Weeshie's Week

Kerry too good again for Cork in a replay

September 2nd, 2008
by Weeshie Fogarty

 Cast your minds back to Sunday August the 3rd in Croke Park. Kerry struggling against Monaghan in the championship qualifier. Well into the second half and Monaghan have just missed a golden opportunity to finish off Kerry with a missed goal chance. Just two points in it. Monaghan were sensing victory. Then Pat o Shea and his men make the winning move. Tommy Griffin is introduced for the tiring Seamus Scanlon at mid field. The Dingle man immediately fields superbly under the shadow of the towering Hogan stand and he passes off to Owen Brosnan (also introduced as a substitute earlier). Brosnan cuts through the Monaghan defense like a knife through butter sets up Kieran Donnaghy and the wonderfully gifted Stacks man goals from close in at the canal goal. Kerry are home and dry following that one moment of tradional Kerry magic. Fast forward your thoughts to last Sunday. Six minutes remaining in one of the most pulsating riveting and heart stopping second half's we have witnessed for may a long day at head quarters. Cork have unbelievably drawn level with Kerry having fallen a massive nine points behind,(2-12 to 1-6) during that amazing second half. They were surging fordward in wave after wave of red shirted attacks. Nicholas Murphy and Pearse o Neill began to dominate midfield as Micheal Quirke and Seamus Scanlon began to tier. Goulding, Miskella and James Masters all raised white flags. Murphy was flying at this stage. He set up Pierce o Neill and the Aghada man knifed through the confused Kerry defense to finish low to Diarmuid Murphy's left hand post. Donncha o Connor equalized from the kick out and unbelievably the side were level. If it were a boxing match Kerry would be reported as being on the ropes set up to receive the knock out punch. The Cork supporters were in full voice, the atmosphere was simply electric as only Kerry and Cork battles can generate.

Let's be honest here and say that it appeared only a matter of time before Connor Counihan men would take the lead such was their dominance. But then we witnessed sixty seconds of magic which will remain forever etched in the memory, stored there to join all those wonderful moments we have witnessed and cherished from Kerry footballers through the decades. Pat o Shea and his mentors proceeded to make the substitution which would turn this game once again back in favor of the men in green and gold. And it was a carbon copy in many ways of what I have written in relation to that Monaghan match back in early August. The man on the line with the flashing hand sign raised it high above his head in front of the Hogan stand. Number 26 would replace number 17. David Moran son of Ogie would make his first ever championship appearance for Kerry replacing Eoin Brosnan who has lined out for his county on fifty one occasion always with great distinction. The young Kerins o Rahillys man was making his debut in the most trying and torrid circumstances imaginable. Diarmuid Murphy was placing the ball for the kick out, (he would do this twenty five times during the course of the game). David Moran took up position under the Hogan stand just yards from the side line. He raised both hands high over his head, the tradional indication to a team mate that the kick out should come his way. The goal keeper to his eternal credit spotted David's actions and launched the kick out in the direction of young Moran. It is my assumption that if Cork won this ball as they had been doing for the previous fifteen minutes then it is most likely that they would have pushed on for victory so great was their supremacy at that period.

Then in that one fleeting moment of footballing time this semi final re-play was won and lost. David fielded brilliantly from Diarmuid's delivery. He passed off to the fleet footed flyer from Glenbeigh/Glencar Darren o Sullivan who made ground towards the goal. Darren passed back to David. He returned to Darren who careered in for goal and while he might have attempted a fisted point he had the great vision to spot and pass to Colm Cooper all alone in splendid isolation on the verge of the Cork small square. Now when Gooch finds himself in a one and one situation with a goalkeeper you can put your house and all your worldly possessions on him finishing to the net. The green flag went up at the railway end at Croke Park. (Two other Killarney townies, Tadghie Lyne and Johnny Culloty had combined to rescue Kerry with the equalizing goal against Cavan at this very same goal in 1955. Kerry won the re-play). The superb Seamus Scanlon added a point shortly after wards. The goal revived the tiring Kerry legs and this exemplary bunch of footballers were through to their fifth All Ireland in a row and are now ready to join the immortals as they bid to make it three wins in succession. Great stuff. The age old tradition of Kerrys high fielding had once again rescued them when all seemed lost and you can also throw into the mix the old adage, "a ounce of breeding is worth a ton of feeding".

Of course there will be major questions asked in relation to the surrendering of huge leads and of conceding such big scores. That's 6-36 against Cork in three games. The way the side lost their shape in those heart throbbing closing moments will also have to be addressed. However Kerry are amassing huge scores them selves and in the course of their advance to the final have displayed some magical moments on that journey. Darragh o Se and Paul Galvin are back for the final, a massive morale boost for Pat o Se and his men. The players will be well refreshed for the mouth watering battle with Tyrone. I did mentioned here last week that my one and only concern facing the re-play was fatigue following Kerrys 4th game in five weeks. This bunch of players have shown tremendous character, great composer when all semed lost and the highly experienced substituted bench is being used to its maximum strengths. I am not a believer in man of the match awards. For me any man who helps his side to victory is my man of the match. While the form of some players have dipped slightly the displays of Tommy Walsh, Colm Cooper, Kieran Donnaghy, Seamus Scanlon and the full back line together with a very influential debut by Michael Quirk and Declan o Sullivans goal just after the short whistle which he set up with the aid "Star" were major factors in The Kingdom's victory. Kerry are where they want and deserve to be. Their biggest challenge lies ahead. Kerry footballer's are born and raised to face those challenges.

Fogra: In my recent interview with Bertie Ahern I asked him what in his opinion is the secret of Kerry? He answered. "In all others counties fathers raise their sons to play for their county but in Kerry fathers AND mothers combine to raise a Kerry star".

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