KINGDOM LEGEND SEAMUS MOYNIHAN expects no half-measures from Kerry when they meet Mayo in the final round of the National Football League this weekend.
Jack O’Connor’s men booked their place in the Division 1 semi-finals with five wins from six games, and with top seeding already guaranteed, have nothing to lose from Sunday’s game in Austin Stack Park.
Mayo are still within striking distance of their own semi-final spot following their destruction of Dublin last weekend, and while Moynihan expects a competitive battle, he warned the westerners not to expect any favours from their hosts.
“It’s great that Kerry have the luxury that they’re into the semi-final but I think they’ll be going out to play against Mayo. Like every team that Jack selects, it will be very competitive and they’ll be going out to win the game.
“When you go out playing games, you go out to win. You don’t go out to lose or to put in a half-performance, because if you do that, you’re going to get injured or it’s going to backfire on you.
Mayo are never an easy team in the league. They’ll be fighting, so it’s going to be a very competitive game. Jack will be delighted to have that kind of a game.
Moynihan appreciates the value of the league more than most. In 1997 and again in 2004, the Glenflesk clubman was part of the Kerry side which built on a league-winning campaign to claim championship honours as well.
Winning Division 1 won’t be O’Connor’s top priority, he admits, but there are plenty of reasons why both manager and players will see it as a marker for the season ahead.
“I know it’s not the championship, but it’s the next best thing. Over the years since my time, Tyrone, Kerry, Cork have all won the national league and then gone on to win the championship as well.
Jack will be going out to win the league if he can. If he doesn’t, it won’t be the end of the world, but most teams go out and try to win every game and Kerry will be no different.
