Young: Kerry won’t take Limerick lightly

Very much an experienced head on young shoulders, Kerry wing back Killian Young is hoping to dash Limerick's hopes of winning their first Munster SFC title since 1896 when the sides meet at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday.

For Kerry, a win this weekend would represent their 73rd Munster Championship success and another significant milestone for Young who has become a key member of the Kingdom team in such a short space of time.

The Renard youngster was propelled to stardom in 2007 as a member of the successful Kerry senior side that claimed Munster and All-Ireland honours.

The following May, he again hit the headlines, this time as captain of the Kerry Under-21 team that claimed a first All-Ireland success at that grade since 1998, with current senior colleagues David Moran, Johnny Buckley and Kieran O'Leary also on board.

Personal accolades came Young's way as he was honoured with the Cadbury Hero of the Future award for his performances in the Under-21 Championship, following in the footsteps of current Mayo dual player Keith Higgins.

While 2010 sees Young featuring in his fifth senior Championship campaign - his fourth as a regular starter - he is quick to recognise the greater experience of the players around him in Kerry defence, and appreciates their guidance and input.

"Yeah of course, they are all leaders around you," the Under Armour ambassador enthuses.

"They are great, experienced defenders and it's a great thing to have, I suppose to bring on your own game and to improve your own game. I'm delighted to have those fellas around me, and I'm grateful for that.

"I'm just going to try and put the head down and work harder on my game and improve the whole time. With those fellas around you, you have a chance with that."

It took a replay before Kerry eventually shook off Cork at the semi-final stage last month, a one-point win in a titanic encounter at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

"It was a fantastic game, it was very intense," Young recalls. "There was great football played. There was a lot of breaking ball, there was plenty of tackling going on and it was great stuff.

"It's great for the spectators as well - that's what people pay in to see. I suppose as well with the subs coming in, and things like that - that lifted the game more as well.

"They brought an extra bit to the game, things like that, and they did fantastic, so we were just grateful to get the win and move into the final."

The traditionalists in Munster like their Cork-Kerry finals but with that pairing already out of the way this year, it is Limerick who await the Kingdom in the provincial decider.

Young says Kerry will not be taking the Treaty County outfit for granted, particularly when you recall the sides' clashes in the 2004 final, a tight drawn game and a replay which the green and gold won.

"We'll want to take it just as important as we did for the Cork game, because we can see what they did to Cork last year - they gave them a fierce fright," he said, mentioning Cork's one-point victory over Limerick twelve months ago.

"Only for the Daniel Goulding goal, Limerick could have won the Munster final last year, so we'll have to be very wary of Limerick and be well prepared for the game."

Kerry's tough back door journey last year, with closely-fought qualifier games against Sligo, Longford and Antrim, has ensured that there will no complacency from Jack O'Connor's men against so-called 'lower ranked' sides.

"We learned a lot from the qualifiers last year. Sport and the GAA is a fine line from winning and losing," added Young.

"It's down to the breaking balls, and it's down to how much you want it and how much hunger you have - it could come down to a decision by the referee, so you have to be very ready for that.

"I suppose with that and the Tipperary game, we have a good bit of experience behind us and we should have plenty of cop-on for Sunday to be mentally tuned in.

"It's all up to fellas individually as well to be mentally right, and to be looking after the body and to be in the right frame of mind for it."