Kerry name team to face the Dubs!

Dublin might have landed the knockout blows in 2013 and 2011, and back-to-back All-Irelands in ’76-’77, but from 1978 to 2009 Kerry won the nine championship ties.

The game itself is really hard to call.

When you think about their rivalry think about their tradition think about all the great players that will be on show then you get the sense that we are in for something special.

It is clear that Dublin have taken stock of the happenings of August 2014 and joined the McGuinness School of Football with their defensive structure. Kerry for their part have only been really rattled once this year and that was by Cork the first day in the Munster final.

O’Sullivan had been an injury doubt since he left the semi-final replay win over Mayo with a hamstring problem. The athleticism of MacAuley would also ensure that Dublin could profit from any breaking ball, as the Ballyboden St. Enda’s player has the potential to carry possession straight into the Kerry half back line. One thing is certain, the Dublin defence will not get away with the same lapses in concentration on Sunday as they made against Mayo and Fermanagh. It is the quality in both forward lines, however, that make these teams standout above the rest. Once the final whistle is blown this Sunday and regardless of who wins or loses, 2015 for many GAA fans is over at a certain level – unless of course it is a draw.

After Paul Geaney’s performance against Tyrone in the semi final, Kieran Donaghy relegation to the bench had been flagged.

Flynn hasn’t found his best form and Connolly (who had a late night at an appeals hearing) was quiet last time out so you’d expect better tomorrow.

The game opened up more but Geaney kicked three points from play from four shots, while he set up one more point.

For me this is the key area, especially if Cian O’Sullivan doesn’t start because Kerry have a great line in Stephen O’Brien, Donnchadh Walsh and Johnny Buckley. I would question if the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) would go to the same lengths to find a loophole in the procedure for a Fermanagh or an Antrim player? With David Moran and Anthony Maher in such good form, they will want to deny Dublin the attacking platform they built from kickouts on both days against Mayo. But from a Dublin perspective I wouldn’t be too concerned; Stephen Cluxton is a cool customer and his kick-outs are pin-point accurate.

For Kerry to win Colm Cooper and James O’Donoghue will need to produce their best games this year and much will rely on the fitness of Cian O’Sullivan.

This would therefore suggest that Dublin can kick long if necessary, and compete against Kerry’s formidable duo. Fitzmurice certainly has a stronger looking hand than he had this time previous year and Jim Galvin looks to have learnt from past mistakes.