Kerry will be determined to finally defeat Tyrone – and they can beat any team on their home patch, writes JOHN O'KEEFFE

KERRY ARE at home this evening, but really they feel most comfortable in Croke Park. They need to finally overcome Tyrone in the championship or they won’t be making that journey this year.

Both panels are shadows of their last All-Ireland winning teams of 2009 (Kerry) and 2008 (Tyrone) but one of them will remain a major force after this meeting. The other will be officially spent.

The older players, on both sides, are showing signs of waning. I think it is just a case of football mileage. So many of them have been at it for 10 or 12 years. More so the Kerry players than Tyrone. It takes its toll.

Mickey Harte arrives down to Killarney with a stronger hand, simply because of Tyrone’s success at minor level since 2004. They have won three All-Irelands, most recently in ’08 and ’10. Last weekend we saw the introduction, and immediate impact, of young Darren McCurry against Roscommon. Kerry don’t have enough young players who can come in and make a difference in the championship.

This is glaringly obvious at present. In previous years, without much success at underage level, we’ve been able to call on players that make crucial impacts through the spine of the team. Men like Mike McCarthy and Tommy Walsh. Darragh Ó Sé has yet to be adequately replaced in midfield and Tadhg Kennelly’s year at centre forward was a glimpse of how good he would have become. Even harking back to 2006 and Séamus Moynihan’s presence at centre back.

We haven’t unearthed young talent for these central positions. Kerry are still relying on Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony, Eoin Brosnan and Tomás Ó Sé. The cover for these men, especially defenders, is just not coming through at the moment. That is deeply concerning. As a result, the defence is creaking.

I also think we are still viewing the Kerry attack on paper, on reputation rather than form. The forward line has relied on Kieran Donaghy consistently performing in recent years. He is simply not doing so this season.

When Donaghy is going well he brings Colm Cooper and the likes of James O’Donoghue into the game. But that’s not happening. If Kerry are going to win on Saturday, Donaghy’s performance levels must dramatically improve.

Tyrone are further down the road in the transition from a great team to a new team. It was forced on Harte, what with the number of All-Ireland winners who retired last year.

Both Donnellys, Mattie and Mark, have done well but it is Peter Harte who represents the future. He is an outstanding footballer who has helped fill the void after the departure of Philip Jordan and even Brian Dooher. His covering across the half back line, in particular, is so clever and the accuracy of his kick passing is excellent.

Tyrone do have a similar problem to Kerry in that they still heavily rely on tried and trusted players like Conor Gormley, Owen Mulligan and Stephen O’Neill.

Considering their achievements in the game, you can understand why. Their experience alone ensures Tyrone will never roll over.

Mickey Harte’s record against Kerry must be mentioned and respected. He has come out on top every time. He is such an astute coach, he knows what it takes to beat Kerry on the biggest stage.

This game takes on even greater significance for both sides when you consider none of these Tyrone players have lost a championship game to Kerry at any age group.

With that in mind, coming to Killarney will hold no fear for them. They will see it as the ultimate challenge. That’s what makes tonight so intriguing. It will have a hugely damaging effect on the losing team.

My gut instinct still says Kerry will prevail. When I think of all the training the panel does in Fitzgerald Stadium and the galvanising effect that all the doubters will have upon them, I know they can beat any team on their home patch.

Darran O’Sullivan’s injection of pace will be missed. He causes havoc on the ball. Tyrone have known about this since fouling him out of the 2004 minor All-Ireland final. That explosiveness cannot be there after a hamstring injury. Not for 70 minutes anyway.

Declan O’Sullivan and Paul Galvin have been playing in defensive roles. That must stop. I hope for a more attack-minded attitude. Put a score on the board. Support Colm Cooper.

If the Donaghy option isn’t working, changes must be made early. The courage on the field must be matched from the line. Trust the younger legs to handle the pace of Tyrone’s new generation.

They will run hard at the Kerry half back line. That’s how they will manufacture their scores. Considering the amount of bodies Tyrone will filter back, Kerry must shoot for scores from distance. That will win them the game. It may even be decided by Bryan Sheehan’s accuracy from frees.

But this is the moment Kerry must find form. They must go back to playing a fluid, quick-passing game. Otherwise, it is over for this Kerry team. That realisation will be there.

It should be enough.