K ERRY are looking over the edge of the precipice after being overrun by Cork -- outclassed in fitness, hunger, and concentration -- but I still hope this evening's qualifier draw gives them a real contest next weekend instead of the walkover against weak opponents that many in the county hope for.

It is no understatement to say that Kerry are in genuine disarray right now, partly because of injuries and the consequent inability to get a settled team together, but partly due also to a strange sense of listlessness, a lack of real purpose, an unusual staleness in the side.

Such lassitude could be fatal if they encounter formidable opposition in the next match, which to some extent will be Jack O'Connor's Lisbon 2 -- he must win at all costs. Nobody desires more passionately than I do that Kerry should recover their freshness for the fray and recapture that glorious creative football, which at its best is the most exciting in the country.

But some radical steps need to be taken if this is to be achieved. It is imperative that Colm Cooper regains full form. It is my theory that a strong and very competitive presence like Tommy Walsh should not be in the same full-forward line as Cooper or Kieran Donaghy. Tommy is a player with a strong personality who likes to take on the opposition and go for scores. I believe this is causing some imbalance up front and that the Gooch's game is suffering.

I remember in 1983 Mick O'Dwyer said to me: "There's a jersey for you, and it's right full-back.'' I had no choice but to do what Micko wanted in order to keep my place on the team, so I did. The idea that Tommy Walsh can't play midfield or wing-forward is, to use the vernacular, bullshit.

Cooper is getting the ball three passes too late or, whichever way you like to put it, three seconds too late. Either way, it has resulted in the loss of his unique penetrative effectiveness, (since Tadhg Kennelly has been playing at wing-forward or midfield, Kerry's game has slowed down. In any event, his broken finger leaves him doubtful for the next match.)

And as for Kieran Donaghy, his injury has been a huge setback to Kerry. It is said that he will be fit for the next game, but how fit is that? Sin scéal eile.

And while I'm on the subject of some not-too-radical changes in positioning, I am convinced that Darragh ó Sé should be placed at centre-back where he will be facing the ball at all times and he will not have to contest every kick-out.

Crucially, an antidote has to be found immediately for the Paul Galvin neurosis. He is a marked man, both by opponents and referees, and it is painfully difficult for a fiery player like him to keep his cool. Why not play Galvin as wing-back? He is as good a player to move onto the breaking ball as there is in the country. I would put Declan O'Sullivan at centre forward; he is as good a kicker of the ball as there is in the game and is almost without equal for getting scores from the 40.

It would also be a good move to bring Mike McCarthy in at full-back from the start of the game. Though he is 31, it won't take him long to reach full fitness and I can see him fitting in to that position perfectly. It is no secret that I believe Bryan Sheehan should be in the team from the start -- his place-kicking skills are essential.

Today I expect Cork to beat Limerick but it will be a lot closer, in my opinion, than people expect.

Having worked as a Garda in Limerick for over five years, I think I know the people there and how passionate they are about sport. I would guess that at least one of the parents of at least half the Limerick team is from Kerry. Because of that, they won't be overawed by Cork and they won't look on the prospect of taking on this superb Cork side as an ordeal.

The morning atmosphere in the family home on the day of a big game is of huge importance; it helps no end to have your temperament right for the day. Those Limerick players with a Kerry background will know what I mean. But, at the same time, this is a truly outstanding Cork team which has benefited enormously from the county's success in the Cadburys U21 championships, and I will be amazed if they don't win, albeit narrowly enough.

I watched a couple of games last weekend and it occurred to me that both Sligo and Cavan suffered greatly from not having the calibre of player in the full-forward line who was able to catch the ball cleanly. I believe Cavan should have held onto Dermot McCabe (who is the same age as Darragh). McCabe's ability to catch the ball and to kick long-range points could have changed the course of the game.

On another critical note, I was completely turned off by the showboating I saw from the Dublin forwards in their trouncing of Westmeath. In the second half, many of the points scored were accompanied by the sight of players making triumphant gestures to the Hill. (Cavan's Seanie Johnson saluted to the crowd after scoring the first point against Antrim, and how wrong he turned out to be!)

Dublin haven't won anything yet and there's a long way to go before they do, so Pat Gilroy would be well-advised to call for a bit of modesty and maturity in this respect.