Tony Leen: Too soon for Kerry to send up the bat signal to Fossa?

Division One is a tough beast anyway so it’s a moot debate which county needed the opening night win more in Tralee, but Derry’s intent was manifest.

HIGH STANDARD: Derry skipper Shane McGuigan wins the kick out in front of Kerry's Jason Foley and Diarmuid O'Connor at Austin Stack Park.

Allianz FL Division 1: Kerry 2-8 Derry 0-15. 

IT ISN’T even February and Jack O’Connor has his first fork-in-the-road decision of the season. The Kerry manager said last week he “couldn’t live” with the notion of Kerry relegated from Allianz League Division 1, but at the very least, Saturday’s irritating defeat at home to Derry makes such a spectre real.