Ó Sé Predicts Cork v Kildare Final

"Kieran McGeeney is the kind of competitor that is dangerous to have in there in the last four. A shark. If you asked him did he expect to be in a semi-final this year he might give the party line but in his heart McGeeney expects to win everything."

So says, Kerry great Darragh Ó Sé in his column in Saturday's Irish Times.



"After Pat Gilroy, his path has been the toughest. When they lost to Louth early on, Kildare looked hopeless. They were written off everywhere. They were so poor. Fast-forward two months and they are in the All-Ireland semi-final having played the best football of the quarter-finals. A fine job of coaching.



McGeeney won’t be happy with a semi-final. I think with the quality of players he has they’ll be looking to edge in to the final and push on and take his opportunities from there.



We were talking about Cork’s difficulty in setting up situations where Pierce O’Neill could come onto the ball at speed. Contrast that with Kildare.



In McGeeney’s time with Armagh he was an absolute leader along with Paul McGrane. I see flashes of that in the way Kildare play. When they go forward with the ball there is no wastage, their shot selection is brilliant, if the shot is not on they get the good guys in position on the ball. The John Doyles, the Kavanaghs. They aren’t happy till they get into that position. A huge amount of work and planning has gone into teaching Kildare that style.



That’s where younger managers have an advantage. As a player you come in to train, you’ve had your water drinking during the day and your diet is right but when you get there you just have to show up.



McGeeney (and the others) plans his training routine in detail the night before a session. He arrives early and talks to his management team for an hour before training. Just making sure everybody is on the same page. When players come in to work they aren’t trotting around cones and waiting for drills to be lined up. They see that professionalism and the work coming from the guys. They respond.



That is what younger managers are bringing. It passes on confidence and builds respect from both sides but for the manager it is always a tightrope. Four men left on the wire. One under pressure from outside. Another pushing himself from within. Conor Counihan and Kieran McGeeney to be left standing for September."

He was right about us and Meath. I've read few of his articles and they are very good. It's like he actually watches a game a couple of times then thinks about it before writing his piece. Amazing approach.

Agree there JME, enjoy reading his columns. Talks a lot of sense and knows the game well. Could do well in the management game too.

Heard McGeeney was down in Kerry last weekend sounding out the Ó Sé's thoughts on Down.

No stone left unturned.

I love Geezer, there I've said.

Its good to talk JME.