SITTING back and allowing the All-Ireland champions to attack at will doesn’t sound like the best pre-match gameplan to former Derry forward Paddy Bradley, who believes his county must try to play on the front foot this weekend to be in with a chance of reaching the All-Ireland final.
Bradley, who spent the season as Aidan O’Rourke’s right-hand man in Donegal, got to experience the Oak Leafers up close and personal as he plotted their downfall during the group stages of the All-Ireland series.
The Glenullin clubman believes that Ciaran Meenagh’s side will have to kick the ball more than they have been this season, as Kerry’s preferred style of play will allow a kicking game to flourish.
“Derry will need to change things up a bit, I don’t think the game can be about containment on their part,” said Bradley, who earned an All-Star award in 2007 for his performance in helping Derry reach the last eight.
“I would like to see Derry kicking the ball a little bit more if they can, posting a couple of forwards high up the pitch. I think that is one thing about Kerry, they do give you an opportunity to kick the ball long and early and I think Derry need to avail of that early doors.
“We all know what Kerry are about, they have the two Clifford’s (David and Paudie) and Seanie O’Shea. Seanie and Paudie are obviously going to be looking for David inside the whole time.”
Cancelling out Kerry’s scoring options, which include the current Player of the Year David Clifford, will be easier said than done but Bradley believes that Derry have the players to match up with the Kingdom’s ace attackers.
“Derry are going to try and match him (David Clifford) up with Chrissy (McKaigue) and maybe with Padraig McGrogan sitting in front and that battle is going to be key to the outcome of the game.
“Kerry have threats all over the pitch, the likes of Dara Moynihan, Adrian Spillane, are two but Kerry are going to have to be very solid defensively, they are going to have to take risks too from the back.
“We have seen throughout the championship, the likes of Conor McCluskey attacking to great effect, and I expect him to be lining out against Paudie Clifford and Derry are at their best when the like of Conor is attacking from deep.
“Gareth McKinless will probably pick up Seanie O’Shea and attack from deep; there is a risk attached there if the boys don’t follow them and the attack breaks down, you are leaving top quality forwards free at the other end of the field, but I think Derry will have to take those risks.”
The battle for primary possession around the middle of the field will be another important factor in deciding the winner of Sunday’s contest says Bradley, who hopes Derry’s pace all across the field will cause Jack O’Connor’s side headaches.
In terms of attacking, Bradley feels Derry are going to have to raise a couple of green flags to get past Kerry, and a lot of that expectation will fall on the shoulders of their “big game player” Shane McGuigan.
“The Kerry midfield is formidable and well known but I think Derry are arguably the best midfield in the country. The two lads complement each other really well.
“In Conor Glass, they have a fantastic leader and someone who plays that cover role in defense really well, puts out so many fires, his positional sense is excellent.
“And in Brendan Rogers, he is a real Rolls Royce of a player in terms of someone who breaks lines, wins free kicks, kicks scores. Derry have pace all over the pitch and I think if they can use that pace in the spaces of Croke Park I give them a massive chance.
“I do think they going to have to score a goal or goals but the one thing that has impressed me about Derry in the last couple of years, they nearly go searching for goals. If there is a half chance at all they go for the jugular, which is refreshing to see.
“Obviously we are going to rely a lot on Shane. And again, you could argue Shane, like the rest of the team, hasn’t been playing his best football in the last two or three games but that’s ok.
“I’m expecting a big game from him this weekend, he’s a big game player who rarely lets the side down so look I’d say they have a chance. They’d need a lot to go right but they are not going down there with no hope at all.”
