Tony Leen: Kerry survive the ultimate test of the ticker

That Kerry outlasted their greatest rivals, surviving a late tempest that saw them take on water fore and aft, is easily the most significant element of their win over the Big Blue

TOUGH TASK: David Clifford of Kerry in action against Michael Fitzsimons of Dublin during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

As he began re-configuring mayhem into something linear and coherent, Jack O’Connor de-coiled himself into a long stretch like a stress ball rising from a yoga mat. Emptying the sideline toxins.

“That sort of stuff wouldn’t be great for the heart,” the Kerry manager smiled. “The old ticker was going fairly fast there at the end. Dublin threw everything at us like the great team they are but I am delighted with the resilience our guys showed. That game was going away from us there.”