Oisin McConville says he’s “not even sure if Kerry are All-Ireland contenders” after they were unconvincing in beating Clare in Sunday’s Munster Football Final.
The Kingdom did win an 85th Munster title by winning 0-23 to 1-13 in Ennis but McConville was unimpressed by their display.
“I thought Kerry were poor. They have been poor most of the year,” McConville told the BBC’s gaelic games podcast The GAA Social.
Kerry’s victory puts them in a Super 16s group alongside the opening opponents Monaghan, Meath and the losers of next Sunday’s Leinster Final, who are expected to be Louth.
“They have quite an easy group now…..not an easy group but ‘quite’ an easy group,” added Wicklow manager and Armagh 2002 All-Ireland hero McConville.
“They will progress to the quarter-finals and semi-finals possibly and maybe even a final but I actually don’t think they are at it.
“Physically there are teams that can bully them. If you have a Kerry and Derry in an All-Ireland semi-final, I would really fancy Derry at this stage physicality wise.
“And as much as Kerry have unbelievable forwards and they are overly reliant on Sean O’Shea and [David] Clifford – and Paudie Clifford was good against Clare – there is just something not quite right about Kerry.
“I don’t think they will have a say in winning the All-Ireland this year.”
McConville also believes Mayo fans should be concerned by their team’s form after the last-gasp Connacht Final defeat by Galway.
Kevin McStay’s side led by two points as the game entered injury time but Galway hit three frees – including a long-range winner from goalkeeper Connor Gleeson – to snatch victory.
McConville thinks Mayo could struggle to even “come out of” a Super 16s group where they will face Connacht rivals Roscommon, Cavan and most likely Dublin.
Even though Cavan have lost key forward Paddy Lynch for the rest of the season because of cruciate ligament injury, the Wicklow manager feels the Breffni County have a great chance of surprising Mayo.
“When I think about the way that Mayo set up and the way Cavan set up, I would actually fancy Cavan to win that game. And I know Cavan are without Paddy Lynch which is a massive thing.
“Having watched Cavan against Tyrone, thinking about the lessons they are going to learn from that game, it’s really difficult to see Mayo coming out of that group.
“Mayo are not a bad team – I just think they are set up really poorly.”
McConville feels that Mayo displayed a naivety in the closing minutes of the Connacht decider which allowed Padraic Joyce’s side to clinch a dramatic win.
“There was a stage in that game when they were three points out and they could have seen the game out and because of the way they are set up, they didn’t.
“I felt towards the end of the game, they could have been a bit more pragmatic. They probably could have sat off a couple of the kickouts.
“It’s not great from an entertainment point of view but it gets the job done.”
The Armagh great added that Galway boss Joyce’s decision not to start Shane Walsh proved a “masterstroke” as the Kilmacud player made a huge contribution as he hit 0-3 – including two points from play – after being introduced from the bench just before half-time.
“It was a massive call but something had to spark Shane Walsh. He hasn’t had that spark all year.
“When he came off the bench, he looked a lot more energetic. He looked as if he knew exactly what he needed to do.
“Sometimes being on the bench, having a look at games and seeing where the holes are or where the gaps are and he looked like a player who found the gaps.
“I thought that was probably his best performance for Galway since the 2022 All-Ireland Final.”
