MUNSTER SFC FINAL Kerry v Limerick:WE SHOULD get matters concerning Paul Galvin out of the way. Having experienced the trauma of entering the GAA disciplinary process in 2008, he took his medicine this time and will return late summer seriously shy of match fitness. That surely means the footballer of the year mantle will pass elsewhere. His thrilling cameos in the two Cork matches will be sorely missed tomorrow.
Kerry will abide, as ever, without having to reply on any one man. They produce such a wondrous flow of natural footballers that names like Tadhg Kennelly, Tommy Walsh and Diarmuid Murphy very quickly become historical artifacts to reflect upon in winter months.
Séamus Scanlon more than proved his worth for Kerry last year but he is now the senior partner, while a permanent junior associate has yet to be established. Anthony Maher gets another opportunity tomorrow.
Kerry eventually beat Cork without working this problem out and should do so again.
Darran O’Sullivan returns to the half-forward line beside namesake Declan and Donnacha Walsh. In any other county O’Sullivan would have reached legendary status by now. That comes slowly in Kerry. However, his pace and industry should trouble the Limerick defence.
The difference Paul Galvin makes is his delivery of clean ball to Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy. That, or he creates room for others to find the deadly duo near to goal. Kerry must figure this problem out tomorrow against a Limerick side strengthened by the availability of exiled hurlers like Stephen Lucey, Mark O’Riordan and James Ryan. Also, when last we checked, young Ian Ryan was a brilliant finisher. Stephen Kelly is another forward with the stamp of quality.
It should sway back and forth for a time, but a spree of green and gold scores should eventually tilt the balance.
KERRY: B Kealy; M Ó Sé, T Griffin, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé, M McCarthy, K Young; S Scanlon, A Maher; Darran O'Sullivan, Declan O'Sullivan, D Walsh; C Cooper, K Donaghy, B Sheehan (capt).
LIMERICK: B Scanlon; M O'Riordan, J McCarthy, A Lane; S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranahan; J O'Donovan, J Galvin; P Browne, J Ryan, S Buckley (capt); G Collins, I Ryan, S Kelly.
Referee: P Fox(Westmeath).
In the last episodeKerry beat Limerick 2-10 to 0-10 in 2005 but they needed a replay the last time they met in a provincial final in 2004.
You betLimerick with the five point handicap looks enticing at 11/10. They can be got in a straight bet at 11/2, while Kerry are 1/6 with 11/1 for a draw (Paddy Power).
On your marks: Limerick need something special to occur early on. They will need another glut of scores before half-time. And again early in the second half. An inspirational goal coming into the home straight would also help. Even still, that probably won't be enough.
Gaining ground: The capacity of 43,000 is unlikely to be reached but there is enough momentum behind Kerry and Limerick GAA should travel in hope as the hurlers look unlikely to provide any.
Just the ticket: The Munster Council ticket van will be outside Garvey's SuperValu in Listowel from 10.30am to 11.30am this morning and then on to SuperValu in Tralee until 1pm and Killarney until 6pm. These stores will also be selling terrace tickets.
Crystal gazing: Limerick on a good day are more than capable of beating Kerry on a bad one. Brave resistance expected but Kerry's current form looks enough to make it a 115 year wait for Limerick.
