Jack O'Connor hopeful that the time is right for Kerry

Jack O'Connor's record against Dublin as Kerry manager is remarkable, considering it comes either side of the greatest period the Metropolitans have ever enjoyed.

Going back all the way to 2004, a strong second-half showing saw O'Connor's side finish off Tommy Lyons' time in charge in the capital with a 1-15 to 1-08 victory, when a late Jason Sherlock goal took some of the bad look off the scoreboard for the Dubs.

Fast forward five years and, after Dublin had pushed Kerry close in the 2007 All-Ireland semi-final with Pat O'Shea then in charge, a new phrase entered the GAA lexicon - "startled earwigs."

It was the term used by Dublin manager Pat Gilroy to describe the response of his players to a fast start by the men from the Kingdom, then back under O'Connor's tutelage, to their All-Ireland quarter-final meeting. The Munster men went on to win the game by 17 points.

Jack O'Connor's Kerry v Dublin record:Championship: P: 4 W: 3 L: 1League: P: 8 W: 4 L: 2 D: 2

Total: P: 12 W: 8 L: 3 D: 1

It made Dublin's victory over Kerry two years later all the more surprising but normal order was resumed, with O'Connor, involved at least, when his side saw off the Dubs in last year's semi.

Add to that the league meetings between the counties in O'Connor's first two stints in charge, and the record is even more startling, with Dublin failing to register victories over Kerry between 2004-2006, as well as in 2009, before finally putting back-to-back spring triumphs together in 2010-2011.

Kerry were eight-point winners in Tralee last year, while the sides didn't meet this spring as the Dubs spent the early part of the inter-county season trying to gain promotion from Division 2.

What Kerry tended to perfect in O'Connor's first two stints in charge