INTERVIEW/Clare manager John Kennedy: Ian O'Riordan talks to the Clare boss who knows all there is to know about Kerry football after winning three All-Ireland medals with the county

They could pump out the theme music to Mission Impossible in Ennis on Sunday, just as Clare hit the field to play Kerry in the Munster championship. If any game of football this season has an air of inevitability about it then this is it. The only thing outsiders will want to know is how much Kerry won by.

And it's a game Kerry will want to win well, the in-house rivalry for starting places for the date with Cork on June 13th still red hot. In contrast Clare seem to have declined greatly since that memorable summer 12 years ago and the day they beat Kerry for only their second Munster title.

Yet Clare do have one thing on their side, a manager who knows all there is to know about Kerry football. John Kennedy collected three All-Ireland medals with Kerry from 1984-86 as a half forward and has worked with all levels of underage football in his native county, including five years with the Kerry minors. Plus he knows all about his opposing manager Jack O'Connor and how his mind works.

"Sure when Jack got the job I rang him up straight away to congratulate him," says Kennedy. "He has a great reputation in the county, and has proven already that he can get the best out of players. He has different methods to the previous management and I've great respect for him. But for 70 minutes on Sunday I'll be doing my best to plot his downfall."

Though Kennedy has green and gold flowing in his blood his commitment to Clare is total. He was offered the job in November 2002, his first senior management post, and so last summer was a learning process - the defeats to Limerick and Offaly the two main lessons.

This year's panel is more Kennedy-influenced, and, between himself and his two selectors, all the county championship matches were screened for potential players.

"We did bring in quite a few players this year, with at least 12 changes on the panel from last year. So you could say this is the first year of our panel. The nucleus of recent years is still there, and it's a nice blend now.

"I know it wasn't the best league campaign for Clare, but we still had some positives. We've worked hard since, and the training has gone well. And the championship is all about playing on the day, 15 men against 15, even though Kerry will be overwhelming favourites. So we're looking forward to that challenge. We know there's a real buzz about the game."

Now a coaching officer with the Munster Council, Kennedy's work with Clare involves taking the evening ferry from Tarbert to the training sessions in Ennis. Deep down he knows the mindset of footballers can change rapidly across that stretch of water. Those born on the Kerry side of the Shannon mouth have an extra privilege.

"Any young lad that plays football in Kerry will know his county will be in an All-Ireland final every few years, if they play up to their own standards. So if they're good enough they can think about playing at the highest level.

"And in Kerry you have so many people walking around with All-Ireland medals that it's almost taken for granted.

"In Clare it's so rare they make it then even if you're the best footballer in the county you know you mightn't make the big day. So when you come to other counties you do appreciate the enormity of winning the All-Irelands. But there is talent here, but so much of it is about belief, and playing consistently."

He gets everything he needs from the Clare County Board despite their stronger hand in hurling (last Sunday the possible exception) and is intent on rewarding that commitment with some progress. Beating Kerry right now might be a step too far yet Kennedy is unperturbed.

"This is a job I want to do to the best of my ability, and I'll be doing everything I can to try and lower the Kerry colours. We feel we have made some progress since taking over, but without some results that means nothing.

"But there is also the qualifier system there which has been of great benefit to the weaker counties. So if we're not successful on Sunday we'll focus on the next game and hope to make progress there, which ultimately means going further than last year."