I was at the Dublin v Kerry game earlier in the year and an understrength Dublin looked comfortable versus an understrength Kerry team. At full strength in September they also looked comfortable. Dublin are better. That said, Kerry have the best chance of beating them. They are guaranteed to meet each other in All-Ireland semifinal in August. No doubt Eamon Fitz has an eye on that game already (if not both eyes). They should keep their cards close to their chest and forget the league. Dublin are the best team but a loss in that game in August and their season will be over on the same day that it starts - that will hurt them and give Kerry folk every where much more pleasure than any league title.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 30/03/2016 21:51:05    1839482

Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once. The league is championship preparation. The right call has been made to the end the semi-final nonsense. It's a league, not a championship. Allianz have been good sponsors and deserve the final day and the publicity that goes on around that. End of. Ciarraí abú! :)

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7873 - 30/03/2016 21:51:38    1839483

The make up of the league semi finals will dictate a lot, as a punter Dublin at 8/13 are no bad price, Kerry at 5/2 the only real alternative....if Dublin draw Roscommon in particular or Donegal they are in the final...Kerry would have firepower to gain revenge v Rossies but Donegal would be a very interesting match post Tralee the last day.
Post Don't rule our Cork beating Kerry this weekend.

hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 867 - 31/03/2016 12:03:55    1839600

Funninly enough the league as the 7 league games do matter and show where the current panel/team stands.
But the semi and the final dont overly matterly that much.
In the last decade some of the league finals Kerry have been in have been drab but the fact that we have not won one in a while I do think Eamon Fitz will go all out to win it if we do make the semis

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 31/03/2016 12:09:44    1839606

Ya whoops, I'd say Eamonn would like to get a League Trophy onto his CV. No harm in going for a title every few years, its 2009 since our last one and that's a good bit ago for a county like Kerry.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 31/03/2016 12:25:52    1839608

Kerry don't try and win the league every year? Why wouldn't you? Surely a Mickey Mouse competition like the Munster championship with 5 hurling counties involved wouldn't make any difference to Kerry trying to win the league? So you's have won the league more than anyone else but when you's don't win it it's cause you's didn't try?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 31/03/2016 12:53:39    1839621

You see Clondalkin Kerry don't have any inferiority complex., We've been the top dogs in this sport for over 100 years. We don't need to pick up every shinning little trophy that's on offer just to convince ourselves to prove to everyone we are a big deal.

The Championship is all that matters to us. So in that sense, its generally more beneficial to be winning a Munster title in July than a secondary competition in April.

All we look for in the League is the opportunity to test a few new faces and unearth a few more players to enhance our championship bid.

If, as is the case this year, we have a decent chance of winning the League once that priority is taken care of then we will go for it.

You always seem awful concerned about what Kerry are doing, if you like I can put a word in for you with the Kerry Supporters Association....

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 31/03/2016 13:14:18    1839633

Actually clondalkindub its 6 hurling counties!!

surfdude62 (Kerry) - Posts: 46 - 31/03/2016 13:29:24    1839640

It's important to be in division 1
But it ain't important to win it imo
Take it from a fan of a county who in five years have gone from 4 to 1 winning 2 and 3
The pace isn't the only huge noticeable difference from the other divisions.
The hype and media involvement with each game is huge compared to other divisions.
It's a real learning curve that should stand a team come championship as every game is hyped up alike a championship match more so than there actually played like.
Not been smart with new york leitrim or Sligo if we are lucky enough to meet all 3 in championship this year there will hardly be a murmur before each match media wise and if they don't cause upsets there will be even less media coverage after.
Media just focuses on certain teams and games, hopefully we meet 1 of those teams later in the year in a important game and this league campaign will stand to all the hype involved.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 31/03/2016 13:31:34    1839643

Kerry for the League?

Dont make me laugh we are going for an amazing 4 in a row and we absolutely own them under the genius and creative management of Jim Gavin

Look at the amount of lads in/ approaching their mid 30's in their team we are going to sweep them off the pitch with our far superior athleticism and tactical knowhow. How many Kerry players would even be near our first 15? First 30? Wouldnt need more than a single hand to count them.

BlueGolconda (Dublin) - Posts: 39 - 31/03/2016 13:49:14    1839644

BlueGolconda: Just what this website needs, another Dub that's only been supporting his county since 2011....

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 31/03/2016 14:04:22    1839647

Lol BlueGolconda should make for fun reading and should reel a few in with that post ;)

Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 31/03/2016 14:09:37    1839652

Oh....he got one already.

Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 31/03/2016 14:09:52    1839653

I know ye are very bitter about the last 5 years we are the dominant force in the land and it ain't changing anytime soon looking at the production line of young elite talent flowing throughout our underage teams

BlueGolconda (Dublin) - Posts: 39 - 31/03/2016 14:10:07    1839654

It's important to be in division 1
But it ain't important to win it imo
Take it from a fan of a county who in five years have gone from 4 to 1 winning 2 and 3
The pace isn't the only huge noticeable difference from the other divisions.
The hype and media involvement with each game is huge compared to other divisions.
It's a real learning curve that should stand a team come championship as every game is hyped up alike a championship match more so than there actually played like.
Not been smart with new york leitrim or Sligo if we are lucky enough to meet all 3 in championship this year there will hardly be a murmur before each match media wise and if they don't cause upsets there will be even less media coverage after.
Media just focuses on certain teams and games, hopefully we meet 1 of those teams later in the year in a important game and this league campaign will stand to all the hype involved.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 31/03/2016 14:19:33    1839659

That's funny I seem to remember Kerry winning an All Ireland in 2014 and our minors winning All Ireland's in 2014 and 2015.

Didn't see any Dublin underage teams anywhere near the finals.

History lesson for you buddy:

Kerry 100+ years the standard bearers

The Rest, 3-4 years of success every 40 years or so

Now that's a pattern that isn't going to change...

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 31/03/2016 14:20:53    1839661

History? Thats all ye Kerry lads can talk about now just like Liverpool fans

Keep living in the past we are the dominant force of the present and future. We have dominated the U21 grade on a national level and thats a far more accurate barometer than Minor Level.

The future is bright. The future is Blue. Sky Blue

BlueGolconda (Dublin) - Posts: 39 - 31/03/2016 14:39:23    1839672

BlueGolconda, you're a gas man/woman..

surfdude62 (Kerry) - Posts: 46 - 31/03/2016 14:43:59    1839674

Referencing Liverpool fans?

That tells you all you need to know: go back to watching the premiership like a good lad

Come June, I'm sure your other cronies on the Hill with their sweaty Man U jerseys tucked under the Dublin tops will be ready to welcome you with open arms.

You can drink a few cans and complain why you can't get an All Ireland ticket because you went to 2 matches all year.

But sure Man U are playing West Ham or whoever the day of the All Ireland so its worked out well for you....

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 31/03/2016 15:00:05    1839686

Blue. The dubs are on the way down. Kerry will take over again. They a great batch of young lads coming through along with experience lads there. Throw in Moran, gouch, sheehan and odonog hue were injured going into last year final. They won't slip this year plus Donaghy should had penalty in final

JimmyFloyd (Wexford) - Posts: 50 - 31/03/2016 15:08:09    1839691