Something from the weekend: Who is Kerry’s irreplaceable star and does Dessie Farrell have a plan?

Our reporters tackle the big talking points to emerge from Round Four of the Allianz Football League

Dublin manager Dessie Farrell is interviewed by media after his side's defeat to Kildare at St Conleth's Park.  Farrell has used 48 different players in competitive games so far this year.

Is Dessie simply staying focused on the bigger picture?

Under pressure Dessie Farrell can't be accused of ignoring fringe and rookie talent in Dublin. The Sky Blues may be struggling to put points on the board just now but they lead the league of experimentation with 48 different players used in competitive games so far this year. Cillian O'Shea and former All-Star Robbie McDaid, both subs against Kildare, were the latest to feature for the first time in 2022 and the overall figure is likely to climb to at least 50 with Con O'Callaghan yet to play and Daire Newcombe togging out for several games without actually coming on. Within those 48 players, 14 are new to the senior panel this season with former U-20 star Ciaran Archer only featuring briefly in the O'Byrne Cup before suffering an injury. Farrell will hope that he is fit for the Championship along with O'Callaghan, James McCarthy and perhaps Paddy Small who has yet to figure in the league. "As I mentioned at the start of the league, our ambition was to build ourselves to the extent that we would be really, really competitive come summertime," said Farrell. "Of course the league hasn't gone the way we would have hoped but we have to stay focused on what the big picture is."