Count on Kerry to come good and restore their reputation in Clones cauldron

Monaghan v Kerry
Clones, 4pm Sunday

Different day, different conditions, different team selection and different opposition so expect a different Kerry performance with their All-Ireland credentials hanging by a thread when they visit Monaghan in round two of the Super 8s.

Eamon Fitzmaurice had a lot of head-scratching to do after his side suffered a 1-13 to 1-10 loss at the hands of Galway in the opening round of the Super 8s.

Apart from outstanding youngster David Clifford, who scored his side’s only goal, few of the Kingdom’s players lived up to expectations. But the weather had an awful lot to do with that.

Croke Park was like an ice rink. Several weeks or dry and humid weather followed by a few hours of rain meant that keeping your footing was an arduous task when in possession. Time and time again James O'Donoghue looked to have rounded his man only for the ball to squirm out of his grasp. It happened to every Kingdom attack.

This Kerry team need a dry day to show what they are made of, as we saw in the Munster final when Cork failed to cope with their pace and guile up front.

If things are not going to plan this time, expect Fitzmaurice to call on Kieran Donaghty and implement a more direct approach. Monaghan's full-back line had problems against Fermanagh when a late hopeful delivery caused carnage and cost them the game. Surely Kerry will try something similar at some stage.

Fitzmaurice has shuffled his pack with Ronan Shanahan, Mark Griffin and Tom O'Sullivan making up a full-back line which looked totally different against Galway. Kerry have options, Monaghan don't.

This is an ageing Monaghan side who are playing for the fifth week on the trot. That hectic schedule might just catch up on them at Clones and Kerry are the perfect team to exploit tired legs.

Kerry cannot afford to lose this one and it looks unlikely they will. The Kingdom remain All-Ireland contenders, Monaghan are not. Get on Kerry to defy a two-point handicap. It should be straightforward as long as the rain stays away

Recommendations
Kerry -2
4pts 11-10 Betway

Kildare v Galway
Newbridge, 2pm Sunday

Newbridge or nowhere was the mantra that got Kildare's season going and they are relying on home comforts to keep themselves in the All-Ireland race as defeat at the hands of Galway will end any aspiration they have of getting their hands on the Sam Maguire.

Kildare's best performance of the campaign came when last year's All-Ireland finalists Mayo visited Newbridge and they outplayed and outfought Stephen Rochford's charges. They will need a similar performance to keep in touch against a Galway side who are now a single figure price for All-Ireland glory.

The simple fact of the matter is that this Galway side is tremendously tricky to break down. They have a system in place that works and each and every one of their players knows what he should be doing at all times. It might not be pretty to watch but it is effective.

Kildare failed to find the net against Mayo and netted only once against Carlow and Longford. Perhaps they are best when kicking points from distance and the same applies to Galway.

Galway won the Connacht final that way, failing to raise a green flag but kicking points under pressure from distance, and it was only in the closing stages that they managed to break down Kerry's rearguard to get in for a goal.

This game could follow a similar pattern to the Mayo match in Newbridge with point-building rather than goal-getting the order of the day.

It is a game that Galway will probably win but they don't appeal at the prices, nor do they look an attractive proposition in the handicap markets.

With all that in mind, the only value on the match coupon looks to be no goal at 6-1. That looks generous.

Recommendation
No goal
1pt 6-1 BoyleSports

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