Kerry V Meath AI SF Semifinal 30th August 2009

[Kerry Mike]

From MunsterGAA

WHO WILL JOIN CORK IN FOOTBALL FINAL?

Cork are through to the GAA All-Ireland senior football final and,
barring a draw, their opponents will be known next Sunday when Kerry and
Meath meet in the second semi-final in Croke Park (3.30).

Kerry are bidding to reach the final for the sixth successive year and
for the 8th time this decade while Meath last reached the final in 2001
where they lost to Galway. If Kerry win, they will set up a repeat of
the 2007 All-Ireland final against Cork while Meath last met Cork in the
final in 1999.

Meath won that game by three points but the Rebels are now back in the
final after dethroning reigning champions, Tyrone in last Sunday's
semi-final. They won by 1-13 to 0-11 to book a place in the final for
the second time in three seasons.

KERRY v MEATH
Paths to the semi-final
Kerry
Kerry 0-13 Cork 1-10 (Munster semi-final)
Cork 1-17 Kerry 0-12 (Replay)
Kerry 1-12 Longford 0-11 (Qualifiers Round 2)
Kerry 0-14 Sligo 1-10 (Qualifiers Round 3)
Kerry 2-12 Antrim 1-10 (Qualifiers Round 4)
Kerry 1-24 Dublin 1-7 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Played 6, Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 1.

Kerry scorers
Colm Cooper......................1-25 (0-17 frees)
Tommy Walsh....................2-6
Declan O'Sullivan.............0-10
Paul Galvin........................1-7
Bryan Sheehan...................0-8 (6 frees)
Sean O'Sullivan.................0-6 (3 frees)
Darren O'Sullivan.............0-5
Donncha Walsh..................0-5
Tadhg Kennelly..................0-4
Paul O'Connor..................0-4 (3 frees)
Darragh O Se.....................0-3
David Moran.....................0-1('45')
Tomas O Se........................0-1
Tom O'Sullivan................0-1
Seamus Scanlon................0-1

Meath
Dublin 0-14 Meath 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)
Meath 1-20 Waterford 0-8 (Qualifiers Round 1)
Meath 1-15 Westmeath 1-5 (Qualifiers Round 2)
Meath 2-12 Roscommon 0-11 (Qualifiers Round 3)
Meath 1-13 Limerick 2-9 (Qualifiers Round 4)
Meath 2-15 Mayo 1-15 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Played 6, Won 5, Lost 1.

Meath scorers
Cian Ward....................2-22 (0-15 frees, 0-5 '45s,'1-0 pen)
Joe Sheridan.................1-12
David Bray....................2-8 (0-2 frees)
Brian Farrell.................0-11
Peadar Byrne................1-8
Stephen Bray.................0-7
Jamie Queeney..............1-2
Cian O'Connor.............0-5
Shane McAnarney........0-3
Caoimhin King.............0-2
Cormac McGuinness....0-2
Nigel Crawford..............0-2
Mark Ward...................0-1
Seamus Kenny...............0-1
Brian Meade..................0-1

Previous Kerry-Meath championship clashes
Somewhat surprisingly, Kerry and Meath have met only six times in the
championship, three in All-Ireland semi-finals and three in finals.
Kerry won four to Meath's two.
2001: Meath 2-14 Kerry 0-5 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1986: Kerry 2-13 Meath 0-12 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1970: Kerry 2-19 Meath 0-18 (All-Ireland final)
1954: Meath 1-13 Kerry 1-7 (All-Ireland final)
1947: Kerry 1-11 Meath 0-5 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1939: Kerry 2-5 Meath 2-3 (All-Ireland final)

Last Championship Clash
Meath 2-14 Kerry 0-5 (2001 All-Ireland semi-final)
A truly remarkable scoreline as Meath overwhelmed the reigning
All-Ireland champions. Meath led by 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time but the
expected Kerry revival never came. A point by sub Declan Quill was
Kerry's only score in the second half while Meath added 1-8 to run out
15-point winners. It was Kerry's biggest championship defeat since
losing to Cork by 2-23 to 1-11 in the 1990 Munster final.

Meath: Cormac Sullivan; Mark O'Reilly, Darren Fay, Cormac Murphy; Donal
Curtis, Hank Traynor (0-1), Nigel Nestor (0-1); Nigel Crawford; John
McDermott (1-0); Evan Kelly (0-2), Trevor Giles (0-1), Richie Kealy
(0-1); Ollie Murphy (0-4), Graham Geraghty (0-1), Ray Magee (0-3).
Subs: John Cullinane (1-0) for Magee, Paddy Reynolds for Curtis; Mick
O'Dowd for Kelly, Jody Devine for Kealy.

Kerry: Declan O'Keeffe; Mossy Lyons, Seamus Moynihan, Michael McCarthy;
Mike Hassett, Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Tom O'Sullivan; Darragh O Se, Donal
Daly; Eoin Brosnan (0-1), Noel Kennelly Aodan MacGearailt; Mike Frank
Russell (0-1), Dara O Cinneide (0-1), Johnny Crowley (0-1).
Subs: Tommy Griffin for Hassett, Maurice Fitzgerald for O'Sullivan,
William Kirby for O Cinneide, John McGlynn for Daly, Declan Quill (0-1)
for MacGearailt.

Last Ten semi-finals
Kerry have won seven, drawn one and lost two of their last ten
semi-finals. Next
Sunday's game will be their 12th semi-final clash this decade, including
two draws.
They have reached the semi-final every year this decade.

2008: Kerry 2-14 Cork 1-13 (Replay)
2008: Kerry 1-13 Cork 3-7 (Draw)
2007: Kerry 1-15 Dublin 0-16
2006: Kerry 0-16 Cork 0-10
2005: Kerry 1-19 Cork 0-9
2004: Kerry 1-17 Derry 1-11
2003: Tyrone 0-13 Kerry 0-6
2002: Kerry 3-19 Cork 2-7
2001: Meath 2-14 Kerry 0-5
2000: Kerry 2-15 Armagh 1-15 (After extra-time)
Played 10, Won 7, Drew 1, Lost 2

Meath
Meath have a good record in All-Ireland semi-finals, winning eight of
their last ten
since 1970. Meath's only semi-final defeats in that period were against
Cork in 2007
and Kerry in 1986.

2007: Cork 1-16 Meath 0-9
2001: MEATH 2-14 KERRY 0-5
1999: Meath 0-15 Armagh 2-5
1996: Meath 2-15 Tyrone 0-12
1991: Meath 0-15 Roscommon 1-11
1990: Meath 3-9 Donegal 1-7
1988: Meath 0-16 Mayo 2-5
1987: Meath 0-15 Derry 0-8
1986: KERRY 2-13 MEATH 0-12
1970: Meath 0-15 Galway 0-

[Kerry Mike]

With a clash of colours on the cards in this weekend's All-Ireland SFC semi-final, both counties will be wearing an alternative strip.

The Kingdom will be in the Royal Blue of Munster, a jersey that they have not worn in championship action since they co-incidentally played Meath in an All-Ireland semi-final back in 1986.

The last time Kerry underwent a change of jersey in championship action was also against Meath in the 2001 semi-final when they wore a once off white jersey, which was consigned to the bin after a 15-point loss.

Meath will be in the same yellow jerseys they have worn for the last two matches as they were also forced into a switch against both Limerick and Mayo.

so its:



Against:



Well its Yella I suppose... Ole Ole Ole

[ONeill]

Meath should play in white. Kerry usually dung them at the sight of white.

[armaghniac]

2008: Kerry 2-14 Cork 1-13 (Replay)
2008: Kerry 1-13 Cork 3-7 (Draw)
2007: Kerry 1-15 Dublin 0-16
2006: Kerry 0-16 Cork 0-10
2005: Kerry 1-19 Cork 0-9
2004: Kerry 1-17 Derry 1-11
2003: Tyrone 0-13 Kerry 0-6
2002: Kerry 3-19 Cork 2-7
2001: Meath 2-14 Kerry 0-5
2000: Kerry 2-15 Armagh 1-15 (After extra-time)
Played 10, Won 7, Drew 1, Lost 2

Er, did you not also draw in 2000, the extra time was in the replay.

[Jinxy]

Sheridan fully aware of scale of the task

GAVIN CUMMISKEY

KERRY AND Meath. The prospect of their meeting again represents such a titanic football collision that this paper yesterday reprinted the match report of the 2001 All-Ireland semi-final.

The one where Meath held their rivals to just five points, recording 2-14 for themselves so "the colour had gone from Páidí Ó Sé's face". Kerry players walked off the field in the same stunned fashion as Dublin players recently did.

An ugly day for those who dwell in the famed The Kingdom.

Mike McCarthy, Tom O'Sullivan and Darragh Ó Sé featured that day and return eight years later. They will not have forgotten. Noel Kennelly might even have a word in his younger brother Tadhg's ear.

If they continue to emulate the route taken by Tyrone last year, a less than impressive performance is required before peaking come the final dance with Cork.

The piseogs might be dispensed with for this one though. Kerry know better than most that Meath in Croke Park are a rare breed. Even if only Nigel Crawford returns from the former blitzkrieg gang. This Meath outfit let down the famed jersey, and rock-hard reputation of the former team, by failing to put Wexford away and then losing to Limerick last season.

"We just wanted to put a bit of pride back into Meath football after last year," said Joe Sheridan. "It was hard getting beaten by Wexford and the Limerick match was a nightmare for everyone. We just wanted to right a few wrongs. Get back to the basics and start winning games."

Dublin made Meath look weak and average in June. Kerry made Dublin feel these two words in August.

Form suggests an easy Kerry victory despite Meath's convalescence of downing Westmeath, Roscommon, Limerick and Mayo as they got back to basics and won some games. All soft touches, it might be said.

Sheridan and company are keenly aware of the embarrassment that will follow if McCarthy and O'Sullivan, men with axes to grind, are allowed to waltz upfield from deep and create.

The other O'Sullivans, Declan and Darren, must be smothered, the "Gooch" Cooper harassed. Even then, Sheridan concedes, some other Kerry man could rise and cause the damage.

Meath need to become Meath of old to stand any chance, this they know only too well. They must deny Kerry rhythm.

"Absolutely, plus we don't get the start we got against Mayo. They'd love that. We just have to put pressure on them in the first 15, 20 minutes.

"Dublin didn't really pressurise them. They let them run through from the back. If you let any team do that they'll kick 1-7, 1-8 in those first 15 minutes.

"We've been working on it. Trying to concentrate on getting that first 15, 20 minutes out of the way. Having said that, it may be the last 15, 20 minutes that the game is won so . . ."

If Sheridan has a major say in this contest, Meath have a chance. If he drifts in to the square's edge late on, Meath might just be in touching distance and seeking to create some havoc.

If the game is played at Kerry's preferred swiftness the big, central forward may well become a passenger. The year 2001 proved to be an anomaly; Meath losing the final to Galway without much commotion. The Royals require another glitch in the system this Sunday.

[cornafean]

GAVIN CUMMISKEY

KERRY AND Meath. The prospect of their meeting again represents such a titanic football collision ...

I'm all for promoting our games but this is unbeliveable tripe.

[Hardy]

We'll do our best in the iceberg role, is all I can say.

[Billys Boots]

Those Cumiskey lads talk some heaps of it!!   

[NaomhBridAbú]

Heres hoping for a close game at the weekend - great foot passing, fielding, no swarming defences, no diving or faking injuries, no puke football, plenty oif balanced and non - partisan commentating from Spillane, great refereeing and for Meath to knock the complete shite out of Kerry

[rrhf]

Fascinating stuff - a county boasting a proud tradition of masculinity in their football against the self professed team of the decade, if such a thing existed, and in Dara o Se surely a contender for player of the decade.  Bookies and Pundits wont tell you that Meath men traditionally  are prepared to do anything at all to go further than any others to win an all ireland, but they will be telling you how twinkle toed Gooch is the best footballer in Ireland and how such a great athlete big Tadgh is.  Why? because every bookie in Ireland knows the value of the kings ransoms which were placed on Kerry after they humiliated Dublin and after Cork took Tyrone out of the reckoning.  They want us to spend our money on Kerry - but they know there can only be one winner.  The last time the kingdom wore the blue jersey was when the great kerry goldenyears team  tore into Meath in 86 prepared to do anything to get at a spindly legged, chubby  bunch of nordies in the final.  The only blood spilt that day was Meath blood, as Lyons came off on a door when Willie Maher sealed the deal.  I just feel that the opposite could be the case on Sunday and my moneys on Meath, to renew their all ireland rivalry with the munster kingpins.    When the team of the last quarter century argument is discussed ye'll have both these counties in the mix as well as those in the other semifinal.  We can honestly say that with reference to the all ireland last-4 this year that the cream definitely rises to the top.       

[bcarrier]

Any word on the teams yet ?

Is Donaghy back ?

[thejuice]

Whats the craic back home lads. Are the fertiliser bags wrapped round the telegraph poles yet? Flags and bunting out? Blow-in Dubs a bit more inconspicuous round the town?

[Jinxy]

If Moyles is out we may as well not turn up.
It's no coincidence wasn't been playing when we were hammered by Cork in 2007 and Limerick in 2008.
He's the one that holds it all together.

[agorm]

What is the latest word on Moyles? I heard rumours on this as well but hope that they were just rumours.

I dont think that the team will capitulate as in 2007&2008 even without Moyles. Maybe not win but i think they have built up a steely determination to overcome setbacks and developed a confidence this year.

If Moyles is out you could see Harrington moving over to cever o'Xsullivan with McGill going on Gooch.

with Ward in the wings ready to come in early if we are losing out badly in the middle.

No matter the result on sunday, the hopeful return of reilly & O'Rourke next year allied to this years progress should put us in with a better shot of winning Leinster and take it from there.

[Hardy]

I'd nearly bring in McGill specifically to mark Cooper. I remember the marking job he did on Matty Forde last year. It's forgotten now in the mayhem of what happened in the last 15 minutes, but all logic was out the window at that stage. Up until then, it was the best shackling of Matty I'd ever seen.