INNISKEEN FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN FALLS FLAT

TALKING POINTS
Colm Shalvey

Thousands of supporters made their way to Inniskeen last Sunday, but a flat performance from Monaghan meant the occasion didn’t live up to its billing. Páirc Grattan can produce a great atmosphere, particularly when it’s close to capacity as it was on Sunday, but save for a bright start that saw Kieran Hughes and Kieran Duffy kick early points, Monaghan gave the sizeable home support little to shout about. Kerry hit the last four points of the half, into the wind, as they began to play the game increasingly on their terms and take the sting out of Monaghan’s attacking efforts, which had seen Hughes look threatening at the edge of the square in the early stages.

Jack O’Connor acknowledged that “bigger tests” lie ahead for Kerry, but they do look meaner at the back, presumably influenced by Paddy Tally’s role in their coaching team, and with the calibre of forwards they have available to them, they look well equipped to go a long way this year. Their depth in attack was underlined by the fact that they could introduce Paul Geaney and Stephen O’Brien off the bench, while giving the impressive Clifford…