Kerry produced 'some of their best ever football in Croker,' says Kingdom legend
Eamonn Fitzmaurice's name is synonymous with the Kingdom after his involvement in FIVE of their All-Ireland wins as a player, manager and selector.
Now his job is to assess the tactical trends in football as the sport adjusts to new rules that were drawn up by Jim Gavin and his FRC committee, which Fitzmaurice sat on.
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Those rule changes have clearly benefited Kerry more than most as they were able to post 0-32 against Armagh on Sunday, dethroning the All-Ireland champs at the quarter-final stage.
And that led to Fitzy making an incredible claim - suggesting Kerry's second-half display when they scored 14 unanswered points in a 15 minute spell - was the BEST he has ever seen from the 38-times All-Ireland champs.
Fitzmaurice said: 'That 15-minute spell in the second half was breathtaking. In fact I would go so far as to say it was some of the best football any Kerry team has ever played in Croke Park.
'I was proud of the players and of the approach of the management team and the fact there were so many supporters there. They really rallied behind the team. The numbers who travelled up were incredible and it is not often that this happens in Kerry.
'It was great and you could see what it meant to the lads afterwards. The players then responded by delivering an amazing performance.
'The last couple of weeks have been good for them because it has brought out an edge in them. The trick now is to get back to those heights again which will be a challenge.'
Few saw that 'edge' when they were comprehensively beaten by Meath in the group stages in Tullamore just over two weeks ago.
But a swift response against Cavan preceded Sunday's demolition job on the reigning All-Ireland champs, a win which Fitzmaurice believes has galvanised the county.
Speaking on the RTE GAA podcast, Fitzmaurice said: 'The journey back on Sunday had a feeling of a tribe coming back from a satisfying day out. There was a connection between the fans and the team.'
It felt like the Kingdom had struck back.
Fitzy said: 'I was not as down in the dumps as others about the Meath defeat because while it was not a vintage Kerry performance that day, you have to give Meath enormous credit for playing so outstandingly well.
'I had faith in them to do a job and when you are on a panel and are training all year long, you are seeking to get a chance. And lads such as Mark O'Shea, who only made his debut this summer, Evan Looney and Sean O'Brien took their chances.
'There comes a time in every player's career when you either do it or you don't. I would have had faith in those fellas doing a job.
'The Meath game turned up the heat down here. They were cranky and angry within the group. And that needed to come out.'
It wasn't the only thing that came out in the post-match discussions with Kerry boss, Jack O'Connor, lashing out at the team's critics.
"I was surprised because generally after a win like that, Jack is effusive," Fitzmaurice said.
"I'd say on a human level he was hurt. I know he had a small bit of a nibble after the Cavan game last weekend, but he obviously decided this week that he was going to unleash the double barrel.
"He had his say, and probably feels better for it today.
'It obviously hurt him otherwise he wouldn't have said it.'
All of which leads to a reunion with Tyrone, the Ulster team who proved to be Kerry's bogey side during Fitzmaurice's playing days, when the 2003 All-Ireland semi-final and 2005 and 2008 All-Ireland deciders, ended in Mickey Harte's favour.
Harte has since moved on but so has the rivalry.
While Kerry defeated Tyrone in the 2012 and 2023 Championships, Fitzmaurice feels the 2021 All-Ireland semi-final win is more relevant to next weekend's latest instalment of a major rivalry.
Fitzmaurice says: 'When I was managing, I always really enjoyed going against the Ulster teams because you were always going to be tested to the hilt, tactically as well as physically.
'The Kerry lads will draw on the 2021 game rather than the 2023 one. In 2023, Kerry really had a cause and Sean O'Shea led Kerry that day. In 2021, I feel a lot of players left a big opportunity behind them.'
That is certainly the overriding emotion in Armagh right now following their second half meltdown on Saturday, a defeat analysed succinctly by Fitzmaurice's fellow RTE pundit, Lee Keegan.
Yet the former Mayo ace still believes there is another All-Ireland within Armagh.
He said: 'Rian O'Neill was a shadow of himself; the half back line never got into the game; Kerry had their homework done on them.
'The one thing about Armagh is their age profile is good.
'Kieran McGeeney has a lot to work with. Armagh still gave us the best games this year but they ran out of road against a very good Kerry team.'
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