By Cian O'Connell

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor is expecting 'a pretty open' encounter against Dublin in the All-Ireland SFC Final.

The eagerly anticipated Croke Park clash on July 30 will be the next instalment in the Kerry versus Dublin rivalry.

“There’s no secret in the fact that both teams want to play on the front foot," O'Connor remarked on Thursday at Kerry's press event ahead of the decider.

"We feel we’re at our best on the front foot. Dublin are an awesome attacking unit when they get their game going.

“I’m sure both sides will be trying to batten down the hatches a bit better than we certainly were doing against Derry, but I’d expect it to be a pretty open enough game.

“There is great tradition between the two teams. A tradition of playing positive football. I can’t see that changing."

Striking a correct balance, though, is key according to O'Connor. "I mean, no one wants to leave their backs isolated," he adds.

"You’re trying to get help back, but sometimes that’s dictated by the opposition, by the way the opposition set up and by the speed at which they attack. You’re trying to get the balance right.

“I mean, you look at the evolution of teams like Derry, for example. Derry were very good defensively for the last couple of years. They obviously worked a lot on the offensive side this year, and you know, they certainly got the balance pretty right this year.

“So every team is constantly probing to try and find the balance between defence and attack.

"If you set up too defensively, it takes a bit from your offensive game and vice versa. If you set up too offensively, then you’re too open.

"So it’s just a matter of trying to get that balance right and you’re constantly tinkering with it, and it’s not an exact science."