Pick that: what will Kerry's starting forward line be in 2015?

October 01, 2014

It's wreaking my head thinking it over - Aidan O'Mahony celebrates after the All-Ireland final win ©INPHO

With Tommy Walsh set to return to the Kerry jersey next year, just how will Eamonn Fitzmaurice fit his array of attacking talent into the starting fifteen.

All-Ireland champion teams stick in the mind, certainly for supporters and those who end up writing headlines. So for much of next year, when a Kerry team is announced, one-by-one we will tick off the names of those who started against Donegal in September and pronounce '12 of the All-Ireland winning team will line out against…'

For the Kingdom the dynamic could be different because Walsh will be back in harness, while Colm Cooper and Darran O'Sullivan will be fit. That's three extra for a start.

In the final Kerry brought on six substitutes and five of them were forwards  - Michael Geaney, Barry John Keane, Kieran O'Leary, Declan O'Sullivan and Bryan Sheehan. Sure Sheehan has been deployed in midfield of late but he's been rotating between there and the forty.

Then we have the six starting forwards - Donnchadh Walsh, Johnny Buckley, Stephen O'Brien, Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy and James O'Donoghue. Who among them is under threat?

Donaghy has hinted at retirement but even if he goes that's 13 men fighting it out for six places, and we haven't even mentioned new players who will stake their claim like Killian Spillane, the outstanding forward of Kerry's minor All-Ireland win.

The workrate of Donnchadh Walsh makes him invaluable while O'Donoghue and Cooper are nailed on to be in the side.

Possible Kerry forward line for 2015: Donnchadh Walsh, Colm Cooper, Johnny Buckey ; Paul Geaney, Tommy Walsh, James O'Donoghue.

Forward subs: Stephen O'Brien, Darran O'Sullivan, Michael Geaney, Barry John Keane, Kieran O'Leary, Declan O'Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan, Killian Spillane, Kieran Donaghy (possible).

Wow!


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