Liam Kearns has warned Dublin that the “weight of history” could do for their five-in-a-row hopes.
The Tipperary boss was an aspiring Kerry footballer back in 1982 when their own drive for five was undone by Offaly and he was subsequently drafted into the panel during the three-in-a-row run from 1984-86.
He was fully confident that they wouldn’t be beaten 37 years ago, however, and says that Dublin will do well to avoid the same pitfalls.
Kearns said: “I would have never seen Kerry beaten with that five-in-a-row team and I certainly didn't think Offaly would beat them. I came out of that game in shock. So the weight of history in my opinion beat them.
“The further this thing goes and the more talk there is about it, then Dublin the weight of history is going to weigh heavily on them. Now the problem is, is there a team out there to take advantage if they are feeling the weight of history? That's the big thing.
“I thought Galway, if Galway get their full panel 100% right, that they're not 100 miles away from it. Kerry, I think they'll need a bit of time if you're talking about All-Irelands.
“I think Mayo, they have to be considered anyway if you're talking about it and Tyrone are the other team I suppose but ultimately in normal circumstances if Dublin were playing any of them in the morning, you'd be saying Dublin.
“I'd be inclined to say they're so professional in how they approach things that Dublin seem to have all the answers so unless the weight of history, and as I said it did do strange things many years ago in the case of Kerry, so we'll just see.
“That's the challenge for Dublin, can they handle the weight of history, can they handle the circumstances?”
Kearns reckons that even Dublin manager Jim Gavin will feel the heat this year.
He added: “I'm sure they'll avoid talking about it in the dressing-room and all of that but they just won't be able to help it because the media will drive it up, people on the street will drive it up and everybody will be talking about it. They're only human.
“Even Jim Gavin will surely feel some pressure in relation to it. He gives the impression of a man that never feels pressure ever but you'd imagine even he is going to feel the pressure this year. But I wouldn't bet against them.”
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