Quiet relief in the Kerry dressing-room

This was the third All-Ireland semi-final which Kerry have played in this decade, the first they have won. Quiet relief was the mood of the hour in their dressing-room. The intense faces told the story of unfinished business. In one corner sat Mike Frank Russell whose name gets shorter with every appearance. Franny we were calling his yesterday. A 19year-old with the decisive goal to his credit, he seemed like a good source for gushing quotes. He is a model of restraint. Plays like a veteran, talks like a Kerry veteran.

Narrow-eyed stoicism. "I'm used to coming on as sub. I came on in the Munster final as well. It's a measure of the team's strength. It's hard for anyone to start in the first 15. We had two injured players in the stand as well today. Hopefully we can maintain the momentum. After today there will be a lot of pressure to hold places in training."

For a player who has won virtually everything in the game while still a schoolboy the shift from underage star to senior substitute has been instant and seems to presage full blown stardom which will last well into the new millennium. Franny is a one-game-at-a-time man though "It doesn't bother me. The team is announced on Tuesday but everyone is playing as if they are going to start the game anyway. It's hard to watch from the sideline, I'm dying to get in there.

"It's the ultimate honour in Kerry though to wear the green and gold, Lots of people say they are gradually bringing me in. That's fine."

And the goal. Franny takes up the running from the moment he took delivery of Maurice Fitzgerald's sublime pass. "I caught the ball and I'd noticed the 'keeper was small so when I got around your man I had only one thing in my head and that was to get a goal."

And that's it. Football's next great star goes back to his picking at his bootlaces. No fuss.

Pa Laide has been longer in the pasture but the reward is in sight now. He reckoned that in terms of impact Russell's goal was worth a lot more than three points.

"For about 15 minutes we kept leading by two points. We couldn't stretch that. It was a dangerous sort of lead to have.

One drop in concentration, like we saw in the first half and they'd be in for a goal. Thankfully we got away from them."

Laide acknowledges Russell's assassin's finish but commends the game's other hero for his role throughout.

"It would have been sad for a player the like of Maurice Fitz not to get to an All Ireland final. What can you say. The best footballer in the country at the moment. He'll win any ball, great ambassador, hopefully he'll get his reward."

Liam Hassett, the captain, pointed to his team's superior experience and strength as telling factors. "Lot of experience in this team. We are physically stronger. The bones of this year's team was there last year. That makes a lot of difference."

Cavan's more upbeat approach to the semi-final was considered to have been a tax on their focus. In Kerry the tactic of laying low and keeping the mouth shut had paid dividends.

"I wouldn't say we played it down deliberately," said Hassett smiling. "We were concentrating on the game rather than letting things get carried away. It was up to them what they did. They seemed to be enjoying it up there. It's experience on the day though. We said at half time just to keep calm. We had most of the possession in the first half. We knew there was another 35 minutes. We put the heads down and kept on going."

After a series of performances which haven't matched the size of his reputation, Dara O Cinneide was back in business yesterday. His confident, hard-working display was part of the big contribution made by the Kerry full forward line.

"The ball in there was better. Maurice Fitz was drifting out the field and he never gives a bad ball in, once he gives a ball in it's a good ball. We pulled away in the last five minutes. Maybe the result flattered us a little but midfield answered a few criticisms. They've had a lot of criticism that is unfair. There were a few good performances out there which surprised people.

"We'll all be watching our backs now. Treading water till the team for the final is picked."

Martin McHugh spoke to his team for quite some time in the sanctuary of the dressing-room. Afterwards he tended for the last time this season to the public relations aspect of his job.

Calm, collected and a little disappointed, he was inclined towards philosophy. "We are disappointed. Kerry's experience stood to them. We didn't play as well as we hoped to play and that is disappointing.

`'The first five minutes in the second half was an important stage for us. We missed vital scores early in the second half. Plus, we missed a few first-half frees. In the end Kerry were hungrier, they worked hard.

"It was hard for our lads. They never played in front of a crowd like that before . . . Hopefully they'll learn from this."

As for McHugh himself? "My three-year term is up. I have to sit and talk to the family first and then talk to Cavan."

With that he is off with the jaunt of man whose job has been well done.