GAELIC GAMES/Kerry v Longford: Something sweetly old-fashioned about this afternoon's fixture. Not that Kerry and Longford don't make a novel championship couple or these back-door occasions have become passé; rather that after a summer of pussyfooting, a decent, blood-and-thunder, winner-takes-all game is irresistible.
The game has an irresistible context: a rapidly developing team visiting a side on the brink; two outstanding managers duelling.
Jack O'Connor's tenure began with a shock defeat to Longford two-and-a-half years ago. A similar outcome would end his time and place unlikely bookends to his senior management career.
For Luke Dempsey a win would mark a significant border crossing, ushering him from the land of promise straight into big-time country. Good work in Westmeath, Carlow and now Longford haven't yet brought the reward or recognition he deserves. Beating Kerry in Killarney today would bring it all.
Dempsey's side have been the romantic sub-plot of a dull summer. Their defeat to Dublin on a blazing hot Sunday seemed to suggest a malaise in the Dublin camp. By the time Longford had beaten Derry the revisionists were busy readjusting the form lines.
Dempsey has brought an infusion of youth (10 under-21s from this year's Leinster campaign, seven starting today) and tactical innovation to Longford. They no longer hoof everything toward the turret that was Niall Sheridan but have stepped out with a running and shooting game that causes problems for most sides.
Run a finger along the form lines and Longford are entitled to respect today. They beat Tipperary and Waterford far more convincingly than Kerry did; against Dublin their midfield crowded the space far more effectively than either Laois or Offaly managed.
What goes on in the middle third of the field today will decide the outcome. Liam Keenan and Bernard McElvaney have been excellent so far in the championship, and Dempsey has made smart use of Paddy Dowd as the third man, crowding the area out and picking up the breaks.
How they fare in spoiling Darragh Ó Sé and Tommy Griffin will be interesting. It is no secret Kerry will launch high balls into the full forward line all afternoon. Cutting out the supply will be Longford's first task.
If they can keep Kerry from scoring (and Paddy Bradley's 1-6 from play for Derry the last day does raise questions) Longford can amass a modest total themselves.
Brian Kavanagh and David Barden have been sensational as a two-man full-forward line, and the latter's dismantling of Dublin's Niall O'Shea remains one of the most startling declarations of intent this summer.
For Kerry, this afternoon represents an unusual challenge. Men from the Kingdom don't expect to find themselves with backs to the wall in qualifying games against Longford. And O'Connor has shown bottle in picking a side which will necessarily play a different style of football.
Kieran Donaghy's move to full forward will test the nerve of Longford's under-21 full back Barry Gilleran but what goes on around that pair will be crucial. Will Cathal Conefrey switch corners to follow the Gooch? Has Eoin Brosnan recovered enough form to take on Declan Masterson? Have Kerry got the balance right between workhorses and scorers?
There is broad consensus Kerry have picked the right team. That doesn't mean there aren't 100 contingencies. If Brosnan plays, if Gooch has his composure back, if Mike Frank can make space, if Darren O'Sullivan can add guile to speed - and so on.
Kerry, though, are older and wiser and perhaps more ravenous. Longford may not be that hungry. Not just yet.
KERRY: D Murphy; M Ó Sé, M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé, S Moynihan, A O'Mahony; D Ó Sé, T Griffin; Darren O'Sullivan, E Brosnan, P Galvin; C Cooper, K Donaghy, MF Russell.
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, C Conefrey; S Mulligan, D Masterson, D Reilly; B McElvaney, L Keenan; P Berry, P Barden, T Smullen; D Barden, P Dowd, B Kavanagh.
