NFL Rnd 5 Kerry vs Mayo, Tralee, Sat March 12th @ 7.30pm

[The16thMan]

So we move onto Mayo in Tralee next Saturday week, Kerry have had a very successful league so far with 7 points from 8. Conceding no goal from play yet also in 2022. We play our 1st "in form" team so far this year in Mayo, the winner will surely be making the league final in early April. It'll be a good test for these player, one I think they will pass. Kerry's defence seem to be set up to tackle teams that run at us more this year than in others which is Mayo's primary game plan. I expect a sell out, with a big crowd from Mayo to arrive. Should be a tight game but I expect Kerry to edge it.

[ballhopper34]

Managing the Mayo impact sub late in the game, one Aidan O'Shea will be critical. He will show up wherever help is needed to either close out a victory for Mayo or get them back level at least if they are slightly behind.

Jack will spring somebody from the bench at the same time that Aidan appears to mark him tightly - who whould that be? Would holding Adrian Spillane for that role be a good idea?

Full house and should be a cracking atmosphere at this one.

[dc84]

Mar 1, 2022 0:16:21 GMT ballhopper34 said:

Managing the Mayo impact sub late in the game, one Aidan O'Shea will be critical. He will show up wherever help is needed to either close out a victory for Mayo or get them back level at least if they are slightly behind.

Jack will spring somebody from the bench at the same time that Aidan appears to mark him tightly - who whould that be? Would holding Adrian Spillane for that role be a good idea?

Full house and should be a cracking atmosphere at this one.

No absolutely not , I don't get the constant talk about that man. Mayo have at least 7 or 8 better players to watch first. Diarmuid o connor is rejuvenated at 11 and will pose Morley lots of problems. The marauding half backs need to be tracked o donoghue is in flying form. Having plans for these is a lot more important imo.

[ballhopper34]

Of course they have more than AO’S, but the point is that Kerry have been lacking a bit toward the end of games. Mayo seem to have put Aidan as their late game guy, since he gets figured out in any other role as a game progresses. Things are different with him now, and we must be ready for him in a way we have not been very good at over the years.

It is a valid question and part of any tactical plan to anticipate opposition substitutes and how to deal with them.

I’m asking what and who will be part of that plan...or should I ask Kevin McMenamin?

[dc84]

While i get your point id be more worried about mcloughlin.

And o shea isnt Kevin mcmenamin in fairness he is a big strong good in the air hard tackling defensive midfielder. I saw mayo up in monaghan and he came on and made a difference alright coming in for his brother ( who was poor) .
It is our weakest area alright midfield but changing the way we play for him is silly fenton,Murphy etc he is not.
The game plan should be play our game and hammer the real mayo hammers Durcan,mullins,ruane o connor and o donoghue if we play our own game and nullify the above it won't matter what o shea does when he comes on.

[royalkerryfan]

The most interesting battle in 2 weeks is the Mayo half back line the best in the country and our half forward line.

This will test our backs because there's no better running side than Mayo.

Mayo have a strength in depth now.

Looking at the respective results so far Kerry have been more comfortable than Mayo but Mayo have played more new players than us.

They have a decent record against us in Tralee.

Another win should see us in league final which I think is important for us to play a final in Croke Park.

[peanuts]

Mar 1, 2022 13:41:51 GMT royalkerryfan said:

The most interesting battle in 2 weeks is the Mayo half back line the best in the country and our half forward line.

This will test our backs because there's no better running side than Mayo.

Mayo have a strength in depth now.

Looking at the respective results so far Kerry have been more comfortable than Mayo but Mayo have played more new players than us.

They have a decent record against us in Tralee.

Another win should see us in league final which I think is important for us to play a final in Croke Park.

That's one concern I'd have about Kerry at the moment. We have played with very strong side during the league especially since the Na Gaeil lads came back in to midfield. The team that started in either of the last 2 weeks could easily start in the championship. We need to bear that in mind when looking at the performances of some of our opponents. Donegal with Murphy back or Dublin with McCarthy, Con etc; will be much different proposition than they were in the league. As others have noted Mayo have used a lot of players and have more to come back yet. I just think this needs to be borne in mind when analysing Kerry's recent wins.

[Deleted]

We don't need to introduce a load of new players this year as we have a very young squad with plenty of depth for the 3 games that we have to worry about (which are the allireland quarter final in the middle of June, the allireland semifinal at the beginning of July, and the allireland final on July 24th.

We are totally safe now in the league and we will piss through Munster with ease, so no need for massive changes.

[peanuts]

Mar 1, 2022 14:14:42 GMT @asprilla said:

We don't need to introduce a load of new players this year as we have a very young squad with plenty of depth for the 3 games that we have to worry about (which are the allireland quarter final in the middle of June, the allireland semifinal at the beginning of July, and the allireland final on July 24th.

We are totally safe now in the league and we will piss through Munster with ease, so no need for massive changes.

I don't disagree with that at all and I understand why Jack has kept with a fairly settled team. My point was more around the fact that our opponents have fielded understrength teams and we shouldn't be reading too much into our victories.

[dc84]

There are a few things here, one should we just throw lads in for the sake of it or should they have to earn it in training? I believe the later personally. Secondly just throwing jerseys around randomly like the dubs is no good to anyone mayo have done it well in fairness to them.
The life cycle of the team is important aswell we are for the most part a young team and this is jacks first year with them so playing the same team more or less has led to good cohesion. Also injuries to Breen, okunbar and Joe o connor have meant we haven't been able to try out those lads which I'm sure he wouldve.

[royalkerryfan]

I think our opponents have been poor enough to this point with the exception of Kildare.
However we are unbeaten in the league in 12 games I believe now and have the best defensive record albeit against poor enough opposition.

[onlykerry]

We have seen over the past decade that the days of a strong 15 being good enough are gone - the strongest squad will lift the AI for the next decade and the onus is on JOC to know his strongest squad and have the bench that can finish games strongly and cope with injuries (particularly with the way the championship is becoming condensed).

We have lost a lot of tight games coming down the stretch and this has to be the focus. Great Kerry teams (and the recent Dublin teams) won when they should have lost - they had that never say die attitude and were able to find the vital scores when it mattered. Losing was not an option.

We have the players and if we can develop that winning habit it should become endemic in the teams mindset - therefore wholesale changes and sacrificing games to try out a host of players is not what we should be doing (and JOC is not) - blood a couple of new lads when they are showing well enough in training and strengthen the squad but build that winning mentality and self belief also.

[dano]

Mayo in Tralee will be the toughest challenge yet. Mayo players and supporters seem to have it in for Kerry since 2014. They seem to think that ,somehow, the GAA colluded with Kerry on the venue and that Cormac Reilly colluded with Kerry to have them lose. Total nonsense of course but I think we'd be just as paranoid if Kerry has lost seven finals in ten years. Mayo are going well in the League this year and are boosted by Oisin Mullins' reversal of his Australian move. I actually think it is a great thing that Mayo were able to coax him back. Money and a good job had to be on the table for it and other counties should follow. See what Kieran Kilkenny's and Cathal Mc Shane's move back to Ireland has yielded them and their counties.
Stefan's return caused a good buzz but that has been dampened by the injury. Hopefully he recovers fully and will be around for the two in a row next year

[mike70]

Mar 1, 2022 16:39:22 GMT onlykerry said:

We have seen over the past decade that the days of a strong 15 being good enough are gone - the strongest squad will lift the AI for the next decade and the onus is on JOC to know his strongest squad and have the bench that can finish games strongly and cope with injuries (particularly with the way the championship is becoming condensed).

We have lost a lot of tight games coming down the stretch and this has to be the focus. Great Kerry teams (and the recent Dublin teams) won when they should have lost - they had that never say die attitude and were able to find the vital scores when it mattered. Losing was not an option.

We have the players and if we can develop that winning habit it should become endemic in the teams mindset - therefore wholesale changes and sacrificing games to try out a host of players is not what we should be doing (and JOC is not) - blood a couple of new lads when they are showing well enough in training and strengthen the squad but build that winning mentality and self belief also.

onlykerry, 100% agree on the first 15, it’s been my mantra for awhile, I think it’s where we failed in 2019 especially😂, we did not have the players to close out the game. I am happy how Jack has developed the squad, firstly he has consistency, that’s a must, what dublin had in team selection over there 6 in a row or how many ever, Jack is now also experimenting with his squad, he will do more as he secures a league final place and that’s good for the squad, heading into championship training. I know Jack from his comments is torn between a league final and the pending work load in training, but I think Jack would take a league final, has to build confidence.

[tonydorigo]

Probably the best test for kerry so far coming up. Have had to bite by tongue on the criticism of Jack's appointment as he has shown well so far. Fitzmaurice always talked about defensive set up and before one league stated that it was the main area that needed to be addressed in the Kerry team. They then proceeded to leave two full backs with 40 yards of space in front of them for the whole game against Donegal and conceded a huge score. Jack has rightly seen that if we can impart a defensive system onto these players then we can seriously challenge anyone. (I know it is only league but it is still rare that we get excited about defensive performances in league. Usually we salivate at our offensive power)

The team are showing smarts and the learnings from the last few years. No more running down blind alleys like we saw against Tyrone last year (a friend at the weekend described it as a senior team playing minor football). We have added players to the backline that could stand the heat test come championship and also seemed to have more cohesion up front.

Midfield would be source of concern though as no player outside of Moran seems to have the ability to win us clean possession in the air when under pressure. That release valve in pressure situations can't be underestimated and means that there is still a role for David. Hopefully we might see some games in him before the end of the league.

I think we can match Mayo for depth and options so looking forward to a cracker. We are due a dry sod surely at this stage after the washouts of the last few games.

[piggott]

Are tickets already sold out for Saturday night's game?

[thepromisedland]

This game could go anyway, we have the fastest running backing in the country potentially, with Foley and White, our defence has tightened up a lot considerably, we now win turnovers,as we are not conciding as many threatening fouls and we protect the arc well, Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy have been rejuvenated in finding their mojo. Right now, we are tge fastest counter attacking side in the country, when it comes to kick passing from turnovers and on the overlap when other sides play the egotistic goalkeeper style of game. No better team at exploiting and punishing other sides at this, than we do. So a lot of plus factors there, more to come.
I still want us to try more long range shooting, if your good at kick passing, you should be good at long range shooting, no excuses, just like our Golden Year's Kerry teams of the 70'and 80's.
Physically against Mayo, I would worry slightly, they are bigger than us, important not to take the ball into the tackle against them, tire them out with our kick passing into space, the ball will always travel faster than the man.

We are doing well thus far. Hopefully it will stay dry and not that miserable drizzle we had back in March 2019 v Mayo under the lights in Tralee. Aidan O'Shea was immense that night.
Slightly within two weeks later, we lost to them again in a Laegue Final up in Croke Park under Peter Keane. That to me, was unforgivable, losing twice to the same opposition like that, having learnt nothing at all whatsoever.
The match next Saturday could well be shadow boxing, who knows, as we may both meet in a League Final, in which I wouod be moving heaven and earth to win.
Winning 3 in a row League Finals, last done in 1971, '72, and 1973.

The word on the street up in Mayo, is they do not fear us at all whatsoever, that's what I'm seeing, talking to them and hearing up there, even going as far as making disparaging remarks about our two venues, Austin Stack Park and Fitzgerald Stadium, eventhough they love coming down here.

[dc84]

I think we are going grand I wouldn't buy into other teams missing players etc. Monaghan were going as per usual this year and had been competitive in every game and we gave them a nice trimming some of it is we are by a distance the best kicking team around id have armagh 2nd and consequently we have used the wind better than any team.
On Jack I didn't see any alternative to him really tbh the stack ticket while attractive because of some of the names left me uninspired for some reason. Be interesting to see how Declan gets on with the 20s with a proper season ahead of him early signs are encouraging.
Be great if Jack brings us to the promised land this year and maybe the likes of Donaghy,galvin or Aidan o Mahoney get involved in next couple of years.
I will finish on one thought we have been the most consistent team in the league the last 3 or 4 years for a reason we are a very good team who are justifiably up there as contenders if we win one we should be confident of being around for a while given the age profile. Our leaders are for the most part the right side of 25 and that's a great place to be in , but this year Is crucial imo we need to win it!

[thepromisedland]

Mar 5, 2022 14:27:20 GMT dc84 said:

I think we are going grand I wouldn't buy into other teams missing players etc. Monaghan were going as per usual this year and had been competitive in every game and we gave them a nice trimming some of it is we are by a distance the best kicking team around id have armagh 2nd and consequently we have used the wind better than any team.
On Jack I didn't see any alternative to him really tbh the stack ticket while attractive because of some of the names left me uninspired for some reason. Be interesting to see how Declan gets on with the 20s with a proper season ahead of him early signs are encouraging.
Be great if Jack brings us to the promised land this year and maybe the likes of Donaghy,galvin or Aidan o Mahoney get involved in next couple of years.
I will finish on one thought we have been the most consistent team in the league the last 3 or 4 years for a reason we are a very good team who are justifiably up there as contenders if we win one we should be confident of being around for a while given the age profile. Our leaders are for the most part the right side of 25 and that's a great place to be in , but this year Is crucial imo we need to win it!

Brilliant 👏 post. I fully concur 💯

[Annascaultilidie]

Mayo didn't beat Kerry in Championship for 21 years and I did not respect them until they did.

I feel something similar about this Kerry side. I love them, I love their skills and to my mind they have given their heart and soul to the cause.

But they are nowhere until they win the All Ireland.

It's tough, and I have a lot of sympathy for the years of heartbreak so many of these heroes have endured, for all their hard work and skill, but I won't be confident of All-Ireland success until they have the final opposition dead and buried.

[taggert]

I think thats the bottom line now - winning an All Ireland. Another league win, while admirable, will neither sate the players (and the "animals") nor will it allow us fully "trust" this group to win the big prize.
If/when they do, it could be the making of what is a very strong and ideally aged core.

[kerrylad81]

Mayo will probably be the toughest test so far should get a better idea where we are at this stage

[sullyschoice]

If we can get across the line this year I think they can kick on and win a few. Lose and we may not win one for a while.

Mayo are my worry this year. I think they are going in the right direction and will be hard bate come summertime. And at 5 to 1 they are not a bad bet.

[exiled]

Mar 5, 2022 12:30:54 GMT thepromisedland said:

This game could go anyway, we have the fastest running backing in the country potentially, with Foley and White, our defence has tightened up a lot considerably, we now win turnovers,as we are not conciding as many threatening fouls and we protect the arc well, Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy have been rejuvenated in finding their mojo. Right now, we are tge fastest counter attacking side in the country, when it comes to kick passing from turnovers and on the overlap when other sides play the egotistic goalkeeper style of game. No better team at exploiting and punishing other sides at this, than we do. So a lot of plus factors there, more to come.
I still want us to try more long range shooting, if your good at kick passing, you should be good at long range shooting, no excuses, just like our Golden Year's Kerry teams of the 70'and 80's.
Physically against Mayo, I would worry slightly, they are bigger than us, important not to take the ball into the tackle against them, tire them out with our kick passing into space, the ball will always travel faster than the man.

We are doing well thus far. Hopefully it will stay dry and not that miserable drizzle we had back in March 2019 v Mayo under the lights in Tralee. Aidan O'Shea was immense that night.
Slightly within two weeks later, we lost to them again in a Laegue Final up in Croke Park under Peter Keane. That to me, was unforgivable, losing twice to the same opposition like that, having learnt nothing at all whatsoever.
The match next Saturday could well be shadow boxing, who knows, as we may both meet in a League Final, in which I wouod be moving heaven and earth to win.
Winning 3 in a row League Finals, last done in 1971, '72, and 1973.

The word on the street up in Mayo, is they do not fear us at all whatsoever, that's what I'm seeing, talking to them and hearing up there, even going as far as making disparaging remarks about our two venues, Austin Stack Park and Fitzgerald Stadium, eventhough they love coming down here.

Have to disagree with you there about Mayo people not respecting Kerry team and venue's. And why should they fear us until we prove ourselves. As for 3 in a row leagues or 4 in a row as in 74 there was no Sam in those years either.

[thepromisedland]

Mar 5, 2022 22:39:27 GMT exiled said:

Mar 5, 2022 12:30:54 GMT thepromisedland said:

This game could go anyway, we have the fastest running backing in the country potentially, with Foley and White, our defence has tightened up a lot considerably, we now win turnovers,as we are not conciding as many threatening fouls and we protect the arc well, Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy have been rejuvenated in finding their mojo. Right now, we are tge fastest counter attacking side in the country, when it comes to kick passing from turnovers and on the overlap when other sides play the egotistic goalkeeper style of game. No better team at exploiting and punishing other sides at this, than we do. So a lot of plus factors there, more to come.
I still want us to try more long range shooting, if your good at kick passing, you should be good at long range shooting, no excuses, just like our Golden Year's Kerry teams of the 70'and 80's.
Physically against Mayo, I would worry slightly, they are bigger than us, important not to take the ball into the tackle against them, tire them out with our kick passing into space, the ball will always travel faster than the man.

We are doing well thus far. Hopefully it will stay dry and not that miserable drizzle we had back in March 2019 v Mayo under the lights in Tralee. Aidan O'Shea was immense that night.
Slightly within two weeks later, we lost to them again in a Laegue Final up in Croke Park under Peter Keane. That to me, was unforgivable, losing twice to the same opposition like that, having learnt nothing at all whatsoever.
The match next Saturday could well be shadow boxing, who knows, as we may both meet in a League Final, in which I wouod be moving heaven and earth to win.
Winning 3 in a row League Finals, last done in 1971, '72, and 1973.

The word on the street up in Mayo, is they do not fear us at all whatsoever, that's what I'm seeing, talking to them and hearing up there, even going as far as making disparaging remarks about our two venues, Austin Stack Park and Fitzgerald Stadium, eventhough they love coming down here.

Have to disagree with you there about Mayo people not respecting Kerry team and venue's. And why should they fear us until we prove ourselves. As for 3 in a row leagues or 4 in a row as in 74 there was no Sam in those years either.

You can disagree all you like with me, that's your prerogative, but I'm up there 19 year's, I'm down here every weekend and holiday time, so I'd have my ear to the ground more than anyone in making differentiations between both counties on many things. Commuting between the two counties weekly, gives a good insight between the two people's, and believe you me, there are lots of differences.
As for the treble league success in the early to mid 70's, I was only referring to the league specifically as equalling the record, I never mentioned anything about the championship at all.

[kerrybhoy06]

On the above about teams not fearing us, I’d have to concur.

Through work I’d regularly interact with lads from most counties who are big GAA fans/heavily involved at club level and there is an almost uniform consensus that we are soft.

That once the intensity is turned up and lads are in our faces that we will wilt. We have become the new Mayo in a lot of peoples eyes.

Lads will often tell me that we probably have the most talented group of players but not leaders and that we won’t win an all Ireland

[southward]

Mar 6, 2022 8:54:23 GMT kerrybhoy06 said:

On the above about teams not fearing us, I’d have to concur.

Through work I’d regularly interact with lads from most counties who are big GAA fans/heavily involved at club level and there is an almost uniform consensus that we are soft.

That once the intensity is turned up and lads are in our faces that we will wilt. We have become the new Mayo in a lot of peoples eyes.

Lads will often tell me that we probably have the most talented group of players but not leaders and that we won’t win an all Ireland

"the new Mayo" - lol, that's harsh

[royalkerryfan]

Mar 6, 2022 8:54:23 GMT kerrybhoy06 said:

On the above about teams not fearing us, I’d have to concur.

Through work I’d regularly interact with lads from most counties who are big GAA fans/heavily involved at club level and there is an almost uniform consensus that we are soft.

That once the intensity is turned up and lads are in our faces that we will wilt. We have become the new Mayo in a lot of peoples eyes.

Lads will often tell me that we probably have the most talented group of players but not leaders and that we won’t win an all Ireland

Yep hear that all the time.

Hard to argue with it.

[piggott]

Mar 5, 2022 22:39:27 GMT exiled said:

Mar 5, 2022 12:30:54 GMT thepromisedland said:

This game could go anyway, we have the fastest running backing in the country potentially, with Foley and White, our defence has tightened up a lot considerably, we now win turnovers,as we are not conciding as many threatening fouls and we protect the arc well, Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy have been rejuvenated in finding their mojo. Right now, we are tge fastest counter attacking side in the country, when it comes to kick passing from turnovers and on the overlap when other sides play the egotistic goalkeeper style of game. No better team at exploiting and punishing other sides at this, than we do. So a lot of plus factors there, more to come.
I still want us to try more long range shooting, if your good at kick passing, you should be good at long range shooting, no excuses, just like our Golden Year's Kerry teams of the 70'and 80's.
Physically against Mayo, I would worry slightly, they are bigger than us, important not to take the ball into the tackle against them, tire them out with our kick passing into space, the ball will always travel faster than the man.

We are doing well thus far. Hopefully it will stay dry and not that miserable drizzle we had back in March 2019 v Mayo under the lights in Tralee. Aidan O'Shea was immense that night.
Slightly within two weeks later, we lost to them again in a Laegue Final up in Croke Park under Peter Keane. That to me, was unforgivable, losing twice to the same opposition like that, having learnt nothing at all whatsoever.
The match next Saturday could well be shadow boxing, who knows, as we may both meet in a League Final, in which I wouod be moving heaven and earth to win.
Winning 3 in a row League Finals, last done in 1971, '72, and 1973.

The word on the street up in Mayo, is they do not fear us at all whatsoever, that's what I'm seeing, talking to them and hearing up there, even going as far as making disparaging remarks about our two venues, Austin Stack Park and Fitzgerald Stadium, eventhough they love coming down here.

Have to disagree with you there about Mayo people not respecting Kerry team and venue's. And why should they fear us until we prove ourselves. As for 3 in a row leagues or 4 in a row as in 74 there was no Sam in those years either.

74 League winning team had 10 of 1975 winning All Ireland team. Those four leagues were won by a team in transition.

[piggott]

Mar 5, 2022 22:39:27 GMT exiled said:

Mar 5, 2022 12:30:54 GMT thepromisedland said:

This game could go anyway, we have the fastest running backing in the country potentially, with Foley and White, our defence has tightened up a lot considerably, we now win turnovers,as we are not conciding as many threatening fouls and we protect the arc well, Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy have been rejuvenated in finding their mojo. Right now, we are tge fastest counter attacking side in the country, when it comes to kick passing from turnovers and on the overlap when other sides play the egotistic goalkeeper style of game. No better team at exploiting and punishing other sides at this, than we do. So a lot of plus factors there, more to come.
I still want us to try more long range shooting, if your good at kick passing, you should be good at long range shooting, no excuses, just like our Golden Year's Kerry teams of the 70'and 80's.
Physically against Mayo, I would worry slightly, they are bigger than us, important not to take the ball into the tackle against them, tire them out with our kick passing into space, the ball will always travel faster than the man.

We are doing well thus far. Hopefully it will stay dry and not that miserable drizzle we had back in March 2019 v Mayo under the lights in Tralee. Aidan O'Shea was immense that night.
Slightly within two weeks later, we lost to them again in a Laegue Final up in Croke Park under Peter Keane. That to me, was unforgivable, losing twice to the same opposition like that, having learnt nothing at all whatsoever.
The match next Saturday could well be shadow boxing, who knows, as we may both meet in a League Final, in which I wouod be moving heaven and earth to win.
Winning 3 in a row League Finals, last done in 1971, '72, and 1973.

The word on the street up in Mayo, is they do not fear us at all whatsoever, that's what I'm seeing, talking to them and hearing up there, even going as far as making disparaging remarks about our two venues, Austin Stack Park and Fitzgerald Stadium, eventhough they love coming down here.

Have to disagree with you there about Mayo people not respecting Kerry team and venue's. And why should they fear us until we prove ourselves. As for 3 in a row leagues or 4 in a row as in 74 there was no Sam in those years either.

74 League winning team had 10 of 1975 winning All Ireland team. Those four leagues were won by a team in transition.