Sheehan happy to multi-task for Kerry's cause

ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL KERRY v TYRONE:Bryan Sheehan epitomises the role of a modern Kerry half forward which goes well beyond thinking about scoring, writes Seán Moran

IN THE old formulation of successful Kerry teams - a few farmers, a few fishermen and a college boy to kick the frees - Bryan Sheehan's role would have been straightforward but in the modern game with forwards tracking back and being the first line of defence and given the importance of breaking ball around the middle, the classical Cahirciveen kicker and Cork IT student has had to develop other aspects to his game.

He continues to provide a reliable source of scores from frees as far away as 50 or 60 metres but playing in the Kerry half forwards these days is a multi-demanding role. Sheehan concedes that he had to learn to adapt, especially when the team's most formidable groundhogs, Declan O'Sullivan and Paul Galvin, were unavailable earlier this season.

"It's definitely something I've had to add to my own game," says the 23-year-old forward. "When I first came into the set-up the one thing I found very difficult was the physical side of it. When Declan and Paul did go very early in the year it did mean that when I was moved out to the half forward I had to up the stakes, the work-rate and the aggression. It was something I really concentrated on and it really helped my game."

After the expectations of a high-profile underage career, he only broke into the championship starting 15 as late as last year but he's remained since and his place kicking has made a valuable contribution to getting the county to the brink of three in a row.

From the same club as the legendary Maurice Fitzgerald, who encouraged him on the way up, Sheehan has been a place-kicker for a long time.

"I've always been a place-kicker - since I was 12 years of age. There's no specialist training really. One thing that helped was that I spent two years in goal with the club, the school and Kerry minors and that helped the distance."

It also gave him a role in one of the county's less glorious episodes, the Munster under-21 football final defeat to Waterford five years ago when Sheehan was the goalkeeper past whom Shane Walsh's winning goal whistled.

Although he doesn't do a great deal of specialised training he does have a routine before big occasions like next weekend to try to establish and maintain the rhythm vital to his role.

"Two weeks before the game I'd go off by myself and do a bit. If the technique is right and I'm striking the ball properly that's more important to me in practice than seeing it go over because once you're striking the ball comfortably and the technique is right I'm happy.

"There are times when I kick off the hand but it's more comfortable and there's more control kicking it off the ground."

On Sunday Kerry are up against the team that epitomises the need for heavy industry in the half forwards. Tyrone's fast transfer game building from the back requires hard defence of the opposition attack and the priority they place on cleaning up breaks creates an onus to compete.

Mickey Harte's players are interchangeable with wing backs flying up the field as team-mates farther outfield drop back to cover the gap. With Seán Cavanagh at full forward, Tyrone's tactics will seek to by-pass a catching contest with Darragh Ó Sé and Séamus Scanlon so it will be hectic in the middle third.

"I think if you move the ball quickly," says Sheehan, "you can avoid all the physical confrontation but if there's going to a lot of what they call dirty ball you have to be so aggressive and that's one thing I've really had to work on. That one ball you win could be the one ball that wins the game. Every ball counts.

"It's a big difference. I spent last year out the field before being brought in to the corner for the semi-final against Dublin and the final against Cork. This year I spent the whole league campaign in the corner and then all of a sudden brought back out again.

"When you're inside you're making a lot of short, snappy bursts. Farther out the field you're constantly on the run, trying to get the recovery while still running whereas in the corner you're picking up ball, looking for runners, looking to take on your man and score. Out the field you're tracking back, winning breaking ball and trying to get in and support the inside line - massive work-rate."

SHEEHAN FACTS

Age:23

Club:St Mary's Cahirciveen

Position:Wing forward/corner forward

Honours:All-Ireland SFC 2004, 2006, 2007; Munster SFC 2004, 2005, 2007; National Football League 2006.