Much is made of Dublin's pre-eminence in Leinster but down in Munster, Kerry are enjoying their own decade of dominance. Yesterday they won their fifth Munster title in a row in Fitzgerald Stadium. While the results may not be as one-sided as the Dublin's win over Westmeath, Kerry have turned winning provincial titles into a cakewalk.
While the Kerry-Cork Munster finals of the late noughties were not far from blood sport, Munster is now a formality for Kerry. While there will always be something beautiful about hammering Cork, Kerry's attention is firmly on Croke Park, as they look to build on their League title and stop the Dublin three-in-a-row.
On this week's episode of Talking Points in partnership with Sky Sports, the lads welcomed Tomas 'Mossy' Quinn, an All-Ireland winner with Dublin and St Vincent's, to the studio to discuss Kerry's All-Ireland credentials. Quinn extolled the virtues of this Kerry team but said Dublin will not fear them.
"I don't think they'll fear Kerry but there's been a rivalry there the last couple of years and the League final this year puts an exclamation point on that. Because this Kerry team hadn't beat Dublin in a meaningful game in a number of years. I don't think them winning Munster will change anything.
What I take there is the strength and depth they're bringing in."
The incredible depth in the Kerry panel was on show for the world to see yesterday. Just look at the weapons Eamon Fitzmaurice could beckon from the subs bench yesterday, primarily amongst the forwards: Stephen O'Brien, Darran O'Sullivan, Barry John Keane, Johnny Buckley, Jack Barry, Killian Young.
Kerry have (at least) 9 forwards that would start on any team in Ireland. And they all bring something different to the Kingdom's attack. James O'Donoghue is a poacher. Kieran Donaghy cannot be stopped into the air. Paul Geaney is just a pure scorer. Kevin McCarthy is the young wildcard. Donnachadh Walsh and Mikey Geaney do all the thankless things that modern forwards must do.
We asked Mossy which Kerry forward he would bring to the capital if he had a choice. He opted for O'Donoghue, who bagged a handy 0-7 yesterday, including four frees.
O'Donoghue just has that little spark when he gets the ball. He kicks so well off of both feet. He kicked some serious scores yesterday, left foot and right foot.
He's the kind of footballer that Hill 16 would love.
Interestingly, Mossy also expressed his fondness for the industrious Mikey Geaney as a footballer who doesn't get the respect he deserves.
"I have to say I'm a big fan of Michael Geaney. He goes under the radar. He gets a lot of work done. He's a serious footballer with a serious engine going up and down the pitch."
(When asked which Dublin forward he would send to the Kingdown, Quinn took the diplomatic approach and opted for Bernard Brogan, who has strong Kerry roots.)
We seem destined for another Dublin-Kerry All-Ireland final this year. Whether Eamon Fitzmaurice will avenge those crushing defeats to Dublin in the Championship these past few years remains to be seen, but Kerry put down another marker yesterday. No doubt Jim Gavin took notice.
