Mismatch

Scaraveen (or, more accurately, ‘garbh shíon na gcuach’), that four-week period each year when the weather is so changeable, will be with us until midMay. One could get the weather of four seasons in the same day.

Although we were just one week into Scaraveen, on Saturday last at the Fitzgerald Stadium, there was no sound of the cuckoo heralding spring. And there was certainly no awakening of a new challenge to Kerry’s dominance when they strolled past Tipperary. No goals but a whopping 30 points in total: just five from the outclassed Tipperary and a return of 25 from Kerry. The devil himself knew beforehand that this was going to be a mismatch. Tipperary had a terrible league in the lower divisions, while Kerry survived in Division 1.

In fairness Tipperary kept out the high tide in the opening minutes and there was no score on the board by either side in the first 10 minutes. Was it just cat and mouse or what? More like hens scattering in all directions afraid of the fox. And then he struck. Paudie Clifford scored the opening point at the Lewis Road end.

David Clifford was not dominating but Kerry hit several points and it could have been worse for Tipperary just on the half-hour. A foot block on Clifford led to a penalty that was superbly saved by Michael O’Reilly in the Tipperary goal. Disappointment for Tony Brosnan, the Kerry kicker. It’s a good sign for a player to put aside disappointment and storm back. That was Brosnan in the second half, kicking four glorious points into scoreboard end to add to the one he kicked in the first half. That penalty was the only real chance of a goal. Would that worry Jack? Not really at this stage, but they will be needed when tougher opposition comes into play.

The second half was a real stroll as Kerry racked up the points.

During those scoreless opening 10 minutes of cat and mouse interplay, we were left wondering who was chasing whom.

(Divert attention to view the evergreen beautiful green grass surface of the stadium. How do they get it in pristine shape even after the torrential rain of the past five weeks or so? Croke Park has so much money, expertise and manpower at its disposal to have the playing surface in tip-top shape. The limited resources available to the Fitzgerald Stadium Committee dictates that the urgent is seen to first. Your €20 admission fee does not go into the coffers of the Fitzgerald Stadium.)

Did Kerry learn anything? The popular verdict was that Kerry learned nothing from this one-sided contest. I see it differently. The Kerry management learned enough to know 12 of the start- ing 15 for the latter stages of the real contest when Sam Maguire is down to 16 aspiring counties.

The rest will be off the main thoroughfare, hoping for some solace in the Tailteann Cup. Knowing 12 starters is important, but to regain Sam Maguire Kerry will need ready replacements to cover the inevitable injuries which are certain to come with games coming fast in a compressed 2023 championship schedule.

The Munster final v Clare will be played in Limerick in 10 days’ time. Kerry will get a good test from Clare for much of the game but I expect them to switch on the overdrive when they need it.

The All-Ireland quarter-finals are fixed for the weekend of July 1, the semi-finals on July 15/16, and the All-Ireland final on July 30. It is that concentrated. Some players will get injured, so a panel of readymade subs for all positions is essential.

Thankfully, Jack O’Connor is sensible enough to allow Kerry panel members who are not getting play time with the county to be released to their clubs. Sensible. Who wants to be sitting in the dugout for all games with no real opportunity to play? Instead, they will have football practice with their clubs. More about the Kerry campaign in the weeks ahead.

HALF-TIME DELIGHT

Killarney’s “Park” is where you want to play until the day you just might get to line out in Croke Park. In that respect, it was great to see the half-time games involving juveniles. How many will play in Croke Park some day? Very few indeed. I recall seeing one of these juvenile half-time mini games decades ago and was very impressed by one player in particular. He wasn’t a big fella, but by God could he shield the ball and deliver pinpoint foot passes. That and more, especially balance and ingenuity to spot a better placed player to score. He came from a small club on the edge of Waterville and he made it good. The outstanding Declan O’Sullivan. I am sure there were others too, but the Dromid garsún had it. The X-factor.

Kerry Hurlers

The Kerry hurlers have their sights set on the Joe McDonagh Cup to make up for their three disappointments to date. There was no crowning glory in Croke Park on those days, only bitter disappointment.

They are on target to make it to the final again after a plucky 1-17 to 0-14 win away to Kildare. The game was a lot closer than the six-point margin suggests. There was just a puck of a ball between the sides in a hectic finish at a very poor and wet venue. Kerry struck an injury time goal.

Now they will meet Offaly, a tough assignment always, especially away. The top scorers were: P Boyle 0-5 (1f),