O'Connor wants rested Kerry to win kick

Jack O'Connor feels Kerry are "up against it" versus Dublin in the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday as he looks for more joy in kick-outs and possession retention in a bid to reach the decider.

The Kingdom survived a scare against Tyrone to reach the last four, having already suffered a loss to Donegal earlier in the year amid a plethora of injury woes.

Rather than solely rely on their star forwards, it was goalkeeper Shane Murphy's clever and accurate restarts and the ability to win ball around the midfield which proved crucial for a side which their manager admitted was very leggy.

He watched Dublin’s success in that area against Galway with trepidation for what is to come this weekend.

In the intervening period since the quarter-final, O’Connor has prioritised rest for his players after three matches in as many weeks, as well as unspecified tactical work, which is likely to be focused around possession from restarts.

The Kerry boss pointed to his team’s recent record with Dublin as to the reason he feels they have it all to do.

He told RTÉ Sport: "Lately Dublin have been able to get the better of us, most of the time. I think they've won seven of the last eight clashes. We realise we're well up against it.

"And even in 2022, when we beat them, it took a remarkable kick by Sean O'Shea to get us over the line that day.

"It's a great game to look forward to. It's got the Kerry supporters really excited anyway, that's for sure.

"There's huge demand for tickets according to the secretary, Peter Twiss. We’re just delighted to know that we're still in the mix.

"There is a great rivalry, going back to the great team of the 80s and the 70s. The rivalry really started then and it has continued all the way up.

"Dublin have had the best of it lately. But we're hoping to address that now Sunday."

Kerry-Tyrone highlights

Tom O'Sullivan is set for a return after missing the last three months, while Shane Ryan and Brian Ó Beaglaoich remain doubts. Sean O'Shea came through the Tyrone game off the bench.

His one concern is whether the returning players can cope with the intensity of starting an All-Ireland semi-final following long periods on the sideline.

One additional factor is the expected warm temperatures in Croke Park which will likely sap even more from the teams.

O’Connor spoke of how he felt his side had little left to give in the closing stages against Tyrone: "We’re in a healthier position than we were five to seven weeks ago, when we were really struggling with several players carrying injuries. We're a bit healthier now. Now, whether they're up to match speed or not, that remains to be seen.

"Tyrone had the benefit of being a bit more rested than we were. We were coming off the back of three games in a row, and that takes its toll.

"I thought there were times in the second half, particularly, when it looked like they had more energy than we had. So we were lucky enough to hang on and get over the line.

"[Our priority has been] to get the energy levels back up. That's the big thing. You can't just keep flogging the horse all the time. We've had to be strategic in the way we've trained.

"And we have ramped it up again the last week heading into the game. We didn't work the boys that hard before that. We obviously trained fellas that haven't got match time or whatever a bit harder, but by and large, it's just getting a bit of energy back into the legs and working on the strategic side of it."

Looking ahead to taking on a rejuvenated Dublin, who have put a loss to Louth behind them to defy expectations and reach a semi-final, O’Connor is determined to win the war from the placed balls through goalkeeper Murphy, as well as putting it up to Evan Comerford.

Again, in the cauldron of Croke Park on one of the hottest Sundays of the year, that will prove telling.

"Teams now, when they win the kick-out, they tend to dictate the game," O’Connor explained.

"Sometimes, teams hold on to the ball for a prolonged period, so you're expending a lot of energy trying to get it back off them.

"When you have the ball, and even psychologically, it's a lot easier. You can conserve the energy a bit better, and you're not expending energy chasing fellas trying to get it back. So, yes, the kick-out is crucial.

"I think that's what saved us the last day. We had a good kick-out retention percentage.

"We have realised that Dublin's kick-out press has been very, very impressive.

"They basically destroyed the Galway kick-out in the first half, and that laid the foundation for their victory.

"We realise that it's a massive challenge, and that Dublin have been getting the better of the rivalry the last while. But we always feel we have a chance in every game, and we just think maybe the fortnight off from the Tyrone game will stand to our fellas.

"We were fairly running on empty towards the end of that Tyrone game, I felt myself. So, if we can get the energy levels up and get a couple of the injuries straightened out, I think we have a chance."

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