By John Harrington

Kerry have long had a reputation for producing classy forwards blessed with both natural skill and predatory finishing abilities.

Into this category fall men like Mikey Sheehy, John Egan, Pat Spillane, Maurice Fitzgerald, Colm Cooper, David Clifford, and many more.

When Kerry teams have been at their best, though, they’ve managed to complement stylish attacking play with gritty defending.

For this reason, your average Kingdom supporter keenly appreciates no-nonsense defenders who take a relish in making things very uncomfortable for opposition forwards.

They’ve had plenty of them over the years, men like John O’Keeffe, Páidí Ó Sé, Tom O’Sullivan, and Marc Ó Sé, spring to mind, but it’s a common lament that there aren’t enough of them in the current panel.

The theory goes that Kerry concede too many scores because their back-men are good ball-players, but not natural defenders who’s first instinct is to sense danger and neutralize opposition forwards.

That’s why there’s a bit of a buzz building around Dylan Casey who, at the age of just 21, will captain the Austin Stacks team that plays St. Finbarr’s in Sunday’s AIB Munster Club SFC Final.

He’s excelled this season in the Tralee team’s full-back line, and makes no bones of the fact that he relishes the challenge of shutting down opposition forwards.

“It’s in my DNA that I try and upset a forward as much as I can,” says Casey.

“I benchmarks myself off the best forwards and see if I can keep them scoreless, or to minimum scores.

“I take pride in defending. That is something that has been drilled into me over the years, that defending comes first. Anything else is a plus. I relish the challenge of marking forwards.

“When we came out of lockdown, I was playing around the half-back line. I’ve always been an inside defender and I was probably attacking too much from the half-back line, so I was given the role of man-marking inside forwards. I’ve been relishing the role ever since.

“It's a goal to be the best that I can, and see where that takes me.”

The sense that Casey is the real deal has been reinforced by the manner in which he shut down the best forwards in Kerry when playing for Austin Stacks this season.

In the first round of the Kerry SFC he held David Clifford scoreless when Stacks defeated East Kerry.

Prior to that, in the Kerry Senior Club Final, he limited Sean O’Shea to 1-1 as Stacks triumphed over Kenmare. On both occasions he loved the challenge of testing himself against the very best in the county.

“Sean O'Shea and David Clifford are two of the big names, not only in Kerry football, but in national football,” says Casey.

“It was a massive challenge for me. and something that I was eager to see where I was at. They are the benchmark, the best calibre of footballers this country has to offer.

“It was important for me to prepare the best that I could and see where I was at, and what I can work on over the coming months.”

It’s easy to imagine that Casey has learned a lot from marking Kerry and Austin Stacks legend, Kieran Donaghy, in training sessions.

Donaghy, for his part, has been generous with his time with Casey, offering him invaluable advice on how best to shut down opposition forwards.

“Yeah, I'd have the challenge of marking him for a lot of sessions when I am fullback, between myself and Barry Shanahan,” says Casey.

“You'd learn the bits that he's learnt over the last few years, how to move around and make the most of his presence.

“He's always given me notes, things that he would have found difficult being marked by the top defenders in the country, little snippets of what made them good, and what I could improve in my own game. It's important that I do take that on board.”

Austin Stacks conceded an average of just nine points per game when winning the Kerry SFC.

Casey has been their stand-out defender, but is keen to spread the credit to others for their low concession rate.

“There is a good defensive structure in place with our six backs and our goalkeeper,” he says.

“The 5 club championship games and four county championship games that followed, we built a bond among the six defenders. We are almost like brothers. We are always looking out for each other.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the other five defenders. Not only are they incredible footballers, they are incredible personalities.”

Casey clearly doesn’t lack for personality himself. He speaks well and has a natural air of confidence about him. You can see why being made club captain at such a young age hasn’t fazed him.

“It was a serious privilege and proud moment for me to captain Stacks seniors at 21.

“There wasn’t much change, but what would have been different was media work in the county championship final build-up. Even something as simple as going up for the coin toss. Addressing issues in the dressing room, if I have to speak to someone, or even something as small as that, that I am always there for them.

“I’m probably at the age where the group in general, there are fellas younger and older than me, it’s handy that I get on with everyone in there. I’m comfortable within the group, so it doesn’t affect me if I have to speak and voice my opinion.

“It’s not just me that can say that, it’s everyone inside the dressing room. The emphasis isn’t on me that now I’m captain, I’m not the only fella that speaks.

“There are times where it could be a 19-year-old and he is speaking on behalf of the group and telling us what to do. It’s not a free-for-all, but anyone can voice their opinion.”

When you see how Casey plays and hear how he speaks, it’s easy to understand why Kerry supporters believe he might be a missing piece to their defensive jigsaw.

He’s totally focused on Stacks’ club campaign for now, but makes no bones of the fact either he believes he can cut it at the highest level with Kerry.

“Absolutely, that's a goal of mine.

“For the moment, I'm concentrating on the Munster final on Sunday, and being involved in the club is the main aim. We can about think about Kerry once we get to it.”