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Manner of victory over Tyrone proves that Kerry are a different animal now

Published

2 years ago

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Seánie O'Shea celebrates after scoring Kerry's second goal against Tyrone. Photo: John Sheridan/Sportsfile.

by Adam Moynihan

"There’s no one harder on Kerry than our own people." As assertions go, it wasn't quite 'Páidí in South Africa', but Jack O’Connor’s post-match comments regarding Kerry fans and their tendency to err on the negative side rang true.

Kerry had just demolished Tyrone in Croke Park. It was a commanding, double-scores win that underlined the reigning champions’ credentials as one of the frontrunners for the 2023 All-Ireland.

What Jack was alluding to was that few had predicted such an outcome, particularly at home in The Kingdom. While most pundits tentatively backed Kerry to get the job done, many of the fans I spoke to last week were worried that this would be their last day out of the summer.

The fact that it was Tyrone in the other corner did little to boost confidence levels. Memories of 2021 and that ambush in the rescheduled semi-final still haunted them.

There seems to be this perception in the rest of the country that Kerry fans always think their team is going to win, even when the odds are against them. I would actually say the converse is often true: a lot of Kerry fans think Kerry are going to lose, even when the odds are in their favour.

In the end, there was nothing to worry about. Kerry were brilliant and they dealt with Tyrone with relative ease. We will get one more day in Dublin out of them; Derry await in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday week.

MEANING

Oftentimes a blowout win can be facile and a bit pointless but this one was loaded with meaning.

Firstly, and most obviously, beating Tyrone in Croke Park and settling the score from two years ago is a relief. For many of the players, that extra-time defeat will have been a career low. It can be parked now. They can beat Tyrone. Next question.

Kerry also proved that they have made significant improvements in key areas. In 2021, they turned the ball over 30 times. They lacked composure and patience and they ran straight into Tyrone’s trap time and time again. When they lost the ball, their defence was weak. They lacked intensity and cohesiveness, and the three goals they conceded probably cost them the All-Ireland.

On Saturday, they showed how far they have come. When faced with Tyrone’s packed defence, they were smart about it. They minded the ball, they bided their time, they avoided contact, and they punched holes when the time was right. They gave up 14 turnovers, 16 fewer than they did in 2021. Chalk and cheese.

Defensively, Kerry were a different animal completely compared to the last championship meeting between the two teams. These days Tyrone are arguably more dangerous in attack with the emergence of the excellent Canavan brothers but, as we saw throughout 2022, Jack O’Connor and his coaches seem to have cracked the defensive code.

With everyone buying into the team’s solid defensive structure, with Tadhg Morley providing the cover, and with the exceptional Jason Foley and Tom O’Sullivan nullifying Darren McCurry and Darragh Canavan, Kerry limited Tyrone to just six points in each half. Crucially, they conceded no goals.

They hunted in packs, tracked runners, and generally displayed a level of aggression rarely seen in the years prior to O’Connor’s return. On more than one occasion, lads who are fairly relaxed and unassuming off the pitch – the likes of Gavin White, Diarmuid O’Connor and Tom O’Sullivan – fronted up to an opponent after a turnover or a Kerry score to let them know that this was Kerry’s day.

Everything about the team’s demeanour pointed towards a ferocious collective desire to stand tall and to not be bullied in the manner that Tyrone have sometimes bullied Kerry in the past.

Diarmuid O’Connor’s performance is deserving of special praise. Kerry’s midfield has come in for plenty of criticism this year (I have voiced concerns myself) but he arrived in a major way against Tyrone. The talk beforehand was that Kennedy and Kilpatrick would dominate but they were ones who were dominated. O’Connor, ably assisted by his Na Gaeil clubmate Jack Barry, was immense. It was the type of all-action, 70-minute display we knew he had in him.

It’s not realistic to expect a 10 out of 10 from him in every game but if he can consistently give Kerry an 8 out of 10, it would be transformative for this team.

NOISE

The Tyrone victory should also kill off this spurious notion that Kerry are a one-man team. We have been told that the defending champions would be mediocre without David Clifford – “nothing”, even. Clifford was present the last day, and he thrilled the crowd with a sensational improvised pass that led to Seánie O’Shea’s goal, but by and large he was quiet. And that was okay. His teammates made plenty of noise in his stead.

Seánie O’Shea – another player who faced criticism earlier in the season – looks like a new man. He took his goal really well and he appeared to enjoy his day in Croker more than most.

As I said last week, Tyrone was a tough draw but it was an opportunity to prove a point. O’Shea and his teammates grabbed that opportunity with both hands.

The Ulster champions, Derry, are next up with a place in the All-Ireland final on the line. It won’t come easy - Derry are a really good outfit - but confidence should be high.

Surely even the harshest critics in our ranks are feeling good after beating Tyrone by 12 points in an All-Ireland quarter-final.

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Injured Kerry quartet return for do-or-die showdown with Cavan

Published

4 weeks ago

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20 June 2025

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by Adam Moynihan

All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final

Kerry v Cavan

Saturday 3.30pm

Fitzgerald Stadium

Key players Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Diarmuid O’Connor and Seánie O’Shea are back in Kerry’s starting 15 for tomorrow’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Cavan, with playmaker Paudie Clifford also returning to the 26.

All four were sorely missed in last Saturday’s jarring nine-point defeat to Meath in Tullamore, a result which unexpectedly left Jack O’Connor’s men in second place in Group 2. They must now earn the right to play in next weekend’s quarters by defeating the Breffni County in a straight knockout tie at Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium.

The return of O’Connor in particular has lifted the spirits of Kerry supporters. The highly-rated midfielder has only played once since injuring his shoulder against Armagh in the league almost 100 days ago. He did feature in the Roscommon match on the opening weekend of the group phase – playing all 70 minutes – but he was a notable absentee in the subsequent fixtures against Cork and Meath.

With little to no information emanating from the camp about his status, rumours claiming that his season was over had swirled. That gossip was wide of the mark going by the Kerry line-up that was unveiled on Thursday night as the man from Na Gaeil has been selected at right half forward.

O’Shea, who was not risked against Meath due to a tight hamstring, will line out alongside O’Connor on the 40. Ó Beaglaoich reclaims his number five jersey having missed the last outing, presumably due to injury or illness.

Tadhg Morley, Micheál Burns and Tony Brosnan make way for the returning trio. It is believed that Brosnan has sustained a hamstring injury.

Three-time All-Star Paudie Clifford is fit enough for a place amongst the substitutes after sitting out the Meath defeat with a hamstring issue.

Kerry’s other changes see Seán O’Brien replacing Mark O’Shea, and Conor Geaney coming in for Killian Spillane.

Paul Geaney (shoulder) is not included in the match day squad but it is hoped that he will be back in the mix for the quarter-final if Kerry progress.

KERRY TEAM TO PLAY CAVAN:

1. Shane Ryan

2. Paul Murphy

3. Jason Foley

4. Tom O’Sullivan

5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich

6. Mike Breen

7. Gavin White (c)

8. Joe O’Connor

9. Seán O’Brien

10. Diarmuid O’Connor

11. Seánie O’Shea

12. Graham O’Sullivan

13. David Clifford

14. Conor Geaney

15. Dylan Geaney

SUBS: Shane Murphy, Dylan Casey, Killian Spillane, Tadhg Morley, Armin Heinrich, Micheál Burns, Evan Looney, Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Mark O’Shea, Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan.

Meanwhile, Cavan manager Raymond Galligan has made one change to his starting line-up for the trip south as midfielder Ryan Donohoe replaces Oisín Kiernan.

Gearóid McKiernan, the 34-year-old forward who has scored over 400 points for his county, is named amongst the 26 having recuperated from injury.

CAVAN TEAM TO PLAY KERRY:

1. Liam Brady

2. Niall Carolan

3. Killian Brady

4. Cian Reilly

5. Brían O’Connell

6. Ciarán Brady

7. Pádraig Faulkner

8. Ryan Donohoe

9. Evan Crowe

10. Gerard Smith

11. Dara McVeety

12. Oisín Brady

13. Cormac O’Reilly

14. Paddy Lynch

15. Cian Madden

SUBS: Gary O’Rourke, Luke Fortune, Killian Clarke, Oisín Kiernan, Jason McLoughlin, Ruairí Curran, Luke Molloy, Gearóid McKiernan, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Ryan O’Neill, Seán McEvoy.

Cavan caused an upset in Round 1 of the round robin by turning over Mayo in Castlebar. They subsequently found the going tough against Donegal (19-point defeat) and Tyrone (13-point defeat), but they scraped through to the last 12 thanks to Donegal’s dramatic late winner against Mayo on Sunday.

In the other preliminary quarter-finals, all of which take place this weekend, Dublin host Cork at Croke Park (Saturday 6.15pm), Down play Galway at Páirc Esler (Sunday 1.45pm), and Donegal welcome Louth to Ballybofey (Sunday 4pm). All four preliminaries are being streamed live on GAA+.

The four group winners – Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan and Meath – await the winners in the quarters, which will take place the following week at Croke Park.

If Kerry manage to beat Cavan, and the other favourites also advance (i.e. Donegal beat Louth, Dublin beat Cork, and Galway beat Down), the only team Armagh can draw in the last eight is Kerry. The reigning champions would not be able to face any of the other challengers as they have already crossed paths in either the provincial final (Donegal) or the group stage (Dublin and Galway).

Of course, none of that is set in stone yet. Far from it. For now, Kerry’s full focus will be on beating Cavan – ideally without suffering further injury setbacks in the process.

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Kerry’s All-Ireland heroes launch new football camp for girls

Published

2 months ago

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31 May 2025

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Legendary Kerry ladies’ player Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh will be inspiring the next generation of superstars at the new Laochra football camp, which takes place in Killarney in August.

Aimed at girls aged 12 to 16, the camp is being run by three leaders who were central to Kerry’s magnificent All-Ireland triumph in 2024: Darragh Long (joint manager), Declan Quill (joint manager) and Anna Maria O’Donoghue (selector).

Camp ambassador Louise will be on hand to offer guidance in a coaching capacity, as will some members of the current Kerry team.

“We want you to train with your heroes so you can be the next hero,” explains Darragh Long.

“We feel very strongly about ladies’ football. It has been brilliant to myself and Declan over the last five or six years, and it has been brilliant to Anna Maria and Louise over their full careers, so we just see it as an opportunity to give something back to a sport that gave an awful lot to us.

“We’re aiming at an age group of 12 to 16, girls who will hopefully be starting on their intercounty journey. We will be able to give them a skillset they will be able to use as their steps to success. To try and be the next Louise or the next Síofra O’Shea.

“We have three workshops planned. One with Eric McDonnell, who was our strength and conditioning coach when we won the All-Ireland. One with Michelle O’Connor, an All-Ireland winning performance coach. And one with Claire O’Sullivan, our nutritionist when we won the All-Ireland.

“It’s all about giving the girls the skills and the bits and pieces they’ll need if they want to make it to the top. We really think we can give them a good grounding. We’ll also be providing a huge amount of coaching throughout the week.”

Many teenage girls give up on sport around the ages of 15 or 16. Long and his fellow camp founders are hopeful that attending Laochra might encourage girls to stick with it that bit longer.

“We would see it as a huge success if 10, 15, or 20 of the girls who come to the camp continue to play football after the camp because they got a bit of a buzz or a bit of energy from us during the week.”

The Laochra camp will run from August 12-15 at Dr Crokes GAA grounds in Killarney. You can register here.

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