Sport
Manner of victory over Tyrone proves that Kerry are a different animal now
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.
Sport
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)
As we reach the midway point of the 2025 season, Adam Moynihan takes a close look at Kerry’s strength in depth
As the Kerry players, management team and backroom staff huddled together for a photo with the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup in front of the Hogan Stand, one of the photographers raised his fist in the air, trying to illicit something resembling a celebratory scene. No joy.
Victory over Mayo had been secured in convincing enough fashion but winning the league has never been grounds for buoyant celebrations as far as Kerry are concerned. Retaining Division 1 status and unearthing some new talent is generally enough to tick the springtime box ahead of the serious business of the championship. Once that has been achieved, anything else is gravy.
Going by the disappointing loss to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, the need for new blood was especially great heading into the 2025 season. The team faded badly down the stretch and into extra time against the Orchard County with overdependence on core players glaringly obvious. It wasn’t the only reason they lost but Kerry simply didn’t get enough from their supporting cast on the day.
With that in mind, Jack O’Connor knew he had to work on the depth of his squad during this league campaign, and you’d have to say he made a pretty good fist of it.
Starting in goal, the situation here is clear with Shane Murphy providing back-up to Shane Ryan.
Moving out the field, in recent years Kerry have generally gone with Jason Foley at full back, Tom O’Sullivan at left corner back, and one of Paul Murphy or Graham O’Sullivan at right corner back.
After making his debut in the league in 2024, Damien Bourke has emerged as a genuine right corner back alternative with some strong performances that have vastly enhanced his reputation. Not many Kerry players came out of the Dublin defeat with extra credit to their name but Bourke was brave and tenacious, bursting out of defence and using the ball wisely. He was replaced as a starter by the experienced Murphy in later rounds but the Tralee man capped his league with a goal off the bench against Galway in Salthill.
Dylan Casey also got extended game time in the absence of Tom O’Sullivan and he acquitted himself professionally. He has a solid head on his shoulders and you get the impression that Jack O’Connor would now be comfortable throwing him into any given situation without hesitation.
The versatile Graham O’Sullivan is also an option at corner back and it looks like he’ll need to slot in somewhere other than his natural position of half back as Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White are nailed on starters at 5 and 7. O’Sullivan lined out at half forward against Galway and Mayo, underlining his flexibility and importance to the team.
There could be a changing of the guard taking place at centre back with Mike Breen seemingly shaking off the injury woes that have held back his progress with Kerry to date. With regular number 6 Tadhg Morley unavailable for selection for most of the league, Breen slotted seamlessly into that crucial central role, and he looked really confident against Mayo on Sunday. As things stand, Morley will be doing well to displace Breen but either way Kerry should have two good centre back options heading into the summer months.
Midfield has been a head scratcher for Kerry for a number of years but in Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor they appear to have found a winning combination. Diarmuid was playing the best football of his career up to his injury against Armagh in Round 6 so getting his shoulder right for championship is of paramount importance to Kerry’s chances.
Joe is a guaranteed starter too but his assured display at wing forward against Armagh was interesting in that it opens the door for a third midfielder to start. Seán O’Brien and Barry Dan O’Sullivan both applied themselves admirably when called upon in the league and the manager should feel like he can trust them more now than he did 12 months ago.
Joe O’Connor’s arrival as a half forward candidate has improved Kerry’s options to the extent that it’s difficult to predict how they will line out from 10 to 12 in the Munster Championship. Micheál Burns has done quite well upon his reintroduction to the team after being dropped from the panel in 2024, and Paudie Clifford is looking sharp at centre forward. Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney are options along this line too, although Dylan has been operating as a withdrawn inside forward to date – a role Tony is also capable of playing.
Of course, Seánie O’Shea will have to fit in somewhere in this department when he fully recuperates from his knee ligament injury, so it will be interesting to see how Jack O’Connor works this conundrum out. File under ‘good problems’.
Dara Moynihan is still recovering from a hip injury and has not yet featured in 2025. He would naturally be an option at 10 if he can get back up to speed. Meanwhile, Darragh Lyne, Ruairí Murphy and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich all featured at half forward in the league.
David Clifford and Paul Geaney will play at 13 and 14 with Dylan Geaney in pole position to start at 15 on the back of a really good run of form, perhaps excepting the league final in which he was relatively quiet. Tony Brosnan is a prime candidate to challenge Dylan for that spot; the Dr Crokes player has kicked some fantastic scores in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
As for out-and-out inside forwards, Conor Geaney and Killian Spillane are likely to be used as impact subs.
All told Kerry do appear to have better depth than they had last year, particularly with the emergence of second season players like Bourke, O’Brien and Dylan Geaney as legitimate options, and with Breen beginning to fulfil his potential. Burns’ comeback and Joe O’Connor’s newfound ability to play the 12 position also help.
As always, though, the proof will be in the eating. We will have to wait for the suffocating heat of do-or-die championship matches to find out if this squad is as deep and dependable as it looks on paper.
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