice took the decision to change from the tradition of having all sessions open to the public, with supporters only allowed into Fitzgerald Stadium on permitted evenings.

Cooper believes this contributed to the Munster champions travelling somewhat under the radar, with Dublin strong favourites for Sunday week’s clash.

“Since the Cavan game, we’ve just gone back into training and when training is closed, people mightn’t be talking about things as much. In other years, it’d be the main topic of conversation,” said Cooper

“To be fair to Eamonn and the management, it was something that they felt could improve us and give us a little bit of an advantage. When you had hundreds of people watching Kerry train, particularly during the summer, it’s very hard to try anything as it’d be out there the following day.

“The players have enjoyed it, it’s something different, time will tell if it’s of real benefit,” he said at the launch of AIB’s new Self-Service Banking Area on Winthrop Street in Cork, which gives customers from branches in the surrounding area banking facilities seven days a week, from 8am-9pm.

This year, Cooper has been deployed at centre-forward instead of his usual position at corner-forward. Joe Brolly has been critical of Cooper’s usage at No 11, but the Kerryman points out the positives of the move.

“It is very different to what I’m used to,” he said, “I played inside for 10 or 11 years so it’s a complete change.

“It involves developing different parts of your game like fitness and movement because you’re moving all over the field, you’re tracking back and then going forward.

“You need to work on your vision too, you’re looking for passes to try and get the ball inside. The one thing that I benefit from is that, having played inside, I know what guys want, so that has been a help to me.”

In addition, as against Cork in the Munster final, Cooper showed that arriving late into the scoring area can almost make him more of a goalscoring threat.

“That was something which happened in the Cork game, sometimes it can work out that way but I’m sure the Dubs will have their homework done. They won’t give up too many chances.”

Against Cork and Cavan, Kerry put in excellent first-half performances which they could not replicate after half-time, and this is something Cooper is keen to correct.

“It’s hard to put the finger on it, really,” he said. “We feel that we’re training really well, we’ve had good tough sessions throughout. I don’t really think it’s a fitness thing, possibly maybe more concentration.

“If you slacken off by any couple of percent in championship football and invite teams onto you, you’re asking for trouble, to be honest.

“In those two games, we played really, really well for 35 minutes and then stopped competing as much, when you lose concentration it gives teams encouragement.

“When the momentum changes in matches, it’s very hard to grasp it and get things going back the other way. It’s something that we’ll definitely have to improve.”