GAELIC GAMES:While Tyrone have beaten Kerry three times in six seasons, the long journey to Killarney could be a crucial factor, writes IAN O'RIORDAN
IT MAY not count for anything but Kerry hold one advantage over Tyrone going into tomorrow’s football qualifier: they’ve never lost in this phase of the championship, boasting the perfect nine wins and zero defeats since the qualifier format was first introduced in 2001.
It may not count for anything either but Tyrone also hold one advantage over Kerry: they’ve beaten them every time they’ve met in the championship, three times in six seasons, since Mickey Harte took charge of the county in 2003.
What probably will count is Kerry’s home advantage, although whether or not that’s enough to see them through to round four remains to be seen.
Tyrone defender Seán O’Neill has admitted that the long journey south is far from ideal, and by the time they get to Killarney tomorrow evening, many of the Tyrone players will have been on the road for almost six hours, and covered over 250 miles.
“It takes a lot out of a team, in terms of preparation, when you have to make a four or five hour journey on the day before a game,” said O’Neill.
“We’re not having much luck in terms of home advantage, and in the qualifiers in particular, home advantage can be a huge thing for sides.
“It’s difficult to get the planning right, and it upsets the routine that you want to follow.
“It will take a lot out of ourselves, but that’s the draw we have been given, and that’s what we must do.”
Indeed Tyrone have been on the road all summer, and have yet to draw a game at Healy Park in Omagh, although it’s something of a novelty for Kerry too, as most of their nine victories in the qualifiers have come on the road, including last Sunday’s second round win over Westmeath in Mullingar.
However, Kerry are seeking a first championship win over Tyrone since 1986, in what is their fourth attempt overall. That 1986 All-Ireland final win was actually the sides’ first championship clash.
Tyrone have since triumphed three times, all of them at Croke Park, including the 2005 and 2008 All-Ireland finals, and the infamous 2003 All-Ireland semi-final.
Tyrone boast an impressive qualifier record of their own, winning 15 and losing only two, their last defeat back 2006, when they were beaten by Laois, 0-9 to 0-6, in the second round.
For the six other counties in action in tomorrow’s third round, Kildare are comfortably the third-best ranked outfit, having won 15 of their 22 games – and in fact have remained unbeaten in the qualifiers since losing to Laois in 2007.
Opponents Limerick reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals via the qualifiers last year, beating Offaly, Waterford and Wexford and began this year’s qualifiers campaign with a surprise win in extra-time against Longford last Saturday.
Leitrim host Laois coming off the back of their first ever qualifier win, against Wicklow last Saturday, while Laois have won 11 and lost eight and accounted for Monaghan the last day out.
Finally, Tipperary play Antrim for the first time in championship history, one of the ever decreasing inaugural meetings, and it’s the least likely of pairings too as Antrim stunned Galway and Tipperary did likewise against Wexford to get this far.
As is to underline that fact they both boast identical qualifier record having played 14, won five, and lost nine.
FOOTBALL QUALIFIER RECORDS
KERRY– Played: 9; Won: 9
TYRONE– Played: 17; Won: 15 ; Lost: 2
KILDARE– Played: 22; Won: 15; Lost: 7
LAOIS– Played: 19; Won: 11; Lost: 8
LIMERICK– Played: 18; Won: 8; Lost: 10
TIPPERARY– Played: 14; Won: 5; Lost: 9
ANTRIM– Played: 14; Won: 5; Lost: 9
LEITRIM– Played: 11; Won: 1; Lost: 10
