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[We've moved swiftly from the era of the blanket defence to the blanket attack – and for this we must pay due homage to a Kerry side that has scored an average of 21 points in their last three games.]

Irish News Paddy Heaney

Myths and legends. The GAA is jam-packed with them, particularly when it comes to the business of winning Championships.

Popular folklore would have us believe that a Championship-winning team requires 15 superstars. Of course, people from places that haven't won that many trophies most often expound this theory.

Those in the know realise that nothing could be further from the truth. Fairly average Kerry footballers have been winning All-Ireland medals for the past 100 years.

The same phenomenon applies at club level. Once a parish gets a reputation for breeding winners, the path to glory becomes less rocky. Success can be infectious.

Players from a traditionally successful club will often adopt a poise, confidence, and even arrogance, that is notably absent from teams with no Championship pedigree.

There are some obvious examples in Ulster. Carrickmore spring to mind immediately. How the Carmen footballers have conspired to win their most recent Tyrone Championship titles beggars belief.

Although bereft of any county standard forwards, they've still been able to pick up the O'Neill Cup with routine regularity. The Carrickmore jersey has probably played as big a role in those victories as the men wearing it.

Bellaghy are another prime example. The Wolfe Tone's can win Derry Championships on auto-pilot. Last year they had a thoroughly ordinary team – and still came within a kick of the ball of winning the John McLaughlin Cup.

Clubs like Carrickmore and Bellaghy provide strong evidence that success owes as much to attitude as ability.

For the best example of success fostered in tradition and expectation, we need look no further than Kerry.

If there is a handy All-Ireland title up for grabs, they'll win it.

Sometimes the green and gold jersey is all that is required in Croke Park. Mayo men go weak at the knees when faced with it. Kerry did their almighty best to lose the 1997 All-Ireland final but Mayo still couldn't put them away. Kerry won more by default than by design.

During the last two years we watched Kerry pick up two All-Irelands without having to extend themselves in the showpiece game of the year. The All-Ireland finals of 2006 and 2007 were unmitigated disasters. They'll be remembered as the 'Kerry Cakewalk Years.' Mayo and Cork

capitulated and were crushed.

We shouldn't begrudge Kerry their 34th and 35th All-Ireland crowns. While they take full advantage of their easy route out of Munster, they maintain a consistency that's not matched by any other county.

By the same token, we shouldn't fall into the trap of believing all that 'Kingdom' codswallop that has clearly brainwashed the southern counties.

Kerry footballers are not born any better than the rest of us. If that were the case, they'd have won more than two All-Ireland minor titles during the past 28 years. (In the same

period, Tyrone, Down and Derry have all won three each).

The Kerry people can claim a great deal of the credit for the mythology and mystique that surrounds their teams. Listen to them closely and you'll realise that they rarely criticise their own players. And they'll certainly never disabuse you of the notion that the Kingdom produces a superior specimen of footballer.

We've been drip-fed a diet of stories that Kerry are the custodians of the beautiful game for so long that many no longer question it. They are also commonly regarded as the beholders of good sportsmanship and fair play.

Thankfully, we in the north are a more cynical lot and are less inclined to genuflect at the Kingdom's altar.

The begrudging outcry that emanated from some Kerry mouthpieces following the defeats to Armagh (2002) and Tyrone (2003) proved that they find defeat just as bitter and as unpleasant as the rest of us.

And the conduct of the current senior team has made a total mockery of any suggestion that the Kingdom's footballers are a more angelic bunch than their fellow countrymen.

Aidan O'Mahony's dive showed that some Kerry players are just as willing to cheat as their rivals. This is also a fairly undisciplined Kerry squad. They were missing two first team players at the weekend through suspension. Darragh Ó Sé tried to knock out Pearse O'Neill, while Paul Galvin got three months for knocking the book out of referee Paddy Russell's hand.

But then these Kerry players clearly have an issue with referees, as was evident when they

surrounded Jim White on Sunday.

This is not to say that Kerry are bigger sinners than anyone else. The point is that they are just as flawed as everyone else.

Yet, for all their misbehaviour and misdemeanours, this Kerry side can still be a joy to watch. It was utterly impossible not to admire their silky skills as they chalked up 1-21 during a monsoon against Galway.

We must also credit Kerry for finding the solution to the blanket defence and returning the tactical emphasis to attacking play.

Tyrone smothered Kerry in the 2003 All-Ireland semi-final by deploying an ultra-conservative defensive system.

Tyrone won 0-13 to 0-6. Mickey Harte will realise that it would be impossible to achieve a repeat of that result against a Kerry side containing the twin towers of Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh.

If Tyrone only score 13 points in the final, they'll lose. We've moved swiftly from the era of the blanket defence to the blanket attack – and for this we must pay due homage to a Kerry side that has scored an average of 21 points in their last three games.
Despite the fact that they've won two All-Irelands on the trot and redesigned the template for Gaelic football, it is this Kerry's team major misfortune that question marks hang over their claims to greatness.

This uncertainty exists due to their facile victories against Mayo and Cork. The fact that they've yet to beat Tyrone has undermined their considerable achievements.

Their performances in this year's Championship suggests that they are a good team with a lot of great players. In contrast, Tyrone produce great teamwork with a lot of good players.

They are starkly contrasting teams and it should be a contest to savour. At long last, Kerry are going to face a battle in the All-Ireland final.

Donning the green and gold jersey will not be enough to lift the Sam Maguire Cup this year. Tyrone will not believe in the myths surrounding their opponents. But if Kerry succeed in winning three-in-a-row then this side will be rightly considered as legends of the game.

and tyrone have scored an average 0f 19.5 points over there last 3 games

100% Five Sams. Some characters allright.

About ten tears ago I got a phone call from a good friend from Tralee who was heading up to a Tyrone V Kerry national league match in Dungannon.

The man was Bill Kirby who owned a famous pub in Rock St (supposedly where they have more All Ireland medals than loose change). His son was making his senior debut for Kerry that day, ("young Willim") and the proud father wanted me to meet him for a pint and a chat in a local hotel, and show him where the ground was. He mentioned he had a few good characters with him in the car.

We met in the Inn on the Park, and the crack was mighty, as it always was with Bill, between the horsey chat, the dogs, and football too obviously. His companions for the day were Ned Fitzgerald, Mick O Connell and a football journalist for the Kerryman, not sure if it was Wishie Fogarty or not.

Later we went to the ground together, and got a space along the wire on the far side of the ground, the five of us. At half time Mick O Connell wandered off on his own, "to stretch the legs" and next thing we saw him walking through a gate, onto the middle of the pitch where the subs were kicking around. O Connell proceeded to put approx 5 or 6 kicks over the bar from a full 40 yards, without missing any. He walked off the pitch, cool as you like, and came back to join his original company, for the second half, not a bother, as they say!

William Kirby made his debut that day, the start of a career that wielded three all -ireland medals at midfield. The wee lad I had known since he was about eight years old had grown up, and could now talk in the same currency as so many in his neighbourhood.

His Dad sadly passed away earlier this year, but if Paddy Heaney is in Tralee this week, he should call in with "young Willim", probably pulling pints in Kirbys brogue Inn. It wont be long before he meets the football characters of Tralee, who thankfully I have had the pleasure of meeting on many occasions. And if you do Paddy, tell Mary I miss the old boy.

Just tell them its some fella from Antrim, they`ll know straightaway.

also a great post

Hard to know when your sources are accurate but I heard O'Neill scored 0-8 at the weekend in a 'challenge' game for the county.

tyrone and Mickey Harte dont do challenge games

Tyrone have been tested twice this summer against Down and just werent good enough. Dooher is the key to this Tyrone team, stop him and you stop Tyrone. Paul Murphy showed how it was done. They have had a bit of luck since and somehow find themselves in another All Ireland Final. Kerry should set the record straight and win this one quite comfortably.

Dry your eyes you donkey crybaby.....your own manager himself after the Down Game..........to quote him   " the only difference in these teams is that they (tyrone) will be playing at the of the summer,,,,,,,,,we HOPE we will be!" Tyrone are much improved from June, these things happen, I suppose the down team of 2003 was as good as tyrone also, cos they drew with them?

My research indicates the following disturbing statistics as far as Tyrone are concerned

                       
Down, 9 goals in 5 AI Finals, ratio 1.8 goals per final
Armagh, 5 goals in 4 AI Finals, ratio 1.25 goals per final
Derry, 2 goals in 2 AI Finals, ratio 1 goal per final
Antrim, 2 goals in 2 AI Final, ratio 1 goal per final
Tyrone, 2 goals in 3 AI Finals, ratio 0.66 goals per final.

Yet another disturbing statistic that doesn't bode well for Sunday fortnight

actually you gipe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,its 2 goals in 4 finals..............oh what a w**ker

One of the bookies was giving 33-1 on Tyrone for the All Ireland before the Louth game - thought it was Ladbrokes. Paddy Power had them at 25-1. If you only got 16-1 you were done.

true....33/1 was available after the down game

Tyrone 3-30 Kerry 1-13

I like that

hard to know what to make of this. If he is fit enough he's good enough but as someone said earlier Kerry don't play in Tyrone Div 2. You'll only really know if he's up to it when get runs on to Croke Park and if he's not it's too late. It all adds to the interest for neutrals though.

what division are Galvins team in,,down in Kerry?

What it all boils down to is Harte's shrewdness. He knows he hasn't got a marquee forward to seriosuly challenge Kerry and knows full well that while the likes of backs out of position like Mc Mahon, the ageing Dooher and Colm Mc Cullagh might get you over the likes of Wexford and Dublin, they carry no wehere near sufficient ability to concern Kerry

when I signed up here, I used to feel sorry for you, lads always giving u shiit.......now I see why..........fuccckkkk off u fat git

Tony,...."shameful indication"?

Your posts this last few days have just confirmed the shameful indication that you are a c*ck!!!

and a fat one at that

The last time an All-Ireland Senior football final was played on the 21st September.........1986

who won?

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is confident that Sean Cavanagh will be fit to play in the All-Ireland SFC Final against Kerry on 21 September.

Cavanagh was forced off in the second half of Sunday's semi-final win over Wexford because of a back injury and he also dislocated a finger in the game.

However, Harte told BBC Sport on Monday morning that the pain in Cavanagh's back had "eased considerably".

"He has three weeks before the final so he should be grand," said Harte.

Did Mickey Harte kiss Sean Cavanagh's finger better to make him stop crying?

No, hes gonna wait 3 weeks and kiss him on the lips, as he hands Sam to him

MAYO manager John O'Mahony confirmed last night that he will be staying on for the third year of his three-year term and will lead Mayo into the 2009 season.
Speaking at a monthly Mayo GAA Board meeting in Castlebar, O'Mahony told club delegates that he "needed to take stock" after the All-Ireland Qualifier defeat to Tyrone. However, he informed Mayo GAA officials last Friday evening that he intended to remain on as Mayo manager.
"I feel we've made progress," he told the assembled delegates. "I said when I took the job that it'd be a challenging job...We're trying to get a real team ethic where everybody works for everybody else. Some players have bought into that more than others, some have fallen along the way...The thing about it is that everybody shares in the success. I felt after the Tyrone match that everybody needed to take stock. I would die happy if I could bring the success we all crave."
After he had finished addressing the delegates, the Mayo manager took questions from the floor on a range of issues and topics, ranging from the closed season to the central positions on the senior team.
Mayo Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Piaras Ó Raghallaigh, suggested that many delegates would have been 'disappointed' with Mayo's progress over the last two seasons.
"Anyone with that view might not have been listening when I took over the team," replied O'Mahony. "I said I had no magic wand. We'd been in four All-Ireland finals without success and what we're looking to do is build a platform to get back to that stage again.
"We have to hold the nerve. I was frustrated not to push on [this year]. I was disappointed. And when you don't have a Connacht title to show for the work, maybe that's a fair comment... If anybody feels they can do a better job...
"I didn't promise in 2006 that I'd have an All-Ireland in 2007 or 2008. We all want success...I'm not naïve enough to say that if we'd beaten Tyrone we'd be in the All-Ireland final now. But I would feel that we had enough ball in the fifteen minutes after half-time to win that game. We got no breaks, refereeing or otherwise, but we had the winning of the game in our own hands."
Following this response, a number of delegates suggested that O'Mahony be given an additional three-year term so that he could continue to build a Mayo team for the future.
The Mayo boss was given a round of applause as he left the meeting.

Anyway that s that. At least this closure is a good thing but not sure I like the man s tone. From what was reported he got an easy enough ride from the club representatives yet his replies were peevish enough. They were reminiscent of Stan s 'Well what would you have done  '?  variety and showed scant regard for those of us who care and would like a decent review of the year. And this business again of  ' if  anybody feels they can do a better job... ' What is that?  Well yes John I think I would have done better because you got a few things badly wrong and very little right. A Gom could have got what he got right right..... so what your next move? That bothers me because he must know he did nt do a good job this year and yet he says this again weeks after he said it in what could be explained away as down to the immediate aftermath of a defeat moment. It looks like he was prepared for a grilling but nobody was in the mood for a row.
As for the delegates that proposed 3 further years. Dunno whats going on there but I have my doubts. Anyway the train will pull out again and there will be no real concern until we lose out to Galway in Salthill next Summer. But that ll be easily explained away. We always lose there right? no magic wand, we we re nt listening to what he said when he got the job [ what he did say was that he would build a platform where we would get back to a final]  time to embrace the qualifiers blah blah blah and when we get knocked out there sure there ll be f*** all paying attention anyway. Yet I m glad he s staying on because a lot of Mayo football people wanted and needed this. My biggest problem is that we wont see McDonald again but hey you cant make an omelette without breakin eggs, right?                   '

lads is there any chance that this thread can be closed?

I think you're right about Giles, Canalman. I wasn't at that match, but I think I remember seeing that in the highlights on TV.

Anyway,I'm sure you'll all change your minds about the greatest goal of all time when I remind you (how could you forget) about a certain Mr. Foley. Comes top of the list in all categories - quality of move, number of players involved, awareness, impact on the game, number of consecutive passes, number of defenders beaten, impact on the history of the game, absence of any hint of foul on ball or man and execution. And did I mention impact?

You forgot one category Hardy - the overcarrying. Tommy Dowd took 6 steps (from memory  ) ....

Seriously though, referees are very reluctant to disallow goals for overcarrying. It seems they don't have the nerve to call the game back as the ball crashes to the net and the stadium explodes. Sean Cavanagh's goal v Dublin was an example. Fair enough, when lads are trying to escape from a challenge they do get the benefit of the doubt, but even with that consideration he way over-carried. And then there was the first Cork goal v Kerry in the drawn game, if I'm not mistaken ... and that's only in the last few weeks.

Now don't start me about john Fitzgibbon's winning "goal" in the 1990 Hurling Final ..!! And you're only allowed 3 steps in hurling!!

model watch the Tyrone dublin game again.......sean Cavanagh kicked his goal on his 7th step, with a ross hanging out of him for the last 5 of them!

mulligans goal was illegal

it was? Jeez I always thought that the ref gave it!