Gaelic Games

Kerry manager puts trust in new guard for final against Donegal

Éamonn Fitzmaurice makes brave selection but still has veterans in reserve for final

Kieran Donaghy scores a vital goal for Kerry during the All-Ireland semi-final replay defeat of Mayo at Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Thu Sept 18 2014 - 22:49

Nine Kerry footballers will start their first All-Ireland final against Donegal on Sunday in Croke Park.

Stephen O’Brien replaces Michael Geaney in the half-forward line while Marc Ò Sè comes in for Shane Enright at corner back. Fionn Fitzgerald captains the team.

The bravery of manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice's selection is best gleaned by those who featured in the 2011 All-Ireland final. Just six – Ó Sé, Aidan O'Mahony, Killian Young, Anthony Maher, Donnchadh Walsh and Kieran Donaghy – started that harrowing defeat to Dublin.

It’s been eight years since Donaghy was unanimously voted Footballer of the Year but his impact in the two semi-final games against Mayo have drawn comparisons to the former basketballer’s performances back in 2006.

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Aged 31 now, Donaghy plundered a vital goal in the replay but his aerial contributions on the square’s edge has been nothing short of a revelation. As a result, Fitzmaurice names the him at full forward but he is expected to drift out the field at various stages.

Other changes see Ó Sé usurp Enright, which is hardly surprising considering the veteran defender was needed after 22 minutes in Limerick due to Cillian O’Connor’s destruction of Enright’s confidence and discipline, following an early yellow card.

In reserve

Colm Cooper will travel with the squad but is not included in the panel. However, Declan O’Sullivan is almost certain to arrive at the first sign of trouble. O’Sullivan has struggled with injury this summer.

Fitzmaurice used 23 players in the extra-time battle with Mayo, keeping free-taker Bryan Sheehan in reserve until the 83rd minute. O’Sullivan replaced Johnny Buckley with 15 minutes remaining in normal time.

Sheehan has only registered 0-9 (0-5 from placed balls) in the championship with the free taking shared by James O’Donoghue (who has a grand total of 4-24, with just 2-4 from frees and two penalties), Paul Geaney and Johnny Buckley from long range.

O’Donoghue’s scoring haul is only bettered by O’Connor’s 5-36. This is in stark contrast to Donegal’s highest scorer, Michael Murphy on 0-17.

Now fit, O’Brien’s Munster championship form demanded inclusion while Darran O’Sullivan can also be sprung if Fitzmaurice needs to inject pace into the Kerry attack. Barry John Keane and Kieran O’Leary have also added scoring options from the subs throughout the season.

Kerry are pursing their 37th All-Ireland title but first since 2009.

Jim McGuinness is not expected to reveal his Donegal side until Sunday afternoon.

The Kerry team to play Donegal in the minor final on Sunday shows one change from the side that defeated Mayo in the semi-final. Liam Kearney comes into the full-forward line to captain the side replacing Jordan Kiely.

KERRY (SF v Mayo): B Kelly; M Ó Sé, A O'Mahony, F Fitzgerald; P Murphy, P Crowley, K Young; A Maher, D Moran; S O'Brien, J Buckley, D Walsh; P Geaney, K Donaghy, J O'Donoghue. Subs: B Kealy, S Enright, M Geaney, Declan O'Sullivan, B J Keane, B Sheehan, Darran O'Sullivan, K O'Leary, J Lyne, M Griffin, P Kilkenny.