Kerry duo play the sharing game

AN unusual occasion in Kerry: the lead up to an All Ireland semi final.

Even more striking is that there appears to be a fair degree of interest in the event despite the county's traditional indifference to these matches in August.

Although county secretary Tony O'Keeffe has been less than overwhelmed by the demand for Hogan Stand tickets, the belief is that big numbers will travel and make their own arrangements in either the New Stand or on the terraces. Special trains are fully booked.

It is, of course, five years since Kerry reached an All Ireland semi final and 10 since the county's last final. The experience will be a novel one for the overwhelming majority of the Kerry players and it's a first venture even for the management of Paidi O Se and Seamus Mac Gearailt, who lead their team to Croke Park after less than a year in charge.

"Just looking forward to the challenge," says Mac Gearailt, "waiting for Sunday. Both teams are in similar positions, team building."

He and O Se have an unusual power sharing arrangement. Both were appointed by the county board and have distinct functions. O Se is manager and trainer whereas Mac Gearailt is coach. An odd set up? Not at all, says the coach.

"No. Eugene (McKenna) and Art (MacRory) up in Tyrone are joint managers. I think you'll see more of it. It's a huge undertaking for any one person. There's an awful lot of organising, preparations, things that people don't realise. Paidi does the actual training and I can concentrate on the organisational side. It's great to be able to share that responsibility."

Their common background was in last year's successful All Ireland under 21 team when Mac Gearailt was one of O Se's selectors.

"The under 21s is how it came about," says Mac Gearailt. "We were both interested in the senior job and had looked for it on each of the last two occasions. So, the third time, we decided to travel on the one ticket.

"Paidi and I work well together. We discuss tactics and thrash them out. We have the same outlook on the game and the way we want it played."

That much has been obvious. During the Munster final after the injury to Sean Burke, both men could be seen deep in conversation on the sideline before the switches were made. The switches may have been obvious enough, but the point was the thoroughness with which they were talked through.

Observers have noticed that Kerry are playing a more direct style of game since the new management took over. Based on speed to the breaking ball and quick release, it has been effective to date.

"We put the emphasis on the basics," says Mac Gearailt. "Football is simple and you do the simple things right. It should be played directly and get away from the basketball type of game. I believe in a mixture of the best aspects of the modern game and the traditional game and trying to gel them together.

"I believe in the basic skills of football, foot ball kicking and high fielding. I'd like to see them come back into the game."

There is a strong tradition in Kerry of coaching. Seminal coaching theories have originated in the county from Dick Fitzgerald's published in 1914, Eamonn O'Sullivan's in 1958 up to Mick O'Dwyer's unprecedented run of success in the 1970s and 80s.

Mac Gearailt is pragmatic. "You play the type of game that suits the quality of players you have. There's no magic formula you use your gut feeling. I played under Dr Eamonn O'Sullivan Jackie Lyne and Johnny Culloty and learned a little bit from each of them.

"Every player has his own instincts and should be allowed express them and show those talents. It's up to management to adapt them for the betterment of the team."

Involved at minor level for two periods of management, Mac Gearailt produced All Ireland champions in both spells. The 1975 team included several who would figure prominently in the senior four in a row, 1978-81: Charlie Nelligan, Mick Spillane, Sean Walsh and Jack O'Shea. He was successful again in 1988.

"The GAA is a kind of bug in the system," he says. Managing the seniors was never, when he was involved in minor, an ambition of his he says. "But after a couple of years resting, the bug got at me again. I was anxious to give something back to the game I loved playing.

"There's more pressure in senior management. There may be a lot of interest in under age but it's senior that counts at the end of the day. It's a great help to be involved in the under 21s. In the three years, a lot of fellas came through."

Happy at the progress made to date, Mac Gearailt isn't, however, jumping to conclusions.

"There's a lot of good talent around the county. I wouldn't like to lose the run of ourselves because we beat Cork but the win helped them and there's the basis of a good team in the present panel."