It's just shy of 13 years since Jim McGuinness and Jack O’Connor crossed paths on an inter-county sideline for the first time and Saturday’s Division 1 encounter between Kerry and Donegal in Killarney will actually only be the third time they have been in opposition.
McGuinness’s battles against the Kingdom have brought with them a few moments that have stood the test of time, not least 'what do you think of that Joe Brolly?’ and less so, the release of Boris O’Kane’s song ‘The Spy from Donegal’ after a Tir Chonaill native, McGuinness’s best man a number of years earlier, was caught in a tree watching a Kerry closed-doors training session ahead of the 2014 All-Ireland final.
‘Oh me arse is sore but I’ll do much more, I’m the Spy from Donegal'
For the record, the current score for McGuinness against Kerry is 2-2 with 15 points - through a combination of goals and points - proving enough for the victors on the last three occasions. The exception was that first meeting back in the 2012 league where at the same venue as this weekend’s rescheduled encounter, O’Connor’s side strolled to a 2-16 to 1-08 win.
If the early stages of the league tell us anything, it’s that 15 points is likely no longer enough to win a game of football.
Of the Division 1 games played to date, the losing side has managed to beat that target five times out of seven.
Kerry’s opening win against Derry saw the Oakleaf County finish with 1-24. Dublin hit 16 points in their loss to Donegal and frankly, only for some ridiculous third-quarter shooting, should have been looking at 20-points plus.
Even with the two points tucked away, McGuinness wasn’t totally immune from criticism in the aftermath of that win over Dessie Farrell's side.
Love or loath his influence
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