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Who will make your County Championship Team of the Decade?

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As East Kerry’s spectacular county final victory over Dr Crokes brings the final curtain down on the 2010s, it’s time to reflect on a historic decade for the Kerry Senior Football Championship.

From Crokes’ four-in-row to Austin Stacks’ and South Kerry’s sole triumphs, and Crokes domination again to East Kerry ending their 20-year famine, it has been a period of great entertainment and high quality for Kerry football’s showpiece tournament.

Some of the finest Kerry footballers of all time have played starring roles for their respective teams over the past 10 years; now we must bring them all together and crown the Team of the Decade.

In two weeks’ time, the Killarney Advertiser will name a dream team of 15 superstars and we want to hear from our readers. Of all the players who have lined out in the County Championship since 2010, who would make your perfect team?

To vote for your favourites, simply email your 15 (one goalkeeper, six backs, two midfielders and six forwards) to sport@killarneyadvertiser.ie. Closing date for submissions is next Friday, November 29. Your votes will be tallied and combined with those of Killarney Advertiser sports editor Adam Moynihan and long-time Killarney Advertiser sports columnist Eamonn Fitzgerald.

The Team of the Decade will then be announced in the Killarney Advertiser on December 6.

“Some unbelievable players have graced the Kerry Senior Football Championship in the last 10 years so it’ll be very hard to whittle it down to just the bare 15,” Adam said.

“Dr Crokes have been dominant so you would expect a number of their lads to make the cut, but there have also been memorable performances from guys who were maybe less successful in terms of titles. The great thing about picking a team like this is that it’s totally subjective, so one reader might include players I never even thought of and vice versa. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s teams. There are bound to be some surprises.”

Adam confirmed that every player who has played senior County Championship since 2010 is eligible for selection, although he did urge readers to choose players in their correct positions where possible.

“There will be no Brian Howards in this team!” he joked. “Some allowances will be made but generally speaking we want forwards in the forwards and backs in the backs. If a guy has played more than one position then naturally we’ll take that into account but you certainly can’t put Gooch corner back just to fit everyone in. That carry on will be frowned upon.”

Get involved and make sure your favourite players get the credit they deserve.

How to vote

Send your Kerry SFC Team of the Decade (numbered 1-15) to sport@killarneyadvertiser.ie by Friday, November 29!

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Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)

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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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BREAKING: Two changes for Kerry as Jack O’Connor names team for league final

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by Adam Moynihan

National League Division 1 Final

Kerry v Mayo

Sunday 4pm

Croke Park, Dublin

Live on TG4

Kerry manager Jack O’Connor has made two changes to his starting 15 for Sunday’s league final against Mayo.

Regular first choice keeper Shane Ryan sat out last weekend’s eight-point victory over Galway but he reclaims the number one jersey with Shane Murphy returning to the bench. At midfield, Seán O’Brien misses out having injured his calf last weekend. The Beaufort man is replaced by Barry Dan O’Sullivan.

Attack-minded corner back Tom O’Sullivan is named amongst the substitutes after missing the last four games due to a calf injury but, as expected, Diarmuid O’Connor (shoulder) and Seánie O’Shea (knee ligament) remain absent with both now aiming to return for the championship.

KERRY TEAM TO PLAY MAYO

1. Shane Ryan

2. Paul Murphy

3. Jason Foley

4. Dylan Casey

5. Gavin White

6. Mike Breen

7. Brian Ó Beaglaoich

8. Joe O’Connor

9. Barry Dan O’Sullivan

10. Micheál Burns

11. Paudie Clifford

12. Graham O’Sullivan

13. David Clifford

14. Paul Geaney

15. Dylan Geaney

Subs: Shane Murphy, Conor Geaney, Damien Bourke, Tony Brosnan, Tom O’Sullivan, Armin Heinrich, Ruairí Murphy, Killian Spillane, Evan Looney, Cathal Ó Beaglaoich, Mark O’Shea, Tom Leo O’Sullivan.

As for Mayo, Kevin McStay’s line-up shows one change from last Sunday’s two-point victory over Donegal as Fenton Kelly makes way for Davitt Neary.

MAYO TEAM TO PLAY KERRY

1. Colm Reape

2. Jack Coyne

3. Donnacha McHugh

4. Enda Hession

5. Sam Callinan

6. David McBrien

7. Stephen Coen

8. Jack Carney

9. Matthew Ruane

10. Davitt Neary

11. Darren McHale

12. Jordan Flynn

13. Aidan O’Shea

14. Frank Irwin

15. Ryan O’Donoghue

Subs: Not named.

After a totally unpredictable Division 1 campaign, Kerry arrive in Sunday’s decider on the back of two impressive victories over last year’s All-Ireland finalists Armagh and Galway. That’s fine form in anyone’s language but they will be taking nothing for granted against Mayo, a team who deservedly beat them as recently as the first day of March.

The Kingdom laboured in that fixture in Castlebar and trailed by seven (0-14 to 1-4) at the break, with Mayo’s midfield dominance particularly concerning. It was only a two-point game in the end but the consensus was that the better team won on the day. The joyous pitch invasion that followed signalled how much victories over Kerry still mean to the westerners.

Aidan O’Shea was influential around the middle third with marksman Ryan O’Donoghue causing problems inside – those two will need special attention if Kerry are to avoid a repeat result.

Kerry are hoping to win their 24th National League title, having last prevailed in 2022 after defeating Mayo in the final on an emphatic scoreline of 3-19 to 0-13. David Clifford scored 1-6 including a spectacular goal into the Hill 16 end, and he and his teammates climbed the Hogan steps again later that year to lift the Sam Maguire.

In fact, each of Jack O’Connor’s previous four league titles as Kerry manager have been followed by All-Irelands that same year (2004, 2006, 2009, 2022).

Mayo, meanwhile, are seeking their 14th league triumph. Winning will draw them level with Dublin in second place on the all-time National League honours list.

This year for the first time the Division 1 finalists will be vying for the Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup, renamed in honour of the legendary Kerry broadcaster who sadly passed away in 2024.

Kerry v Mayo will form part of a double header with the Division 3 final between Kildare and Offaly (1.45pm). The Division 2 and Division 4 finals (Monaghan v Roscommon and Wexford v Limerick) will be staged in Croke Park on Saturday evening.

Follow Adam on Twitter @AdamMoynihan for all the latest Kerry football updates

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