'They're off' in the Church & General League

I saw two games from the opening round of the Church and General Football League over last weekend.

Reigning champions Cork had the home venue of Pairc Ui Rinn for the visit of Kerry on Saturday and it was logical to expect them to win.

They fielded a strong team and as All-lreland finalists their state of physical fitness had to be still high. However, theory is one thing and reality is another as was the case once the game got going.

The wind was strong and having won the toss Kerry captain John Crowley decided to take the advantage early in the day. It certainly paid off after a brief worrying spell when Podsie O'Mahony and Philip Clifford showed signs of being a serious threat to the Kerry backs.

Soon the Kerry forwards were seen to have mastery over the Cork backs.

The trend began with Mike Frank Russell in the right corner and was soon taken up by the other attackers. Full-forward Liam Hassett began to win a great deal of possession in his duels with Sea¨n Og O h-Ailpin. Elsewhere John Crowley, Noel Kennelly and Denis O'Dwyer were showing a great appetite for play.

Gradually the Kerry score mounted and by half-time they were 11 points clear of the champions. It was significant that two points had come from midfielder Seamus Moynihan because he was the real hub of the Kerry set-up.

He had been one of the stars in Colm O'Rourke's team on the recent Australian Tour and on his return played a leading role in East Kerry's win in the Kerry county final.

But the Glenflesk man seemed fit and fresh as ever and for the third week in succession earned the title of `man of the match'.

This was a unique achievement as three different levels of competition prevailed -- international, county and inter-county, respectively. He was again Kerry's tower in the second half in Pairc Ui Rinn when the anticipated Cork resurgence did not come when wind assisted.

Kerry were the clear masters and eventually won as they pleased in a manner appreciated by their supporters. All sectors of the team played well once the initial challenge from Clifford and O'Mahony petered out.

The Kingdom's dominance was particularly noticeable in the fullback line. Michael McCarthy, Tom O'Sullivan and Mike Hassett were utterly dependable and must be given another run together, no matter who else is available for selection. There is a danger though that Kerry followers could read too much from the Pairc Ui Rinn script as they did from the team's win over Clare in this year's Munster championship.

It was easy to see as the game progressed that many of the Cork players were showing signs of fatigue after a strenuous season, which saw them put in a huge commitment to training and play since October 1998.

Manager Larry Tompkins had stated before the League started that he was keen to do well again in the current competition. But the obvious signs of distress shown against a `wounded' Kerry a week ago might force him to order rest for a few until the new year. Certainly Cork's form against Roscommon in the second round will be worth scrutiny.

Roscommon v Galway

I happened to see Roscommon in action also in their first round game against Galway in Ballinasloe. It was rather similar to the Cork/Kerry clash with the Galway class very much in evidence. I am tempted at this early stage of the season, which straddles two millennia, to nominate Galway to be the `team for 2000'.

They beat Roscommon comprehensively and it must be taken into consideration that stars like Ja Fallon, Michael Donnellan SeÄn Og De Paor and Derek Savage were not on duty.

Manager John O'Mahony has to be very pleased with the form shown by the two minors of 1999 on duty. I thought that the Corofin youngster Kieran Comer showed plenty of ability at centre forward during the first half and that the Mountbellew/ Moylough teenager Joe Bergin at midfield looked a definite star in the making all through. But like Seamus Moynihan in the Kerry stall, Galway too had a special act on stage in Ballinasloe -- full forward Padraig Joyce.