WHILE he admits it is a different sort of a buzz for a manager and his team in getting ready for an All-Ireland final, Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice says that, within the team’s bubble, there is just as much anticipation as there is for supporters.
“The excitement for us, really, is about your next training session, the next team meeting, planning on getting to Croke Park, what you do on the day. It is the reason we make the sacrifices we do as part of being here," Fitzmaurice said of getting his side ready for their second consecutive All-Ireland final.
There have been some differences to Kerry’s road back to the decider in 2015. A later than usual trip to Portugal and a replay in the Munster final had to be contended with, but all for the benefit of the squad according to Fitzmaurice.
“We went to Portugal in June as opposed to April with the intention of it being a more pre-Championship camp as opposed to being a mid-season training exercise. We were happy when we got back with what was done over there. I certainly think the replay in the Munster final was a blessing in hindsight now," he added.
“We underperformed both on the pitch and on the sideline the first day we felt and went about correcting them in the manner we thankfully did."
He attributes the Kildare performance to an outstanding display of professionalism on the team’s part, while character and leadership were the keys for Fitzmaurice in the win over Tyrone in the semi-final.
“There are times when you feel powerless on the sideline and it really is up to the players to do the business," the Finuge clubman said.
"That’s one thing we try and do with the squad is to trust them when they are put on and expect them to be able to perform when they are given the opportunity. The one thing we have instilled in the team is a strong squad ethic, where it doesn’t matter about individuals or personalities, it is all about what is best for the team as a whole."
One noticeable thing about Kerry under Fitzmaurice is a growing confidence and assurance when faced with ‘blanket’ or defensive-orientated sides. Dublin will present Kerry with a different challenge in being more inclined to attack their opposition. Neutrals will hope this creates a repeat of the epic 2013 All-Ireland semi-final meeting between the sides and Fitzmaurice believes Dublin will have taken a lot from their two encounters with Mayo.
“I think Dublin will be delighted with how Mayo pushed them, particularly in the second half of the second game, where they had to come from behind to win," he said.
"They hadn’t really been challenged up to that, so those matches will be of great benefit to them, even though I thought they were very professional in how they went about their business in Leinster, despite the opposition they faced."
There is a big personal accolade on the table for Fitzmaurice should Kerry emerge successful in the final in potentially becoming the first manager since Cork’s Billy Morgan in 1989 and '90 to manage a county to back-to-back All-Ireland titles. Thoughts of such a prospect are the furthest thing from Fitzmaurice’s mind, however, as he prefers to ponder what his starting line-up will be for the decider.
“Certainly, we have plenty of selection dilemmas on our hands when it comes down to deciding on the starting line-up," he said.
"It’s the part of the job I don’t like in telling fellas they are not starting, but the calls are very marginal in most cases. Again, it goes back to a strong team ethic in terms of the players taking our calls on the chin.”
Fitzmaurice has been a big advocate of picking players based on their training form as opposed to reputation. It has served Kerry well, particularly last year when he showed little fear of omitting marquee names from his starting line-ups on big days.
The shrewd tactician within the Kerry manager could easily have something similar in mind in advance of the latest instalment of the Kerry-Dublin rivalry.
