O’Sullivan facing huge barrier in Dublin

TG4 ALL-IRELAND SFC QUARTER-FINAL:

In four previous attempts, O’Sullivan has managed to steer the Kingdom safely through the choppy waters of a TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-final. But this afternoon’s clash with Dublin could be the first time Kerry fall at this hurdle with O’Sullivan in charge. It would be a major surprise if they go all the way and lift the Brendan Martin Cup.

Kerry haven’t won an All-Ireland senior crown since 1993 and have been successful in only one of their four semi-finals under O’Sullivan, against Galway in 2012. The unfortunate fact of life from a Kerry viewpoint is they would arguably be more successful operating in another province.

Cork, winners of the All-Ireland title eight times in the last nine seasons, have cast a long shadow over Munster, with last year’s provincial success for Kerry providing temporary respite as the Leesiders caught them cold in the All-Ireland.

The expectation in Kerry was they would produce a big performance against Cork in last month’s Munster final but were rocked by four second-half goals as the Rebels regained the provincial crown.

Kerry then needed extra-time to get past a Donegal side relegated from Division 1 of the Tesco Homegrown National League, having failed to register a point. “I’d say their nerves were shot against Donegal,” says Donal Barry, former Kerry chairman and author of Desperately Seeking Brendan – A year on the road with the Kerry ladies seeking All-Ireland glory.

“It was a case of getting over the line.”

What was evident from the Donegal game was O’Sullivan’s emphasis on implementing a new game plan, with an eye on further down the road. Even Dublin boss Gregory McGonigle insisted after Kerry’s Munster final defeat not to read too much into the result, as he felt O’Sullivan was playing Tinkerman. Barry explains: “His new structure is based on defending deep. If you look at Cork, and the way they possibly won the League final against Dublin, they defended deep and attacked in massive numbers. The only thing missing with Kerry is they didn’t have the speed to go down the wings but it was their first day trying it.”

Of the 24 panel members available to O’Sullivan, Barry estimates 6 have been constant in that time.

“Experience wise, that’s massive,” says Barry, the current Munster LGFA PRO. “And, looking at the teamsheet from 2012 [when Kerry beat Dublin], Kerry possibly have 14 of those players, with Dublin down to around seven. Kerry have remained loyal and there aren’t many new players, bar Laura Rogers.”

The Kerry team, on paper at least, still evolved as the year progressed. Aisling Leonard, missing in 2013, returned form a stint abroad while Aoife Lyons and Caroline Kelly both returned after taking time out. But Kerry will go into battle tomorrow without Sarah Jane Joy, who damaged cruciate knee ligaments in the Munster final.

Sarah Houlihan hasn’t trained for two weeks because of a chest infection and Rogers, who came back from cruciate damage to play for the closing stages against Donegal, recently went over on her ankle.

But while Kerry are still in it, they’ll believe they can win it, particularly after beating Cork twice in last year’s Munster championship. The problem is even though Cork lost inspirational midfielder Juliet Murphy and goalkeeper Elaine Harte to retirement, they look stronger than ever. And, with Cork remaining the barometer, Kerry appear to have regressed.

The smart money, therefore, is on a Dublin win.

But O’Sullivan has made huge progress since taking charge ahead of the 2010 campaign and he’ll be desperate to preserve his 100% quarter-final record today.

Barry adds: “Based on how they’ve played this year, it’s very hard to give Kerry a chance of progressing. But they’ve been here before and experience has to count for something. They reached the 2012 final when nobody gave them a chance and came out and beat Dublin in that quarter-final.

“Maybe Dublin were having troubles as well at the time but they were seen as further down the line than Kerry.”

This time, the tables have turned and while Dublin will start as favourites, Kerry have a proud record and tradition to maintain. And that will count for something.