WARNING shots have been fired from both bunkers this week.
Dublin launched first — Kerry responded.
It is the kind of build-up referee Paddy Neilan could have done without as today he takes charge of his first Division 1 game of the season.
Former Dublin star Paul Bealin told SunSport: “I was surprised to read Eamonn Fitzmaurice take the line he did during the week.
“It is very rare you would see a manager come out in the media and respond like that.
It was comments by another former Dublin player, Paul Curran, a week earlier that generated the first sparks.
Curran said Kerry should be ‘ashamed of themselves’ for the way they played against the Dubs in Tralee.
Then, moments after his side had beaten Monaghan last Sunday, Jim Gavin took a jab at the Kingdom when asked if he expected another feisty clash in the league final.
It was subtle, but pointed. Kerry and Eamonn Fitzmaurice would have taken note.
Then on Monday, at a press conference for the Allianz NFL Division 1 final, Dublin defender Philly McMahon stayed on message when discussing the Kingdom.
For Fitzmaurice, enough was enough.
Keegan that was effective for the All-Ireland final replay.
“I had a good think about this today and normally I don’t react to this stuff.
“Normally I kick for touch with those kinds of things because I don’t know whatever you want to call those things — mind games, I don’t believe in it.
“But I do find it a bit worrying that there is a narrative out there and I don’t think it’s balanced at all.
“They are a fantastic footballing team, an attacking footballing team with brilliant players and with an outstanding manager.
“But make no mistake about it, they have a hard edge about them and a seriously hard edge.
tactically foul to see it out.
“Going back to the end of the All-Ireland semi-final last year when one of our players was wrestled to the ground and basically choked. So they have a hard edge but so have we.
But Bealin believes the reason for Fitzmaurice’s response was to deflect attention away from the pressure that is on his players.
Kerry have not beaten Dublin since March 2015 — a league victory in Killarney.
In their five meetings since, the Sky Blues have won four and most recently the sides drew on March 18.
The Kingdom have not beaten Dublin in the Championship since their 2009 All-Ireland quarter-final clash.
Eamonn is really doing is trying to deflect attention away from his team and the game.
“It seems like he’s trying to take the pressure off his players because they are under a lot of pressure going into this game.
“They haven’t beaten Dublin in a long time. There is pressure on Kerry to win this game.
“They had a chance down in Tralee but didn’t win and any Kerry fans you talk to are wondering when they are going to end this run against Dublin.
“And because they didn’t get over the line in Tralee and with Dublin usually playing ten to 15 per cent better at Croke Park, there is pressure on Kerry.
And Bealin, an All-Ireland winner in 1995, does not agree with suggestions there is an orchestrated campaign in the capital for former and current players to pressurise referees through comments in the media.
He added: “Do I believe there is an orchestrated witch-hunt from the Dublin management or by former players to try to influence referees? Absolutely not.
On the game itself, Bealin feels Dublin will win out to claim their first five in a row of league titles.
The former Wexford and Carlow manager said: “In the modern game, I think the strength of your bench is crucial and when you look at Dublin’s strength in depth, they look formidable.
“They brought on three former Footballers of the Year — Bernard Brogan, Michael Darragh Macauley and Jack McCaffrey — against Monaghan, while Paul Flynn seems to have got his form back.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, M Fitzsimons, D Daly; J McCarthy, C O’Sullivan, E Lowndes; B Fenton, C Reddin; P Flynn, C Kilkenny, D Connolly; D Rock, P Andrews, B Brogan.