Kerry machine have more than dirty petrol in tank

"THERE'S A LOT of dirty petrol coming out," said Darragh Ó Sé after the decisive five-point victory over Galway at Pearse Stadium in the National Football League on April 13th. Despite this, Kerry are in another league final on Sunday.

Kerry encounter a similar problem to the Galway hurlers each year: a lack of competitive action. The league is always worth the extra endeavour as it is the only high-octane action they can get before the championship gets under way on June 8th.

Yet, the All-Ireland champions have Sunday's match against Derry before entering a cocoon for six weeks from which they emerge to face the winners of Waterford and Clare. Their first genuinely competitive game may not come until the Munster final, put back to July 6th.

This drawn-out lull period at least allows players like Bryan Sheehan, this year's captain Paul Galvin, Seán O'Sullivan and Tommy Griffin ample time to recover from injury. It also gives Darragh Ó Sé and other returnees time to attain peak fitness. The in-form Sheehan damaged knee ligaments against Galway but the others could be in contention for Derry, although the panel is strong enough either way.

Even the absence of under-21 players due to their All-Ireland final against Kildare on May 3rd is of minor concern to manager Pat O'Shea. "Bryan only suffered a slight tear so it should be a couple of weeks," said O'Shea, who names a team tomorrow. "Paul is making progress from a long-term hamstring problem but we will not be rushing him along."

What frustrates O'Shea is the scheduling of the league final for 2.15pm in Parnell Park. "We would have preferred a midlands venue," he says. "It is a transport issue. The difficulty of getting into Dublin requires a very early-morning start for Kerry people. We understand the league final against Galway in 2006 clashed (with Munster's Heineken Cup rugby semi-final) and it affected the crowd turnout."

Still, the Kerry manager has no complaints about onfield matters. With several frontliners recently returning to the fold - Colm Cooper and Declan O'Sullivan were replacements the last day - players like Darren O'Sullivan have made real claims for permanent starting berths.

"Absolutely. I'm very happy to be where we currently are. We've had seven very good games. Blooding players was always the intention in the league to unearth new talent come the championship. Certain players have taken their chance. The performance levels have been good."

Derry will also announce a team tomorrow night, with midfielder James Conway set to be replaced by Joe Diver. Conway developed septicaemia after a splinter got into his knee after a work-related accident. However, All Star forward Enda Muldoon is expected to recover from a hip problem.

Meanwhile, Westmeath could be without Dessie Dolan (hamstring) and David Duffy (ankle) for the Division Two final against Dublin in Navan on Saturday evening. Dublin have delayed naming a team as nine of the panel are under suspension.