Earley: Fitzmaurice’s new defensive system means Kerry can challenge Dubs

Kerry have adopted a new, more defensively-minded system that gives them a better chance of beating the likes of All-Ireland champions Dublin, according to former Kildare footballer Dermot Earley.

Kerry’s hugely impressive Munster final victory over Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh led Earley to believe that Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s men have found a new style of play that acknowledges the defensive structures necessary in the modern game while still retaining the attacking football for which they’re renowned.

He also lauded the influence of Fitzmaurice who, he says, has gone against convention in some ways while moulding this side.

“It’s a new Kerry. Look at the retirements last year, they don’t have a Gooch, closed training sessions in Killarney – he’s really putting his stamp on things. I suppose one of the things that Kerry always mentioned was they would never play defensively but if you look there are 12 men behind the ball,” said Earley on the Sunday Game.

“It’s because they need to adjust and if they’re going to be able to take on the likes of Dublin they do need to adjust. Declan O’ Sullivan was the playmaker-cum-sweeper. He replaced the Gooch, he was able to make those kick passes that the Gooch could make and he stood in for him.

“This [defensive system] is something that we would never have associated with Kerry but we will now because they acknowledge that if they’re going to go forward this is the type of play they need.

“We don’t usually associate this with Kerry football but it was still good to watch. They’ve had to adapt but they’re still able to play the long ball. They’re exciting, it’s a new Kerry and we look forward to seeing them in the championship.”

His fellow analyst Kevin McStay also praised the Kerry players for their performance. In particular, McStay commended the Kerry players’ ability to deliver quick, well-placed balls into the inside-forward line.

“The quality of the kick passing has always been of a very, very high standard... Good foot passing makes a good, mobile inside-forward almost unmarkable; if it’s to his advantage, if it’s wing-side, if it’s early, if it’s on the first bounce,” said McStay.

“You know [as a forward] that if you go wing-side or you do a dummy run and empty out a corner [and] you know the standard of foot passing coming in from your midfielder or Declan O’ Sullivan, you’re going to come off your marker with huge confidence.”

McStay was also critical of Cork’s display but refrained from being overly harsh on the Rebels.

Highlighting the extended periods Cork went without scoring from play – 36 minutes in the first half and 22 minutes in the second – McStay concluded that it was a shocking performance in a provincial final.

McStay also noted that dual players Aidan Walsh, Damien Cahalane and Eoin Cadogan were below par and seemed tired – a fact that will again call into the question whether or not it’s feasible for players to play both codes to the level required.

While trying not to be overly critical on Cork, he said Brian Cuthbert’s men looked disinterested in challenging properly for the ball at times and that they lacked the “gusto” you’d expect.