Once the speculation ended as to whether or not Maurice Fitzgerald would start for Kerry in Saturday's All-Ireland football final replay against Galway, the speculation immediately began as to how soon he would make his appearance.

Few people doubt that Fitzgerald has the talent and ability to decide a game. The talk can still be heard of his mesmerising display in the final of three years ago. But, at 30, the widespread expectations that he can produce his best in every game may be unfair.

It's been a long road for Fitzgerald since he made his phenomenal senior debut back in 1988. By the end of that season, the 18year-old became Kerry's sole All Star for his displays at right half forward. Since then, there have been a lot of highs and a few lows as well. "Anytime we faced him, it was a low - for us," says John Maughan, who managed Mayo in successive All-Ireland finals in 1996 and '97. "But there's no doubt the 1997 final was the high point of his game. He had this uncanny knack of getting on every ball and he really was at his most effective that day. And he won every accolade there was to win after that game.

"But he is such a precocious talent. He has this remarkable natural ability, and takes to the ball like a cat to wool. Plus he has remarkable confidence with his kicks, either from frees or from play."

This season, however, Fitzgerald has struggled to return to full fitness and has played out the championship as Kerry's number one substitute. Former Cork defender Niall Cahalane, who faced the Kerryman on numerous occasions throughout his career, believes it is asking too much of Fitzgerald for him to consistently play at his best.

"I can safely say that Croke Park is no longer a place for 30-year-olds. The game is played at such a pace these days that once you hit your late twenties then you're going to be struggling. And there's a lot more pressure in other aspects of life for players at that age as well.

"I still think Maurice is one of the most talented players ever to wear the Kerry jersey, but it's probably a bit much to ask him to keep producing his best. There's no point in being the most talented player on the field if you can't get to the ball first."

Fitzgerald's display in the drawn game was among the least convincing of his appearances this season and while expert opinion from outside the Kerry camp continues to mount over whether or not he should be starting, Maughan believes the Kerry management do know best.

"I suppose at 30 he may be somewhat past his best, but it's difficult to know. Most footballers would feel that their best years are between 25 and 28. He has also got a huge volume of games behind him, as well as some bad injuries. You just don't know how strong his appetite for the game is right now.

"Still, I can safely say that 31 of the 32 counties would have him in their starting 15. But with the five substitutions these days, it has definitely become a 20-man game. I know he will have a role to play in the replay and it's quite possible that he will have another huge impact on the game like he did against Armagh. But you can't expect him to be brilliant every time he walks out on to the field. He was a bit sluggish the last day, but that may have had something to do with his injury."

For Cahalane, there will never be any doubts about Fitzgerald's true worth. "He always struck me as the kind of guy that could have made it in soccer or rugby as easily as he could have made it in Gaelic football," he says. "But the key thing about Maurice is his ability to play with either left or right foot. And he has very few weak points. If he was up for a game and mentally tuned it, then I don't think any man could mark him."