RT\u00c9 GAA analyst Enda McGinley believes that Kerry have demonstrated throughout the Division 1 campaign that they have a ceiling that other teams simply can’t reach as they prepare for a shot at a 25th league title.<\/p>\n
The Kingdom face Donegal in the Division 1 decider at Croke Park \u2013 a repeat of last year\u2019s All-Ireland final won by Jack O\u2019Connor\u2019s side by 10 points \u2013 following Sunday\u2019s dramatic draw with Armagh.<\/a><\/p>\n While Sunday\u2019s game is likely to involve some shadow-boxing and no risk-taking when it comes to playing personnel for both, McGinley is confident that if Kerry were to be at their best, they\u2019d come out on top against any team.<\/p>\n “I was sitting watching it (the Armagh game) and it was just football of the highest order,” said McGinley on the RT\u00c9 GAA podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n “One of my friends text me and he just said ‘Kerry are playing as different game than anyone else.\u2019<\/p>\n “It was sensational on both sides of it; their forward play was so good, so slick, so fast through the hands, so structured. They had a really clear blue-print that they were going to repeatedly and even though Armagh would have known it, couldn\u2019t do much about it.<\/p>\n \n “Whenever they (Armagh) were that wee bit off in midfield, their power – Joe O\u2019Connor – just absolutely bossing the show.<\/p>\n “In defence, they were like wasps around Armagh the few times Armagh got up the pitch.<\/p>\n “The way I\u2019d probably put it, Kerry I think have a gear that nobody else in the country has in terms of their game at their very best – (it\u2019s) at a level above anybody else.”<\/p>\n Of course, there is the caveat that Kerry didn\u2019t actually beat Armagh despite being 0-10 to 0-00 ahead with just 21 minutes on the clock.<\/p>\n “As Armagh showed in that game, when you start stemming their possession, you can hurt them,” McGinley added.<\/p>\n “They\u2019re still a team, they still can be got at but my gosh you have to be playing serious ball to get at them.<\/p>\n “Kerry are in rude health; Jack O\u2019Connor will do the Kerry thing and try to play it down.<\/p>\n “Last year the whole narrative was who is really more important for Kerry, Paudie or David Clifford because really without Paudie Kerry just look (like they\u2019re) struggling.<\/p>\n “They\u2019re playing at this level without probably their best all-round player around the middle of the pitch.”<\/p>\n Drilling down on why Kerry remain the team to beat, McGinley said it’s a simple case of numbers \u2013 quality numbers.<\/p>\n Kerry are in rude health, before you even consider they’re doing it without arguably their most complete player around the middle of the pitch, reckons Enda McGinley<\/p>\n Latest episode of #rtegaa<\/a> Podcast out nowhttps:\/\/t.co\/12rlCO3xo7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/39eryI9JxT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 GAA (@RTEgaa) March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “The majority of teams seem to be following a similar template where you\u2019ll have one, two, maximum three really tight man-to-man duels, men tagged, so to speak, who do not get room at any stage. Everyone else then, you\u2019ve got a loose man you\u2019re responsible for when an attacking play gets developed…<\/p>\n “With Kerry, where do you start to tag? Armagh had to go man-to-man on Joe O\u2019Connor to try and curtail him. Gavin White, Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, (Dylan) Geaney inside, Se\u00e1nie O\u2019Shea, they have so many players that can completely dictate a game.<\/p>\n “If you try to man-mark each of them, then you\u2019re in a complete man-marking game which I think can be pulled apart by top teams.<\/p>\n “Kerry have a lot of fires for teams to try and put out at the minute.”<\/p>\n Listen to the RT\u00c9 GAA Podcast on the RT\u00c9 Radio Player<\/a>, Apple Podcasts<\/a>, Spotify<\/a>, or wherever you get your podcasts<\/a><\/p>\n