Relaxed Kerry look the part

Division One semi-final - Kerry v Limerick: The measure of how far Limerick football has travelled since Liam Kearns took the county to the 2000 All-Ireland under-21 final can be taken from the terms in which tomorrow's Allianz National Football League semi-final is being discussed.

That the county should be facing Kerry in any serious encounter under more than a little pressure to do well, if not win, would have been unthinkable five years ago.

Back in 1999 Limerick lost the first round of the Munster championship to Cork by 16 points. Less than a year ago they returned the compliment by a margin of 10. The anxiety and need to perform this weekend derives in part from last summer's provincial final against Kerry, when the team simply failed to perform.

Such setbacks are common rites of passage for any teams on the up but the availability of that match was still paining Stephen Lucey - an outstanding success at centre back in the team's first season in Division One - in an interview with this newspaper just before the league began in February.

"The Munster final was a disaster," he said. "Experience stood to Kerry because all our preparation was good. We owned the ball for 20 minutes but didn't take the scores and missed a penalty. Kerry tactics were more physical, more cynical if you like, than we had expected. I always felt we could have taken them and I'm still confident we could."

Kerry can be more relaxed about it all. Jack O'Connor's first few months in charge have stabilised a panel that had been in crisis after the defeat by Tyrone last August. With neat timing the final regulation match of the league pitted Tyrone and Kerry together again and this time, although again beaten, Kerry emerged with credit having lost by a point after a battling comeback with a considerably under-strength team.

Now with availability issues clearing up, the county can look forward to the championship with refreshed confidence. This match is a low-risk proposition for them, as even the starkest defeat is unlikely to derail their sense of purpose for the summer.

Four years ago they lost at this stage of the league and, having learned some useful lessons, proceeded to win that year's All-Ireland.

Limerick won't emerge as unscathed if their neighbours hand them a reminder of their place in Munster's caste system.

But Kearns's team have put in good performances, none better than in sealing their semi-final place against Armagh. According to the Ulster team's manager, Joe Kernan, the 2002 All-Ireland champions were keen on reaching the semi-finals themselves given the comfortable gap between the league and this year's first championship outing. So he was impressed by Limerick.

"They have improved greatly over the past three years and are up there to challenge. They're a strong, physical and mobile team who have been working really well together. They've also known hard times, which is good in a team.

"They've a midfield capable of catching and Stephen Lucey's mobile and tough at centre back.

"They've all the ingredients except maybe for that extra bit of forward power. Muiris Gavin's back for this game and that's a plus because some of their free-taking against us was a bit erratic.

"We stopped in that match just after taking control of it but I was impressed by them and they can always improve."

Kerry's injury problems have been resolved, Séamus Moynihan and Declan O'Sullivan recovering from knocks in the past week.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice is suspended but O'Connor can still name a strong combination, with the Gaeltacht players back on duty after the club final.

They have more mobility in the half backs than last July, when Limerick threatened to cut them to ribbons in Killarney during the opening phase, and forwards who are coming into form.

Colm Cooper has worked hard in the gym and is stronger for it. His football radar is being slowly tuned back and a return to his best form is imminent.

Kerry to win but Limerick to resist.