5 big decisions facing Kerry

Donaghy starts, Kerry predictable?

The most predictable thing about Kerry ahead of the final is everyone saying they’ll be predictable if Kieran Donaghy starts at full-forward. The intrigue lies in the fact that Eamonn Fitzmaurice has a plan to deal with that. First things first: does Donaghy start? You’d take nothing for granted with a head coach who has no difficulty leaving big names out, but Kerry have waited long enough for the Tralee man to find his form. When he does, they’re not going to leave him kicking his heels. Tyrone in 2008 proved, with the double McMahon shuffle, that Donaghy can be shut down on the edge of the square — so don’t start him there. And that’s the joy of Star — he can start anywhere from eight to 15.

Seven into six won’t go?

At both ends of the pitch, someone used to starting for Kerry is going to be disappointed. On the basis that Kieran Donaghy starts alongside Paul Geaney, James O’Donoghue, Donnchadh Walsh and Johnny Buckley, that leaves one No 10 jersey between four realistic contenders up front (Darran O’Sullivan will be used for impact that time having just returned from hamstring trouble — Bryan Sheehan, Mikey Geaney, Declan O’Sullivan and Stephen O’Brien. Each brings very different attributes to the table. The winner will be the one who works the game-plan best.

And the backs have the same sweat...

Who knows whether Marc Ó Sé would have delivered the same tour de force in Limerick had his pride not been stung so badly by being dropped by the Kerry selectors. But given his inspirational display, it would be a brave call to leave him out on Sunday. Does that mean Shane Enright is the man to lose out? Possibly, though don’t bet on it. Enright has his critics, but Fitzmaurice has been very loyal to him and points out to anyone listening that, prior to the Gaelic Grounds replay, he’s had one bad day in two seasons (the semi-final defeat to Dublin last year). Killian Young got the start in Ó Sé’s stead in Limerick, but the flexibility of Kerry’s defenders (each can play in any of the six positions) means Fitzmaurice can employ their favoured horses-for-courses set-up.

What to do about Declan O’Sullivan?

Here’s the crux. Depending on how well the veteran’s knees have held up to a tough week of training, you’d want to start Declan O’Sullivan (pictured) if you’re in Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s shoes. Not for sentiment, which the coach has shown he’ll have no truck with. But because you’re still talking about one of the country’s top five footballers over the past six years. And therein lies the problem — over the last half a dozen years. O’Sullivan showed in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July that he can still quarterback a team better than almost everybody, but 3.30pm next Sunday in Croke Park will be a frenzied situation. Maybe O’Sullivan would have more impact once the game has settled.

High Anxiety in defence?

Lost in the excitement of the dramatic semi-final win over Mayo was the fact that keeper Brian Kelly had a less than convincing afternoon. And that high balls bombed into the Kerry square — albeit, one accidental — caused panic and the concession of two goals. This has been an unspoken concern in the Kingdom all the way back to the 2012 quarter-final against, yes, Donegal, when a Colm McFadden line-ball drifted all the way to the net past Brendan Kealy. His susceptibility under the high ball is one of the reasons he lost the No 1 jersey to Legion’s Kelly — who, to be fair, isn’t surrounded by aerially-dominant defenders. Points, we’re sure, not lost on Jim McGuinness.