Kerry schooled for success

NORMALLY KERRY can dip into different pockets of their kingdom when sourcing talent. That they have built a minor team around the Coláiste Na Sceilge All-Ireland colleges’ winners makes them an even more intimidating proposition for Ulster champions Armagh come 1.30pm on Sunday.

They also have the advantage of an 80-minute duel with Roscommon at headquarters in the All-Ireland quarter-final, taking full advantage of being on the undercard of the senior Kerry versus Dublin fixture.

Back in April a late intervention from corner forward Eanna O’Connor saw the south Kerry school beat Offaly champions Edenderry. Their manager was a Kerryman named Jack O’Connor, father of the winning goal scorer. We also expect his low key presence in Croke Park this Sunday, keeping an eye on both games.

Another seven school-mates join the younger, free-taking O’Connor in the Kerry panel – Greg Gibson, Damien Kelly, Ian Galvin, captain Niall O’Shea and O’Connor start this weekend.

For the record, Niall Fitzgerald, Max Thiemann and Mark Griffin are the other three from the south Kerry region chasing two national titles in one calendar.

“This moves in cycles,” Kerry minor manager John Kennedy assures us. “Different areas go through periods of dominating minor teams. It was west Kerry and then Tralee for a while before last year there was a strong contingent from east Kerry. It’s south Kerry now and credit to the work being done down there as they are back in the county minor final again.”

Despite ensuring no region is insulted by the current domination of south Kerry players, Kennedy does see obvious positives.

“Of course, from the point of view of teamwork and gelling together it is significant that we have so many All-Ireland colleges’ winners in the panel.

“I remember when they won the title on Saturday they had joined up with us to play and beat Tipperary in the first round on the Wednesday.”

After beating Tipperary for a second time in the Munster final, Kerry required extra-time to see off Roscommon.

Dublin’s conquerors Down were accounted for in the Ulster final by Armagh who then beat Kildare in the last eight.

KERRY (MFC v Armagh):P O'Sullivan;

M Galvin, P Galvin, P O’Connor; G Gibson,

J Coffey, M Brennan; S Carroll, D O’Sullivan; J Sherwood, D Kelly, I Galvin; N O’Shea,

K Hurley, E O’Connor.