'We're screwed if that's the team' is the predominant sentiment coming out of Kerry following the naming of the team to face Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
It features one change from the side which started the quarter-final against Clare. Colm Cooper at centre-forward with Darran O'Sullivan dropping to the bench.
Brian Kelly; Shane Enright, Mark Griffin, Killian Young; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Peter Crowley, Tadhg Morley; Kieran Donaghy, David Moran; Paul Murphy, Colm Cooper, Donnchadh Walsh; Stephen O’Brien, Paul Geaney, James O’Donoghue
Subs: Brendan Kealy, Darran O’Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan, Barry John Keane, Marc Ó Sé, Jonathan Lyne, Fionn Fitzgerald, Anthony Maher, Aidan O’Mahony Michael Geaney, Johnny Buckley
In the past, Eamonn Fitzmaurice has tended not to name a dummy team. But it is hard to believe that these will be the 15 players in green and gold on the Croke Park pitch come throw-in on Sunday.
Here's our stab at the Kerry team which will start the game. There are three changes to the team named on Friday evening. Out go Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Kieran Donaghy and Stephen O’Brien and in come Bryan Sheehan, Anthony Maher and Darran O'Sullivan.
Brian Kelly; Shane Enright, Mark Griffin, Killian Young; Paul Murphy, Peter Crowley, Tadhg Morley; Anthony Maher, David Moran; Bryan Sheehan, Colm Cooper, Donnchadh Walsh; Darran O'Sullivan, Paul Geaney, James O’Donoghue
Darran O'Sullivan has been excellent form this season. It's tough to understand why Fitzmaurice would now choose to drop him - he is not injured. Of all the selections, it's the one which makes you think that there's a bit of subterfuge going on.
While he's done well for Kerry at midfield this year, it's unlikely Kieran Donaghy will wield influence sufficient to beat Dublin. It will have to be Anthony Maher - whose partnership with David Moran has worked so well for the Kingdom in the past - with Donaghy being an option off the bench, probably at full forward.
Paul Murphy has played the majority of the year on the half-forward line but his tenaciousness could really solidify the Kerry armour closer to his own goal on the half-back line. He could be the man to shackle Ciaran Kilkenny.
As we've said previously, Bryan Sheehan, for his free-taking ability alone, has to be on the pitch for Kerry to beat Dublin.
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
