GAA:A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
My Dublin-Kerry
DARA Ó CINNÉIDE
(Kerry 1995-2004, All-Ireland winning captain 2004)
“During my time I suppose it was a bit anti-climactic. You were wondering what all of the fuss was about. The biggest event was in 2001 and the replay in Semple Stadium rather than Croke Park, and a lot of the Dublin supporters got delayed.
“The following week they were ringing Joe Duffy wanting to know why the GAA were playing matches in places like Thurles. “By 2004 Dublin were on a downward slope when we played them. It was my last year. I finished with three All-Ireland medals - in Kerry that’s a respectable low to mid-table career!”
COMAN GOGGINS
(Dublin 2000-’08)
“I can’t say that Dublin enjoyed the recent rivalry, but it’s still such a big tradition. I thought Thurles added to it in 2001. Dublin don’t get to travel much, so I remember being on the bus coming into Liberty Square and there were so many people there it really raised the hairs on the back of the neck.
“Croke Park is atmospheric, but the noise and atmosphere in Semple Semple was amazing. Although Tyrone did so well during the decade I think for a Dublin footballer, measuring yourself against Kerry was the benchmark. If you could say you performed in a championship match with Kerry that’s an achievement.”
Tried and Trusted: Kerry put their faith in veteran back six
ALL the talk of the Kerry defence’s age is well-founded to the extent that, should the county win, they will be the oldest back six to win an All-Ireland in the qualifier era.
With only Killian Young under the age of 30, the defence as named for the Mayo semi-final would have an aggregate age of 182, pushing the average just over 30. No team to have won the Sam Maguire since 2001 has hit that mark.
Given the county’s success and settled defence in recent years it’s no surprise that Kerry have been slowly building to this distinction with the only backward step taken in 2007 when the age dropped from the previous year with two 20-year olds, Pádraig Reidy and Killian Young on the team.
The Tyrone side which won the county’s first title in 2003, unsurprisingly given that it was based on the successful under-21 sides of 2000 and ’01, featured the youngest defence to win out with an average age of just over 23.
Average Age of Back Six
Kerry 2009 29
Kerry 2006 27.5
Armagh 2002 27.1
Cork 2010 27
Galway 2001 26.5
Tyrone 2008 25.6
Kerry 2007 25.1
Kerry 2004 25
Tyrone 2005 24.1
Tyrone 2003 23.3
Brosnan still out in front: But Gooch poses a big threat
WEXFORD’S Ben Brosnan still holds a five-point lead at the top of the scoring ladder for the 2011 football championship, but could well find himself caught by around 5pm on Sunday evening.
That’s because Kerry’s Colm Cooper is best placed to overtake the prolific Wexford man as he is only five points behind. Dublin’s top scorer, Bernard Brogan is nine points behind Brosnan, and may yet top the ladder himself.
Johnny Doyle from Kildare, who topped the scoring lists last year is in joint second place with Cooper.
2011 SFC Top Scorers
Ben Brosnan (Wexford) 0-32 (32)
Colm Cooper (Kerry) 1-24 (27)
John Doyle (Kildare) 2-21 (27)
Donncha O’Connor (Cork) 4-14 (26)
Cian Ward (Meath) 4-12 (24)
Ciaran Lyng (Wexford) 1-21 (24)
Bernard Brogan (Dublin) 0-23 (23)
Cillian O’Connor (Mayo) 1-19 (22)
Donie Shine (Roscommon) 1-19 (22)
Daniel Goulding (Cork) 2-16 (22)
Dubs fearing: Double trouble
LOPSIDED RIVALRY:WHILE Dublin have beaten Kerry six times in the senior football championship, Kerry will be bidding for their unbeaten run against the Leinster side to enter double figures this Sunday.
Since Dublin’s win over Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final in 1977, the stats between the sides read: Kerry 8 wins; Dublin 0 wins; 1 draw.
1978 All-Ireland final
Kerry 5-11 Dublin 0-9
1979 All-Ireland final
Kerry 3-13 Dublin 1-8
1984 All-Ireland final
Kerry 0-14 Dublin 1-6
1985 All-Ireland final
Kerry 2-12 Dublin 2-8
2001 All-Ireland Quarter-final
Kerry 1-14 Dublin 2-11
2001 All-Ireland Quarter-final (r)
Kerry 2-12 Dublin 1-12
2004 All-Ireland Quarter-final
Kerry 1-15 Dublin 1-8
2007 All-Ireland Semi-final
Kerry 1-15 Dublin 0-16
2009 All-Ireland Quarter-final
Kerry 1-24 Dublin 1-7
Kerry’s Eight Wins
Biggest wins – 1978 2009
(both won by 17 pts)
Average win – 8.25pts.
