Kerry Seeks to Topple Down

4 p.m.: SF A Final Down vs. Kerry

It also, however, in the annals of the NY GAA, gives us two teams worlds apart. Kerry are entrenched in New York folklore. John (Kerry) O'Donnell is forever enshrined in the history books as a chairman of the Association in 1940, '55, '58-'60, and '72-'73, and for his link to Gaelic Park through his bar and his activities with New York and Kerry teams over the years.

They also have Thomas McNamara in '47, '48, '51 and '52, Donal Keating '65, '66 and 6'8 and the present chairman John Riordan. Add to the history books 25 senior titles with the six in a row side of '49 to '54 taking pride of place. While in reWITH any final in any sport, there are favorites and the hopeful, the form teams and the surprise packets. This year's senior final certainly throws us the form teams in New York, with Down and Kerry rising to the top.cent history '99, and the three in a row squad of '04 to '06 have won the championship, while Down have never won the senior title.

Indeed, Down's record books have been forged in the recent history, Junior A title in '06, Senior B in '07 and now a final appearance. Their one and only chairman was Thomas Fitzpatrick in 1949.

It is without doubt David versus Goliath. The games of the Gael certainly take pride in their history, but they are played on the field with this year's championship giving us some varied results.

Down reached the final by virtue of their second place finish in the group stages when they amalgamated seven wins against two losses. The defeats came against Leitrim by a point 0-8 to 0-7, and Cork 1-10 to 0-10. They beat Kerry in the league encounter 1-11 to 1-8 back on June 15.

That was Kerry's only loss on the field as they lost four points in the boardroom but won all the games in results on the field. Both teams had comprehensive wins in the semifinals, Kerry 1-12 to 0-8 over Cork with Down 0-14 to 0-12 ahead of Leitrim last Sunday. Probably the most consistent squad over the year when crunch time came in the playoffs, they stormed through the semis to set up this eagerly anticipated game.

Kerry are back in the final after a one year absence with a majority of the team that won the title in '06 back for another crack. Niall Corbett is back to his best and should be on the NYT panel for Galway.

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Nster.com