Kingdom bracing for tough trip to Longford
There is more than a hint of déjà vu about last night’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier draw.
Kerry meet Longford, the side they defeated in Killarney en route to September glory in 2006; Monaghan are paired with Derry who knocked them out of the Ulster championship in May while Down and Laois have backdoor history from as little as 12 months ago.
Kerry selector Ger O’Keeffe admitted: "It is ironic that we played Longford in 2006 and now we face them again in 2009. They are a good side. The last time we went to Longford for a league game was in 2004 and we lost that match.
"They have very good players and we are expecting a tough battle."
O’Keeffe had mixed news on the injury front. "Tadhg Kennelly is unlikely to be fit after an operation on his hand last week and we are also without Paul Galvin (suspended); Anthony Maher is still improving while Seamus Scanlon and Marc O Sé should be fit for selection."
And what of the man who shot to national prominence when the sides met on that sweltering Saturday in Killarney?
"Kieran Donaghy is progressing but this game will come too early for him," said the All-Ireland winner.
Longford skipper Paul Barden lined out against the Kingdom in Fitzgerald Stadium three years ago and is relishing a chance for revenge.
Barden said: "We are delighted to have a home draw, Kerry are one of the best teams in the country but we wouldn’t be overawed by it. We spoke on Saturday night (after the win over Leitrim) and said how much we would like to get the game up here. Being realistic we would have liked to avoid Kerry and Derry but there is no point complaining. And I am very confident that we can give a good account of ourselves."
Barden recalled: "We were very confident going down to Killarney that day (in 2006). We had played Waterford, Tipperary and Derry but Kieran Donaghy was exceptional. We were very unlucky with a few goal chances. Had they gone in, it would have been a lot closer."
In the wake of a first round pairing with Armagh, Monaghan boss Seamus McEneaney wondered if he had killed black cats in a past life to deserve such bad luck. So what was his reaction to last night’s rematch with Derry?
"I think I must have killed a few more cats since yesterday evening," he laughed. "Some things never change for us in relation to these draws. We have become accustomed to very, very tough draws in the qualifiers."
Their provincial opener was a hard-hitting affair which resulted in numerous suspensions for both counties. However McEneaney is aggrieved that Derry have a full contingent available while he must again plan without their talisman, Tommy Freeman. Freeman’s eight-week ban for "attempting to strike with the head" during the ill-tempered Ulster SFC clash with Derry on May 24 last was upheld by the DRA on Friday night ruling him out for the next fortnight.
Said McEneaney: "The thing about it is that Derry have every player available to them and we are not in the same position. That is going to be a huge advantage to them. But this Monaghan team wouldn’t be lacking for motivation."
The Monaghan boss isn’t too worried about the quick turnaround required after a bruising and energy-sapping extra-time win over the Orchard County on Saturday night.
"It was a very intense game. After nearly 100 minutes of football there are a lot of tired legs today, and knocks and bruises. We will just prepare them as best we can and make sure they get plenty of rest."
Donegal boss John Joe Doherty was relieved to get a home draw when his team were paired with Clare.
The tie means that Donegal have now been drawn at home in each of their last six championship encounters; their last road trip being the loss at the hands of Monaghan in 2007 in Omagh when Brian McIver resigned for the first time.
The game against Clare will be the first time the two counties have ever met in the championship and Doherty’s team will be looking to build on their win over Carlow in Ballybofey on Saturday.
"Of course it’s great to get a home draw and another run out in the championship," Doherty said last night. "A home draw against anyone is nice to get. Hopefully the game will give the lads the chance to get a bit of confidence up, which can be added to their win over Carlow. I suppose it’s fair to say that everyone on our side of the draw would have been looking to avoid Kerry, and so we can’t complain about who we got, having avoided them."
In the other games, Meath and Westmeath will square off in Mullingar, Wexford are at home to Roscommon, Tipperary host Sligo while Mick O’Dwyer’s Wicklow welcome Cavan to Aughrim.
