| O’Shea fears indiscipline could
prove to be costly Following the sending-off of player-of-the-year
Kieran Donaghy against Fermanagh Kerry boss Pat O’Shea believes
that indiscipline could cost his team as the season goes on.
O’Shea said: “We have played three league games and had three
players sent-off. Kieran Donaghy will probably be out for a month that
is not good.
“This has been creeping into our game in recent seasons and it might
be something we regret later in the year.”
Despite their reputation as a total football team, a greater physicality
has entered the Kingdom’s play in recent seasons as they bid to
compete with what Kerry great and football pundit Pat Spillane called
“puke football”.
This is the blanket defence and very physical style some say was once
pioneered by All-Ireland winning teams such as Armagh and Tyrone.
In a bid to counter this successive Kerry teams have tried to adopt
a more physical approach this toughness was notable during Kerry’s
All-Ireland winning campaign last year. They had Paul Galvin sent off
in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Armagh.
However as new manager Pat O’Shea bids to retain the All-Ireland
title he is aware that this creeping indiscipline could be the difference
between the Kingdom claiming the Sam Maguire or becoming also-rans.
He said: “Apart from anything else the modern game is all about
how well you use your panel and if you haven’t got guys available
because they are suspended then you are obviously weaker so it is something
we need to change.”
Kerry’s win over Fermanagh on Sunday sees them move into second
place in Division 1A. The All-Ireland Champions trail Donegal who picked
up their third League win in a row at the weekend when they easily saw
off Dublin in Ballyshannon.
The two play each other again on March 25 which could decide who tops
the group. However Donaghy will miss that game through suspension only
returning on the following week if chosen by manager O’Shea to face
Tyrone.
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