This is likely the last season we will see Marc O Shea, Aidan O Mahony, Declan O Sullivan and Kieran Donaghy in action.
They most certainly wont be taking mayo lightly

Its a game where Kerry wont fear Mayo but Mayo wont fear Kerry either.
I think the Kerry team named will give a boost to Mayo.

When you dont start your big guns you can plan on bringing them on as subs but then the way the game unfolds dictates what subs get brought on.
What happens if Kerry need to make a handful of subs in the defense..that takes away the option of our impact subs in the forwards.
To me its safer to start your big guns than leave them in reserve.

The way the team has been picked likely rules out one of our best impact subs in BJ keane.
Decaln, Sheehan, Darren, possibly Donaghy will be in front of him....then there are changes to be made in defense and what about black cards?!

All in all I was more confident of beating Mayo before the kerry team was picked than now

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 22/08/2014 12:52:29    1640432

I was talking to a lad during the week who told me that the 3 South Kerry boys would be on the bench, I slightly dismissed him ok we agreed that Young could struggle in the face of a stronger player so Crowley ya was pushing hard there, similar with Sheehan as we all know he had a knock and didn't feature for all of the A vs B game. I am however very surprised that Declan has not started and considering how influential he was against Cork and to a lesser degree against Galway the only conclusion is that he must have a knock and isn't 100%. I would worry about our centre field pairing more so of Moran cos as good as he was against Galway he was turned over a fair few times in possession, ok his bulk would be a bonus but Mayo are tactically excellent regarding turnovers so I have worries here in that regard. I have however full faith in Fitz, I think he is tactically very far ahead of the majority of coaches in the country and he obviously has a specific plan for every individual player be it a starter or a sub. Mikey Geaney deserves to retain his place as he was outstanding against Galway.. O'Brien, Geaney and O'Donoghue can get space inside and will trouble Mayo their full back line is their Achilles heel, the key is can we get ball into them. Kerry and Fitz hope obviously to tear at Mayo from the off and with 20 minutes to go or so be either ahead or very much still in the hunt, then the experience and cuteness of the bench kicks in..

We have failed in Croker in 2013 and 2011 against Dublin by not closing out games due to a weak bench Fitz is obviously tacking this issue head on… not many counties have a bench of Sheehan, Declan, Darran, Donaghy and Bj Keane.. countless all Irelands,2 winning captains, numerous all stars and even 2 players of the year.

This might sound strange..I was confident during the week.. I'm actually more confident now he's picked his team on merit and on form in training and it is tailored to a specific game plan where very player has a specific role… just cannot wait to see it.

Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 22/08/2014 13:13:23    1640446

I have been impressed by kerry this year however I think Mayo are battle hardened outfit now and will win this one.

downtothecore (Down) - Posts: 349 - 22/08/2014 14:02:54    1640467

Expect this game to be just as tight as the quarter-final against Cork. Like people have said Mayo probably have the stronger middle 8 but Mayo's weakest link this year (full back line) is where Kerry are at their strongest (full forward line). I think the outcome of the match will be down to who comes out on top in that battle.

It's hard to call but if there is only a point or two in it with five minutes to go, I think Kerry may have the greater desire/hunger to get another potential shot at the Dubs, to see them through.

Trooper_Thorn (Mayo) - Posts: 19 - 22/08/2014 15:02:55    1640499

@ blacknamber

Moran is a decent free taker from distance and Geaney is very accurate. I know they are not Sheehan but still they are not crippled at free taking without him.

@ centerfield

Fitz doesn't do dummy teams, he even came out against them either in league this year or last year.

@ woops

Fair enough with Marc O'Se and O'Mahony they are pushing on a bit, even though both are fairly fit. I hope you're right about Donaghy the game has moved on and so should he. But O'Sullivan, he's 30, it's not that old. Are his knees that bad that he'll have to retire early??

JMK (Kerry) - Posts: 273 - 22/08/2014 15:21:21    1640507

Id say Fitz has seen that Mayo let teams back in big games and when they have the opportunity dont Punish teams enough, they let teams off the hook,but do just enough to win. Eamonn fitz is hoping its tight going into the second half with Mayo feeling confident of a win and they let their foot of the gas and then he can bring on the subs and they can push past MAYO.
Personally i dont think Kerry have enough and this tactic could backfire on him. but his hand is forced a bit with injuries .
If Kerry win i think it will be a bit tactical win for Fitzmaurice.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 22/08/2014 15:29:00    1640516

Tomas and Dara have both put their head on block this week by calling it for Kerry. Tomas signalled out Fitzy and his management as the potential tipping point in favour of a Kerry win. I think his bang on!

Jack O'Connor brought him into his backroom team in 2009, largely on account of the brilliant analysis work he was writing in the Kerryman I can remember reading his column before Kerry games, and they were extraordinary in their insight and reading of matches. He wrote an absolutely incredible insider in the camp two-article piece for the Examiner which was published on Friday before and Monday after the 2009 final. After reading the first piece I had no doubt in my mind that Kerry would win the All Ireland that Sunday.

Babs said you can't make derby winners out of Donkeys, Fitzy could, but his working with a hell of a good breed of horses for Sunday! In Eamon I trust, 14-KY-SAM!

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 22/08/2014 15:44:40    1640527

A lot of hype about James O'Donoghue, Cillian O'Connor is as good. Yes he has been outstanding so far but against the likes of Clare and a beaten Cork. This is a huge step up.

Pressure on the Mayo lads, I'd love to see them do it and finally reach the Holy Grail but my prediction is Kerry by 3-5 points.

Toney (Meath) - Posts: 298 - 22/08/2014 18:22:54    1640651

A nice spread of votes for either county, this really is an interesting game and a great appetiser for our own game on Sunday week, at last I'm feeling excited :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 22/08/2014 18:55:18    1640669

Not important but just wondered what colours each team are wearing on Sunday, will Kerry be blue and Mayo red, or are Kerry going white?

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 22/08/2014 20:18:18    1640694

Toney
Jamie didn't play against Clare. And we beat a bad cork team and a bad Galway team and if we beat mayo then they will be a bad team and we'll have obviously got lucky or will have caught them on a bad day. All I know is Fitzy is a serious operator and we're gona go up and throw everything at them and if we're good enough we'll win.
Realdub
More than likely wearing the gammy blue jersey I'd say :-( we are Kerry we should never have to wear anything other than the green and gold it's just not on :-/

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 22/08/2014 21:26:36    1640719

I know what you mean KingdomBoy1, in fairness to Donegal they admitted defeat in the Jersey stakes coming into their golden year, '92, seem to work for them :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 22/08/2014 21:30:07    1640723

Realdub
Ha ha I remember Donegals jersey used be very like ours and was Meaths more like one of ours as well years ago? I'm only 35 so I can't remember back that far :-)

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 22/08/2014 21:50:39    1640731

For Mayo, they need to win without conceding goals. If Mayo win but concede 3 goals, it would hard to be optimistic going into the final

BlastCalyle (Mayo) - Posts: 206 - 23/08/2014 10:43:52    1640761

Leitrim were also jersey twins with Kerry... don't know about Meath. Fermanagh used to be Mayo's jersey twins back in the day.

I remember John O'Keefe before the final in '06 making the simple point that Kerry had more of the better footballers and were playing better as a team. It was hard to argue with that and the result left no room for doubt. I believe that equation is now reversed with Mayo having the greater number of skilled individuals and, more importantly, a stronger collective. This is is why I expect us to come out on top tomorrow and with Kerry in the other corner there will be no complacency from Mayo.

As regards tactics, I don't see any double marking of JOD. Mayo have plenty of pace and physicality in the backs, so we're not going to do anything to compromise our normal game out of respect for one of the Kerry forwards. Likewise Kerry won't be leaving themselves short by double teaming anyone. There seems to be a lot of expectation that Eamon Fitz will make good any shortcomings if they arise, but good as he may be it's all down to the players on the day. He obviously feels that he can afford to gamble with a Dubs style bench infusion in the last quarter, and based on our game against Cork, Kerry's options are more likely to be effective than our own. If the game is tight then this could be a factor, but even then our midfield reinforcements are strong enough to deprive Kerry of easy ball right through to the end.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 23/08/2014 10:53:23    1640764

Pericles
It's a pity mayo changed from ye'r green and red stripe jersey it's iconic really, and if ye win the allireland this year ye'l probably do a Donegal on it and and stick with the green jersey, as reguards the game tomorrow as Tomas said yesterday on the radio it's all going to come down to our middle 8, if we can win 40 to 45% of the midfield we will win the game. And I hope mayo don't play a sweeper tomorrow and go man for man as it'l make for a better game.
An Riocht Abu.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 23/08/2014 11:33:33    1640775

Anybody hear anything about JOD injuring he's shoulder in training earlier in the week. Big rumours around at Killarney races last night.

kerry74 (Kerry) - Posts: 1354 - 23/08/2014 11:52:42    1640781

Interesting piece in the Independent today by Rachel Wyse. She says that Mayo are gone backwards this year, struggled through a poor Connacht championship and were lucky to beat Cork whereas Kerry are operating in first gear and winning easily. This allied to Kerrys tradition and the fact that Mayo cant buy an All Ireland means a certain Kerry victory. Thanks for breaking it to us gently Rachel. I sincerely hope she knows nothing about football.!!!

Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 23/08/2014 12:05:03    1640786

Rachel knows what's she's told to know : D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 23/08/2014 12:21:01    1640797

The Indo reports that JOD is OK for tomorrow despite shoulder injury worry!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 23/08/2014 12:41:23    1640808