Big boost for the Kingdom.
Much of the focus from the neutrals this week has been on how a 33-team Championship structure somehow allows Kerry to play three matches against two teams (Clare twice and Tipperary) for a place in the semi-final.
But as Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final approaches there is a growing sense that there is potential for an upset on the cards at Croke Park. It’s a still a long shot – Clare are 10/1 with the bookies – but it’s not a total impossibility.
You only had to hear former Dublin star Senan Connell’s take on Clare’s performance in the win over Roscommon last Saturday to believe that there is some chance of an upset on Sunday.
And in Gary Brennan Clare have a player, in-form, who is more than capable of swinging the game their way.
They don't make them like they used to; they don't make them like Gary Brennan https://t.co/3ohKE5Lp6D
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 24, 2016
And certainly Clare manager Colm Collins showed no signs of fear whatsoever when he sat down with SportsJOE this week.
From a New York building site to guiding Clare to an All-Ireland quarter-final | @dionfanning talks to Colm Collins https://t.co/R5wfU12rNj
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 29, 2016
It remains to be seen whether playing so few games is a help or a hinderance to Kerry but one thing that is certain is that the return to the starting XV of James O’Donoghue is a big boost for Eamonn Fitzmaurice.
O’Donoghue hasn’t started a game for Kerry since the All-Ireland final last year due to a shoulder injury but he came off the bench to kick three points in the Munster final and will step up his recover with a starting berth against Clare.
The 2014 Footballer of the Year comes in for Colm Cooper, who himself has a shoulder injury, in one of the three changes to the starting XV from that Munster final which seems an age ago. David Moran replaces Bryan Sheehan in midfield while Peter Crowley comes in for Aidan O’Mahony.
Have a listen the latest GAA Hour with Colm Parkinson for a preview of all this weekend’s action.
