Horan goes for Kerry

September 20, 2014

Mayo manager James Horan shakes hands with Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice after the drawn All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.

James Horan is tipping Kerry to get their hands on the Sam Maguire tomorrow.

The former Mayo manager has first-hand experience of the Kingdom and Donegal and has been amazed by the Munster champions' 'rate of progress'.

"Donegal should win. When you go though it they look stronger, they may be slightly better prepared and have greater experience," he said in today's Irish Independent.

"They have more seasoned campaigners who you could probably depend more on to deliver. McGuinness has got the absolute most out of these players over four years and that's all a manager can hope to achieve.

"But Kerry are on a rate of progress that is amazing. Every game has produced something different from someone different.

"If you look at Paul and Michael Geaney in particular and how they have developed this year, it encapsulates that improvement. And that improvement is still coming.

"In Limerick David Moran gave a Herculean performance. He's a man trying to catch up for lost time. That's what I got off him when I saw him up close and personal.

"Honestly, that night in Limerick was as good as I have seen. It was the performance of the championship.

"I see him now as one of Kerry's three most important players, along with Paul Geaney and O'Donoghue. Kerry need Moran to dominate the midfield zone. With Neil Gallagher knocking around, that will be challenging.

"Because they are such good technical footballers, Kerry just have an ability to adapt to situations in games.

"It's why I probably think they will win it. Their rate of progression can surpass where Donegal are."


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