Seriously strong bench. Why is Gooch not starting? Could Darren O Sullivan feature? Is Galvin injured?

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 02/07/2015 21:45:03    1746747

Looking at the teams I can only see one winner, Kerry.
Also Kerry have unbelievable strength in depth now. It will be interesting to see them this year.

Revenge against the Dubs for recent years?

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 03/07/2015 08:49:24    1746775

Word on the street Gooch hasnt been firing on all cylinders since he has comeback.
I think we saw the same with Andy Moran last year for Mayo, he wasnt his usual self last year after his comeback from the cruciate.

No rush with Gooch but expect to see him as soon as things look wonky. Could easily see him brought on in the 1st half.
It will be interesting to see how Barry John Keane gets on , a very good impact sub but he now has his chance to shine from the start.

Cork half back line looks very suspect

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/07/2015 09:07:55    1746787

A noticeable lack of height in the Kerry fullback line. Could be something to target.

I don't think that team will start.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 03/07/2015 09:10:45    1746791

I nearly fainted when I saw that team,but after a while it dawned on me we are still in the middle of rebuilding mode and are realistically looking at reaching a semi final at best this year.

However there is a very strong chance that Cork will send us packing with our tail between our legs this year once again which would leave us stranded against the waves of the unstoppable blue juggernaut and a exit on the Bank Holiday weekend

The Kerry fb selected didn't lay a glove on the fearsome duo of Hurley and CON in the league and that was a stronger FB Line than this one! At midfield Maher is always a powerful presence against the Rebels and sadly won't be there Sunday. Advantage Rebels again. I can't see who is going to play the creative passes to our FF Line and as a result they will be starved of quality possession. Advantage Rebels.

Finally, this Rebels said has been cruicifed for the last 12 months (probably last decade) as Eamon Fitz pointed out this week incredibly unfairly. They had a way better league than Kerry yet still mocked just because the blue juggernaut wiped them out! Big deal they have and will do that to anyone standing in their path. The fact is the Rebels will be licking their chops at the chance to silence the many critics (including the beloved T O As - not this week though) particularly when they see the average Kerry lineup.

Anyone who backed Kerry during the week at prohibitive odds should be really nervous now, if you backed us for the AI god help you is all I can say and hope for another miracle like last year, just like I will.

p.S the Dublin posters ye can stop pretending how great we are now, ye're fooling nobody at a stretch 3 Kerry players would get in ye're first XV so please don't patronise us it is disingenuous.

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 03/07/2015 09:42:04    1746814

Kerry looking to finish with strongest 15? Risky strategy if it is the case.

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 03/07/2015 09:48:22    1746819

Kytitletown
Hard to disagree with you there chief. But Eamon says he picks on performance at training so that has to be commended and hopefully that'll work out . Maher is the big omission for me, I mean our backs are so dodgy and maher gives them a lot of cover.
I expect Buckley and Sheehan to swap posisitions from the throw in and Moran to do the defensive work , O'Brien and donnacha will do the running and bjk will fall back to the half forward line with Sheehan leaving JOD and star inside.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 03/07/2015 10:33:05    1746853

What do the Kerry posters think of the new team lineup? Personally I don't understand Mark Griffin being dropped or P.Geaney.

If I was a Kerry supporter from what I saw last year and this year in championship P.Geaney has more than proved he can deliver on the day, as one poster said BJ Keane is a decent impact player but I'd prefer Geaney.

With regard to Griffin we've all seen Mac O'Sé play FB before and it never seemed to suit him I assumed he'd pick up CON. What happened to Paul Murphy? He was a very good player last year! I never rated Shane Enright and thought he was very fortunate to stay on the field against Mayo last year.

Uncle_Fester (Meath) - Posts: 217 - 03/07/2015 10:45:20    1746860

I've learned in these last two years never to underestimate nor question Fitzmaurice's decisions. Like Cody and other great managers he picks on what he sees in training and so often the team can contain a few surprises, which is perfect because no side should have a starting 15 set in stone.

I don't rate Barry John, but then again I didn't rate Sheehan until he proved me wrong in 2011 and if he is doing it in training then I'll defer again to Fitzy wisdom.

Its up to the Geaney's, Gooch, Darran and the rest to show in training they deserve their starting place. Fitzmaurice is obviously looking to end the game with a some of his most experienced players, a sound strategy considering the game really has become a 20 man on.


Like yourselves lads I'd have preferred to see Moran and Maher in the centre with Brian on the 40, maybe Brian and Buckley will switch Kingdomboy although not sure how comfortable I am with Buckley in midfield at this level.

Defence is the big worry, but Marc has played fullback before against the Rebels. We need to get far tighter because whenever a team runs at us we are in trouble. If I was Cutbert I would vary my attacking strategy, run at our defence one minute, next kick low diagonal balls into the corners to bring their lethah corner forwards into the game. Thing is Cork don't really possess players out the field comfortable kicking the ball, so they will probably try to just run at us.

Apparently we have 21 All Ireland medals, 17 All Starts, 4 All Ireland Final MOTM Awards, 2 players of the year and 1 young player of the year on the bench...says it all about Kerry really :)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 03/07/2015 10:54:43    1746870

Uncle Fester

BJ keane gets his chance, he impressed last year as a sub and in the league this year. he's likely role during the year will be as an impact sub but he has his starting chance this weekend and hopefully will take it.
But he is also the likely fall guy as soon as anything starts to go wrong!
so is better to come on and be a good imapct sub with 15-20 misn to go or be the 1st player brought off when you start?!

as for Mark Griffin, his performances for kerry are like night and day, sometimes looks like the real deal at full back but then others he gets an absolute roasting. he is just too inconsistent. same can be said for Enright...has not pushed on to be a consistent reliable corner back.

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/07/2015 11:11:41    1746882

Has the Cork team been named?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 03/07/2015 12:16:22    1746941

Kerry to win.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 03/07/2015 12:24:46    1746947

Forget Dublins bench, this is the strongest Bench in Ireland.
Kerry will easily win here , too strong in midfield and the threat of Donaghy will cause havoc in Cork defence . Cork might get a few early scores but after that it will be all Kerry.
O Donohoe , Gooch ,Donaghy, Sheehan . Moran. will be to strong for Cork.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 03/07/2015 12:26:50    1746950

Actually can see the reasoning behind the selection, horses for courses again by Fitz! seems that Fitz has decided to go with more physical attributes in the forward line with the inclusion of donnacha and bjk so imagine we will start with a defensive set up, maybe a reaction to the amount of goals we have been.conceding! Sheehan in the middle makes sense as well even though moral is the more obvious choice if u are going defensive as sheehans free taking will be key in a game like this where it's physical and tight! We should be able to keep the game tight for the first 50 and when the game opens up then roll out that bench when u will make the.best use out of the more natural footballers! With regards to the list of accolades on the bench, imagine how more impressive it would be if galvanised would have included!

So predict a tight opening 50 and kerry to pull away for the last 20 as they empty the bench!

as_ky (Kerry) - Posts: 535 - 03/07/2015 12:43:11    1746963

Honestly on paper Cork's starting front 6 are better than Kerry's.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 03/07/2015 14:00:44    1747018

Yerra of course they are Clondalkin, sure as you always say tis just pure luck we won anything last year with players like that.

I'm sure you're looking for a Cork win so that the Blue machine can steam roll our team of 'lucky' journeymen ;)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 03/07/2015 14:07:02    1747022

TheHermit you's were blessed last year luckiest and most average team all Ireland win I've ever seen , 5 points down to 14 man Mayo with 3 minutes to hit and hope into a sub who was only brought on you's got so lucky, not to mention the disgraceful referee performance in limerick. Then the all star goalkeeper kicks the ball straight to your full forward in the biggest freak goal of all time

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 03/07/2015 14:19:40    1747034

I agree 100% Clondalkin

People just follow the media's ridiculously hardline stance on Cork (Kerry get hammered by Cork - nothing, Cork lose to Dublin - scandal) and take it as gospel

If you want to see a quick preview of what that Cork attack is capable of doing to the Kerry defence just need to watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8e8kyYhX-g

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 03/07/2015 14:22:03    1747038

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 6303

1747018
Honestly on paper Cork's starting front 6 are better than Kerry's.


On paper. But Cork's back 6 are definitely weaker than Kerry's.

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 03/07/2015 14:24:57    1747039

Cork have to be one of the most frustrating counties with regards to football. They have lots of good players and only occasionally get it together. The style of play that they are employing at the moment is very hard on the eye. Very good inside forward line but boy are they slow at getting the ball to them, it's like they're not trusted to win their own ball. Kerry are a lot more direct, know their own strengths and play to them. Tipped Cork last year to beat Kerry at home, won't be making that mistake again.

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 484 - 03/07/2015 14:46:24    1747051