Kerry may be the reigning All-Ireland champions, but they still feel they have a lot to prove against Tyrone in this year's Sam Maguire Cup decider according to defender Aidan O'Mahony. Aidan O'Mahony has vivid memories of the 2003 All-Ireland semi-final. Although a substitute that day, he felt the same hurt after the game as the players who had been on the receiving end of one of the most humiliating defeats Kerry has ever suffered at Croke Park. The Kingdom had entered the tie against Tyrone in a confident frame of mind, but came out of it a demoralised and badly beaten team. They failed to cope with the ferocious intensity Tyrone brought to their play with the result that they were given little or no time on the ball. There was plenty of discussion afterwards about Tyrone's tactics and, in particular, their blanket defence, but overlooked in some of the analysis was the salient fact that the Ulster champions had swept Kerry aside in the opening half and led at the interval by 0-9 to 0-2. Tyrone's talisman Peter Canavan was forced to retire with a serious ankle injury after just 14 minutes, but his absence failed to shake their confidence and they eventually won with seven points to spare, 0-13 to 0-6. As much as the defeat hurt, there was a realisation in Kerry that they needed to change their style. And under manager Jack O'Connor, they did just that. A physically stronger and tactically more astute Kerry bounced back to win the All-Ireland in fine style last year and are now just 70 minutes away from becoming the first team since Cork in 1990 to complete back-to-back successes. And according to O'Mahony, motivation will not be a problem, particularly in light of their recent high-profile defeats to northern opposition. "We still feel we have an awful lot to prove," says the Rathmore man, who established himself at corner back during last year's triumphant campaign. "Tyrone had a big win over us two years ago and we feel we owe them one for that. We played them earlier this year in the league, and although we beat them, they still went through to the knock-out stages on scoring difference. "The 2003 All-Ireland semi-final defeat was a rude awakening for us, but the good thing is that we were able to recover from it. We learned a lot from that game and are a better team for the experience. Pat Flanagan took over as physical trainer last year and did an amount of work with us. We have done a lot of work in the gym over the last two years and I think we'll be ready for whatever challenge Tyrone throw at us this time around," he adds. O'Mahony expects the final to be a tactical battle and is confident that Kerry will be able to match the hunger that has been evident in Tyrone's marathon nine-match campaign to date. "I think that tactics will have a huge bearing on the outcome. Tyrone outfoxed us two years ago, but we are probably stronger in that department now and will have one or two tricks up our sleeves. "Ideally, we'd like to be able to play our own game, but if we're not allowed to do that we'll adjust accordingly. "If we are to win the final, we'll have to match Tyrone for hunger. They have huge momentum behind them and will have taken huge confidence from beating Armagh in the semi-final. They are a great footballing side and have very few weak links, but I'm optimistic about our chances." The Cobh-based trainee garda recalls how the Kerry players decided after the National League they would do everything in their power to retain their All-Ireland crown. "We had a meeting among ourselves and we all agreed to give it a right go," he remembers. "When fellas like Seamus Moynihan and Darragh O Se, who have been playing for Kerry for over 10 years, were saying they had the hunger to win another All-Ireland, the younger fellas like myself couldn't have any excuses. The likes of Seamus, Darragh, Liam Hassett and Dara O Cinneide demand the highest standards and are an inspiration to the rest of the squad." O'Mahony, who has won county senior and under 21 championship medals with East Kerry as well as county intermediate and junior championship mementos with Rathmore, doesn't believe the Kingdom will be in any way less prepared because of their relatively easy passage to the final. One of the reasons why Kerry have reached the All-Ireland final again, he contends, is due to the fierce competition for starting places. "Because no one is sure of their place on the team, they have to push themselves that extra bit in training and some of the practice matches we've had recently have been as competitive as any match. "The competition for places is serious, but despite this, there is no bitterness or anything like that. Everyone wants a piece of the action and I suppose that's the best way to have it. In my case, Mossy Lyons has been putting me under a lot of pressure and that's what has been driving me on. Jack O'Connor is a great motivator and if anything, we've trained harder this year than last year." He continues: "A lot of people are saying that we have had an easy ride so far, but I can tell you that some of the games have been as tough as any we've played over the last few years. Limerick gave us a tough time of it in the Munster semi-final, and in the Munster final, Cork pushed us all the way on what was a sweltering hot day. And we didn't get anything easy from Mayo in the All-Ireland quarter-final either." It has been 20 years since Kerry last won successive All-Ireland titles (they went on to complete a three in-a-row at Tyrone's expense in 1986) and O'Mahony believes it would be a massive accomplishment for this team if they succeed in retaining Sam Maguire. "To win the two in-a-row is a big incentive for us alright. It would be a big thing, even in Kerry where they've won three and four in-a-row in the past. Considering how much playing standards have levelled off all over the country, it would be a huge achievement." Despite getting on the scoresheet in the Kingdom's last two outings against Mayo and Cork, O'Mahony reveals that he will be under strict instructions to stick to his defensive duties against Tyrone. "After the All-Ireland semi-final, Jack (O'Connor) told me I had my two points for the year and that I was to stay in the backs the next day. He told Michael McCarthy the same thing after he scored against Cork, but whether Tom O'Sullivan got the same instructions I'm not too sure. Knowing Tom, he'll be trying to get forward if he gets half a chance in the final," he concludes on a light hearted note. Tweet

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