Éamonn Fitzmaurice: What Kerry lacked in polish they made up for in grunt

Jack O’Connor was honest afterwards when he assessed Kerry’s performance at six out of ten. Micheál Burns and Brian Ó Beaglaoich were equally understated. It was a case of job done, but plenty to do. After the champagne football of the last few weekends it was more of a workmanlike performance. What was lacking in polish was made up for in grunt. No bad way to win a league final. 

It is important to have those kind of experiences in the memory bank, to be able to draw on them during a sticky patch in-game come championship. Mike Breen, Joe O’Connor, Gavin White and Paul Geaney were excellent for Kerry but Paudie Clifford stood head and shoulders above everyone else. He ran the show. Enda Hession was tasked with shadowing him but he couldn’t get a hand on Paudie. He was everywhere. Linking, tackling, assisting, carrying, controlling and scoring. 

To be fair to Hession trying to nullify him is about as tough a detail as a player can get. Paudie has a huge engine, with heart and determination to match. He personifies everything a winner is. He is demanding and can be cranky. Significantly he is technically exceptional. He rarely makes skill errors, gives the ball away or kicks wides. I have golfed with him and he is the same, technically excellent. Every drive hits the short grass, most approaches hit the green and he chips and putts with ease. Stress-free golf and stress-free football. His value has long since been appreciated, but the new rules are giving him a canvas to express himself once more.

The only thing I don’t like is when Paudie and by extension Kerry try to slow the game down by going backwards and sideways to manage the game. I understand the logic, but in my opinion it just doesn’t suit the team or the Kerry DNA. When they went eight clear early in the second half they tried to take the sting out of the game. It had the opposite effect as it invited Mayo back in. After Eoghan McLaughlin’s goal and Ryan O’Donoghue’s two-point free brought the Connacht men to within three in the blink of an eye Kerry put the gas on again. 

They still played measured football but, the crucial difference was that they went forward while doing so. A perfect example of this was the move that led to David Clifford's point in the 67th minute, his eighth, which pushed the gap out to six once more. To underline his boundless energy, Paudie sprinted at the last second from a position on his own 65 metre line into space to make himself available for a placed kickout from Shane Ryan in front of the Hogan Stand, in the five position to secure possession. Having played a one-two with Conor Geaney he brought the ball across to the Hogan Stand side and released Gavin White who accelerated forward. He found his Dr Crokes teammate Tony Brosnan who spun and popped an accurate kick pass in front of David who did the rest. Go-forward football. Adding to a lead rather than defending one.

Mayo looked tired. They didn’t have their usual verve, which robbed them of their biggest asset, upon which much of their game depends on. Their attack lacked a platform as they didn’t kick on the counter, and because of how hard Kerry worked they struggled to punch holes with their runners out the field. At times their attack had that familiar crowded and disjointed look. They were profligate again, ten wides, and one short that bounced before it reached Shane Ryan. Just 13 scores. 

Kevin McStay doesn’t have time to dwell on this. They move straight into championship mode with a tricky tie against Sligo. They won’t need reminding of the last-minute heroics Galway required last year to get over the Yeats County. The best way to lance the boil of disappointment is to go again, and critically to perform. That is what they will expect of themselves next weekend.

The team of the weekend were Monaghan, with their swashbuckling win on Saturday evening. They exacted revenge on one of the two teams that had defeated them during the league. While their two-point shooting stood out I was really impressed with their approach to defence. Gabriel Bannigan backed his defenders to go one-on-one. They pushed out and pressurised Roscommon, rather than doing what most teams are currently doing, which is sitting in and defending from the two-point arc back. Some of their defending was excellent, led by one of their rookies Dylan Byrne at corner back. He seems to be that rare species that relishes defending in one-on-one situations. Niall Higgins played in a similar manner for Roscommon until he got a knock. 

Lawrence Taylor’s infamous tackle on Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann in 1985 led to a major inflation in the appreciation of the blindside's role in American Football. Similarly the tight and tigerish full back line player is enjoying a renewed appreciation because of their unique skillset. Come the knockout stage of championship they will be every bit as important as the finishers up top. 

Roscommon also played a lot of good football, though the game went away from them after Jack McCarron’s goal. Considering the forward power they possess they could kick the ball more to their inside line to engineer those one-on-ones while also conserving energy as they did seem to fade late on. Enda Smith was tightly marked but he showed maturity by still having big moments. Keith Doyle and Eddie Nolan had huge games. Once both themselves and Galway navigate their respective encounters with the exiles next weekend their clash in Salthill in April will be a cracker.

In the lower divisions, Offaly were full value for their second win over Kildare in a matter of weeks. Jack Bryant’s goal was excellent and symbolises how that U20 All-Ireland winning team from 2021 are starting to hit their levels. They are a good age now. Cormac Egan, Bryant, Lee Pearson, John Furlong, Rory Egan and the superb Keith O’Neill have all now got the physicality to survive at senior football. If they keep on their current trajectory it is thriving rather than surviving they will be. 

Limerick had a great win also. Their three goals were critical. Emmet Rigter gave a great interview afterwards that emphasised what the win and the accompanying silverware meant to them. I hope they enjoyed Saturday night, before focusing on their Munster Championship game at home next weekend, which is now a dangerous game for Cork.

As good as the leagues were it’s impossible not to look to championship straight away. In the current calendar c’est la vie, so lets get on with it and enjoy what is shaping up to be a fantastic summer of football.