CLIFFHANGER

Geraghty doesn't see a long period of Kerry dominance

- BY GARRY DOYLE

MEATH legend Graham Geraghty does not believe Gaelic football is on the brink of a Kerry era that will come close to matching Dublin's unprecedented six-in-a-row.

Geraghty, a former All Star who helped the Royals to Sam Maguire in 1996 and 1999, comes from a time when dominance was fleeting and power was shared.

His playing career unfolded in an era when no single county held sway for long.

Meath, Kerry and Galway shared six All-Irelands between 1996 and 2001, either side of a period when Ulster football rose in force and fractured any notion of a monopoly.

Then came Dublin.

Jim Gavin's side - later handed on to Dessie Farrell - changed the landscape, stringing together six All-Irelands and turning Leinster into a procession.

That aura has faded now, but into the vacuum has stepped Kerry - or, more specifically, David Clifford's Kerry - crowned champions again last year with the Fossa superstar at the centre of everything they do.

Still, Geraghty is adamant that one title does not signal the beginning of a dynasty.

"Kerry are a fabulous team," he says. "I keep bringing up what is going on at club level.

"They have won all three adult club All-Irelands that were on offer. They have a lot of younger players coming through, so Kerry will probably use the League campaign to breed in some of those younger lads on the panel.