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Kerry's Marc O'Se and Tyrone's Peter Harte in action on Sunday. INPHO/Presseye/Russell Pritchard
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6 talking points from the weekend's GAA action

Kerry’s strength is crucial, Donegal won’t be worried about relegation and the return of Monaghan and Meath.

1. Kerry’s core of strength is crucial

For all the experimenting in Kerry’s selections this spring, there was a familiar look to their team sheet on Sunday.

Apart from full-back Mark Griffin, midfielder Johnny Buckley and wing-forward Jonathan Lyne, this was a team that was packed with recognisable names.

They lost Eoin Brosnan early on through injury but that did not halt Kerry’s ability to slip back into a groove as they produced stellar attacking play in the opening period.

They may have required Dublin’s Paul Mannion to do them a favour in Ballybofey and had to withstand a second-half fightback from Tyrone, yet ultimately that powerful start to the game was critical for Kerry.

It was their outstanding attacking play which was central to that first-half dominance and it was worth noting that Darran O’Sullivan was the only survivor from the forward line that started against Mayo on the opening day in Castlebar.

That game was defined by Kerry going over 40 minutes without registering a score whereas on Sunday they chalked up 1-13 in the opening half. Manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice will be pleased to have all his big names back in harness ahead of the summer.

2. Donegal drop down but they won’t be worried

Jim McGuinness didn’t hide his indifference to the league in the wake of yesterday’s draw with Dublin, a result which ensures they will be plying their trade in Division 2 next season.

It was a dramatic end to the game with Donegal having been within touching distance of a semi-final spot at one stage in the finale. But Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion popped over the points for Dublin that  ensured the reigning All-Ireland champions suffered relegation.

Yet considering that McGuinness openly spoke in recent weeks about the looming challenge of Tyrone in their Ulster opener at the end of May and declared that Donegal’s championship training had began last week, it’s easy to determine where his focus lies.

And it should not be forgotten how Donegal’s league narrative unfolded last year. They ended up in sixth place in Division 1, only one point clear of safety. It was hardly exemplary form but it did not matter as they ratcheted up their intensity as the summer progressed and were in a celebratory mood by the September.

3. Cillian O’Connor illuminates Páirc Uí Chaoimh

The weather was not exactly conducive to free-flowing football in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday and a grim battle for supremacy ensued between Cork and Mayo. The last spot in the Division 1 league semi-final places were at stake while Mayo were also looking anxiously over their shoulder at the potential threat of relegation.

The Connacht champions wound up taking the last place in the knockout stages courtesy of a pair of genius sideline kicks by Cillian O’Connor. He curled over the levelling score from the left wing and vaulted over a magic outside-of-the-boot shot to deliver a 0-11 to 0-10 victory.

Considering their attacking lynchpins Alan Dillon and Andy Moran have been sidelined this spring, it’s an admirable achievement for James Horan’s men to have reached the last four. They’ll be glad to have achieved that by defeating a Cork team who conquered them in the 2010 and 2012 league finals.

Barry O’Driscoll of Cork with Colm Boyle and Cillian O’Connor of Mayo.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

4. Monaghan and Meath enjoy a brief stay in Division 3

They plunged down from Division 2 last year but Monaghan and Meath did not hang around long in the third tier. Relegation cast a shadow over their pre-championship preparations last year whereas clinching promotion yesterday ensures they sport a different complexion heading into this summer’s action.

Malachy O’Rourke has done a fine job since taking over the reins at Monaghan. There were a couple of slip ups against Roscommon and Cavan but they delivered some emphatic victories – four of their five wins were by margins of at least eight points.

With the Ulster championship draw looking attractive for them this year as they are stationed away from Tyrone and Donegal, they should have an air of confidence heading into the summer.

Confidence was not something that would have been associated with Meath a few weeks back after the shattering setbacks against Monaghan and Cavan but they have bounced back in style. They needed to display grit to get the job done against Fermanagh yesterday and Mick O’Dowd’s side demonstrated just that.

Meath goalkeeper Paddy O’Rourke saves a penalty from Fermanagh’s Thomas Corrigan.
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

5. Fortunes change in a year for some counties

On April 28th last year, Wicklow were toasting a Division 4 triumph in Croke Park and a couple of hours later Longford were celebrating having lifted the Division 3 crown.

Yet they have found it difficult to breathe at higher altitude. Wicklow failed to win a game in Division 3 and finished bottom of the table with just two points after drawing against  Roscommon and Antrim.

Longford ended up rooted to the bottom of Division 2 and were the only team across the four divisions who failed to claim a point. They’re joined in the relegation places by Wexford, the team who had also been promoted last year along with Longford from the third tier.

Peter Canavan’s Fermanagh are the only one of the four teams in action in that Croke Park double-header last April not to have suffered relegation this year. There’s a noticeable shift in moods twelve months on.

6. Good news for Limerick

Maurice Horan’s Limerick side were desperate to escape from Division 4 this season but their hopes rested on yesterday’s trip to Ennis to face Clare. They ticked the boxes to claim victory and ensure they marched to the top of the table.

Next season will be spent in Division 3 but before that the promotion gives them a nice fillip ahead of the summer. To reaffirm that things are coming together nicely for them, the sight of John Galvin come off the bench in the closing stages was a heart-warming one for Limerick supporters.

Their talismanic midfielder is starting to get a couple of games under his belt as he returns from damaging his cruciate and his services will be useful in the summer.

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