Five of the jigsaw pieces that Éamonn Fitzmaurice finds quickly fitting into place
A combination of poor form and bad luck has denied them since 2012 and some of the latter in last month’s opening two games suggested another middling league campaign was to follow. Given how abject Down were, Kerry’s win in Newry last Sunday week carried an asterisk but ending Donegal’s 100% record with a gritty second half display against the wind in Tralee has given fans grounds for optimism. However, there are other indications Kerry may avoid another stunting space between league and championship (should they fail to make the semi-finals, there will be a 10-week wait until their Munster semi-final).
Tomorrow should mark Darran O’Sullivan’s fifth consecutive league start for Kerry. The 29-year-old hasn’t begun as many consecutive games since the spring of 2012. It finally seems O’Sullivan has put his hip, hamstring and groin issues behind him and Kerry are beginning to see the sort of form that saw him shortlisted for footballer of the year in 2011. He didn’t score against Roscommon or Donegal but his DNA was all over a number of scores as he’s toggled competently between the half and full-forward lines. Subbed in the final minute of the Donegal game, he has played almost the entirety of the four games thus far.
Rathmore know only too well the range of Murphy’s talents and Fitzmaurice’s decision to shift him right now looks inspired even if he had shaky moments shadowing Ryan McHugh the last day. Necessity is the mother of invention and it must be considered the move was made after two opening defeats. Tony McEntee’s stinging words about Kerry’s half-forward line in last year’s All-Ireland final also come to mind. Having been so good against Tyrone, the triumvirate of Stephen O’Brien, Johnny Buckley and Donnchadh Walsh were troubled when confronting Dublin. “
(The trio) failed to provide outlet options and in possession they were too slow to release ball into the full forward line, on the occasions that someone was in position and looking for a pass,” wrote McEntee in this newspaper.
Now a Mayo selector, Murphy’s re-positioning tomorrow gives McEntee plenty of food for thought.
Was it ageist last year to suggest Fitzmaurice starting two 35-year-olds in O’Mahony and Ó Sé was risky? But for Ó Sé’s illness and injury prior to the All-Ireland final, there’s a strong possibility they both would have begun against Dublin and it should be noted their return has coincided with a boost in Kerry’s fortunes. Seeing O’Mahony (36 in June) and Ó Sé (36 next month) rage against the dying of the light makes for compelling viewing. Rather than query why Kerry have to depend on such veterans, their enduring relevance should be appreciated.
Sheehan, one of six players who are aged 30 or over this year that started against Donegal, is carrying on the from where he left off with St Mary’s and South Kerry since he returned for the Down game. Sheehan has not been on a losing side since last year’s All-Ireland final. The win over Donegal brought his unbeaten run across club, divisional and county games to 19 games. Few ties have passed where he hasn’t had an influence. His wind-harnessing, power draw free against Donegal last Sunday was typical Sheehan but he has probably never looked more comfortable in midfield than he does at present.
We return to McEntee’s hard-hitting appraisal of Kerry last September: “In what seemed a complete role reversal Phillip McMahon was the attacker and Cooper the defender. How did this happen? What have I missed? “Gooch” Cooper, the GAA’s best forward since Peter Canavan , can now be marked out of a game by an attacking corner back. And this was let happen.”
Those close to Cooper are predicting a big year for the 32-year-old, which is akin to saying this season could be an Everest in a Himalayan career. Cooper’s return to action this year is his earliest appearance since 2011. The message sent out by Fitzmaurice is already clear: 2016 isn’t about protecting Cooper but giving him the freedom to exhibit his awesome array of skills.
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