Unsettled Kerry still too strong

Antrim v Kerry:DEPENDING ON who you believe, all hell is breaking loose in Kerry, or Kerry are about to unleash some hell.

Either way, there is a sense of uncertainty about Kerry right now that hasn’t been felt in a long time, and truth is no one knows what to expect when they take to the field in Tullamore tomorrow against the beaten Ulster finalists for the first championship meeting between the sides since the 1946 All-Ireland semi-final.

Clearly Jack O’Connor is coming under pressure, but the alleged discontent in the camp is probably not as widespread as is being aired in some quarters.

The word is some players have been disciplined following the narrow win over Sligo for behaviour off the field, and the word is Tomás Ó Sé and Colm “Gooch” Cooper have been dropped from the starting line-up.

It was reported yesterday that both played on the reserve team in Thursday’s training, with Killian Young replacing Ó Sé in defence and Tadhg Kennelly in for Cooper.

The fact O’Connor has taken the unprecedented step of delaying naming his name until just prior to throw-in has only added to speculation the changes could be even more sweeping.

Normally, this is the mark of a man with an injury crisis on his hands, but Kieran Donaghy is the only big-name injury. It appears Tommy Walsh will be fit to play despite limping off at training on Tuesday night with a sore ankle.

Antrim manager Liam Bradley was admirably buoyant after his team went down to Tyrone last Sunday, promising a swift recovery for the qualifiers.

The lack of fire-power up front was part of their undoing the last day and while Paddy Cunninghan should be applauded for hitting 11 points, six from frees, Antrim will need a far bigger spread if they are to take down Kerry.

There is talent in this Antrim team and they didn’t beat Donegal and Cavan by accident. Bradley says his team are intent on making it to Croke Park, and certainly won’t lack for belief against Kerry, given the uncertainty surrounding their opposition. But that same quest, to make it to Croke Park, will probably be enough to inspire Kerry to find a way through.

ANTRIM:P Graham; C Brady, A McClean, K OBoyle; T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey; M McCann, A Gallagher; T ONeill, K Brady, N McKeever; P Cunningham, K Niblock, T McCann.

KERRY: TBA.

Referee: J White (Donegal).