| Kerry aim to take title back from Ulster
 BY LARRY COONEY
Kerry’s attempt to regain the Sam Maguire Cup is sure to be one of
the highlights of this year’s All-Ireland football championship.
Tyrone’s deserved 1-16 to 2-11 victory over the holders in last year’s
All-Ireland final served notice that the Kingdom had not after all ended
Ulster domination of Gaelic football as was widely claimed after their
2004 All-Ireland final triumph.
However while the bookmakers are convinced that Kerry are capable of
reclaiming their crown in what again appears to be another three-horse
race for the football championship this year, Jack O’Connor’s side might
still find the Ulster counties a real obstacle for their All-Ireland
ambitions.
Based on the same odds the All-Ireland finalists along with Armagh
appear to still have a clear edge over the remaining contenders with
last year’s quarter-finalists Dublin and Connacht champions Galway the
only likely counties to challenge them.
The current football landscape was also aptly illustrated in this year’s
All Stars when all 15 accolades were confined to the top three counties.
However Tyrone collected twice as many as defeated finalists Kerry who
collected one more than Armagh with four awards.
Kerry are sure to have learned much from their disappointing All Ireland
defeat but perhaps the most surprising aspect of the manner of the
Kingdom’s defeat was their lack of an alternative game-plan when their
long-ball direct style failed them after their promising opening
quarter.
Nevertheless a wounded Kerry team know of only way to react after defeat
and that is to attempt to bounce straight back by putting in a serious
challenge in this year’s National League. Many of the Kingdom’s
frailties were exposed in that All-Ireland defeat and they are sure to
return to action more determined than ever to make up for their
All-Ireland final set-back last September.
However Tyrone will also be keen to build on their current success.
Their first All-Ireland title success against Armagh in 2003 was a long
overdue and major breakthrough for the O’Neill County but defeating
Kerry in an All-Ireland final was an even more satisfying achievement as
was evident from their manager Mickey Harte after the final whistle.
It is therefore difficult to disagree with the odds for this All-Ireland
championship with Armagh set to challenge last year’s finalists all the
way for the Sam Maguire Cup.
However Tyrone appear to have the edge over the ageing league champions.
The majority of the current Armagh team have clocked up many
championship miles and this year’s campaign may be just a bridge too far
for some of their greatest servants, including the influential Kieran
McGeeney.
Although Peter Canavan appears to have brought his illustrious career to
an end, Tyrone still have many aces in their pack from sharpshooters
Stephen O’Neill and Owen Mulligan to star defender Ryan McMenamin. Kerry
still remain the only real option to challenge the current Ulster
supremacy but whether or not they overtake the determined men from
Tyrone and Armagh remains to be seen. Tyrone still look better equipped
to frustrate Kerry for at least another year.
All-Ireland odds
Kerry 2 - 1
Armagh 7 - 2
Tyrone 4 - 1
Dublin 8 - 1
Galway 14 - 1
Cork 16 - 1
Laois 16 - 1
Mayo 18 - 1
Derry 33 - 1
Donegal 33 - 1
Down 40 - 1
Meath 50 - 1
Wexford 66 - 1
Limerick 66 - 1
Offaly 80 - 1
Kildare 80 - 1
Fermanagh 80 - 1
Westmeath 100 - 1
Roscommon 100 - 1
Cavan 125 - 1
Monaghan 150 - 1
Sligo 200 - 1
Antrim 250 - 1
Leitrim 250 - 1
Clare 400 - 1
Tipperary 400 - 1
Carlow 500 - 1
Longford 500 - 1
Louth 750 - 1
Wicklow 750 - 1
Waterford 1000 - 1
London 1000 - 1
New York 1000 - 1 |
