Month: September 2021

Thurles CBS 3-31
John The Baptist CS Hospital 4-28

(After two periods of extra-time)

Conor Kane reports from Dundrum

AN ASTONISHING QUARTER-final in the Dr Harty Cup today ended without a winner, or without a loser to be more accurate, with both teams getting another merited day out after more than 90 minutes of hurling which will live long in the memory of everyone present.

Five minutes into injury-time during the “regular” match, Paddy Creedon scored the second of his hat-trick of goals to give Thurles CBS a lifeline and put the tie into extra-time.

Then it seemed that lifeline would prove enough as they belted in 1-3 without reply to move comfortably in front, before St John the Baptist roared back with a penalty goal by sharpshooter Dylan O’Shea and more points. It took a long O’Shea free from inside his own half to bring on an additional lot of extra-time.

Thurles hit the front yet again with points by Jack Leamy and Luke Cashin but O’Shea kept the Hospital school in it and after Jack Lee seemed to get a winner for CBS, another converted free from his own half by Dylan O’Shea levelled the scores for the final time.

Instead of the stipulated ’65′ competition, the teams agreed upon a replay so the large crowd get a chance to see it all again.

Scorers for Thurles CBS: Devon Ryan 0-14 (0-8f), Paddy Creedon 3-0, Jack Lanigan 0-4, Eoin Purcell, Luke Cashin, Jack Leamy 0-3 each, Max Hackett, Keith Ryan, Jack Lee, Darren Flood 0-1 each.

Scorers for St John the Baptist CS: Dylan O’Shea 2-17 (0-10f, 1-0 penalty, 1-0 free), Patrick Reale 1-1, Ryan Tobin 1-0, Oisin O’Grady 0-4, Peter Morrissey, Brian O’Grady 0-3 each.

Thurles CBS

1. Kevin Bracken (Thurles Sarsfields)

2. Peter Melbourne (Moycarkey-Borris)
3. John Kirwan (Moycarkey-Borris)
4. Jack Hickey (Emeralds)

6. Kevin Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris)
5. Frank Hanafin (Holycross)
7. Jack Ryan (Holycross)

8. Max Hackett (Moycarkey-Borris)
9. Kieran Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields)

10. Keith Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane)
11. Devon Ryan (Kickhams)
12. Eoin Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields)

14. Darren Flood (Moycarkey-Borris)
13. Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields)
18. Jack Lanigan (Thurles Sarsfields)

Subs

15. Luke Cashin for D Flood (46)
30. Eoin Morris for F Hanafin (48)
25. Jack Leamy for J Kirwan (51)
21. James Synott for K Ryan (60)
5. Frank Hanafin for P Melbourne (68)
17. Jack Lee for P Creedon (68)

St John the Baptist CS

1. Darragh Macauley (Emly)

4. Patrick Byrne (Ballybricken)
3. Mark Quinlan (Garryspillane)
2. Killian Reale (Hospital-Herbertstown)

7. Alan Buckley (Knockainey)
6. Kevin Bonar (Bruff)
5. Brian Heavey (Garryspillane)

8. Eoin O’Mahony (Garryspillane)
9. Patrick Reale (Knockainey)

10. Ryan Tobin (Garryspillane)
11. Brian O’Grady (Kilteely-Dromkeen)
12. Michael Martin (Ballybricken)

13. Aidan O’Heney (Emly)
14. Dylan O’Shea (Garryspillane)
15. Oisin O’Grady (Hospital-Herbertstown)

Subs

17. Peter Morrissey for A O’Heney (27)
18. Killian O’Shea for P Reale (51)

Referee: Patrick Walsh (Waterford)

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THE LADIES FOOTBALL year is about to kick off once again with the return of the Lidl Ladies National Football League just around the corner.

Champions Dublin begin the defence of their first-ever Division 1 title against Donegal on Saturday, 2 February as part of a whole programme of fixtures.

The league brings a fresh start and gives managers a chance to try and test new things throughout their panel and, of course, blood young players and reward rising talent with minutes,

Here’s a few few players who should really light up 2019.

Áine McDonagh (Galway)

McDonagh established herself as an exciting young player for Galway in 2018 and at the age of 19, her star is only going to continue to rise and rise in the year ahead.

McDonagh facing Niamh Collins last year.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The Moycullen ace’s work-rate is through the roof as she seamlessly transitions from midfield to the forward line. Tall and slight in stature but incredibly physical, McDonagh’s hassling and winning of turnovers are a huge asset to this team, and she often chips in with a point or two.

The 2018 Connacht senior champion is most definitely also one to watch on UCD’s O’Connor Cup team, and was pivotal as they won the league in November.

Saoirse Noonan (Cork)

The 19-year-old’s role as Ephie Fitzgerald’s “super sub” was one of the stories of the summer in the 2018 All-Ireland senior championship.

Saoirse Noonan.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

After powering through the underage ranks, Noonan had a senior debut to remember as the Nemo Rangers star fired 2-2 in one half of football. From there, she added a further 4-9 in four more championship appearances off the bench, but her All-Ireland final appearance wasn’t just as prolific. 

The dual star — she’s also an underage Ireland international and plays with Cork City WFC — is currently recovering from a nasty knee injury but as she told The42 before Christmas, she’s going to drive on in 2019: “My aim is to get on earlier or try to start, grab a place maybe.”

Olwen Carey (Dublin) 

You could pick any one of several young Dublin players to watch here but for the purpose of this list Olwen Carey must take front and centre. 

Dublin star Olwen Carey.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The Thomas Davis 22-year-old midfielder had a superb 2018 in the Sky Blue jersey but was overlooked for an All-Star. That said, hopefully that will drive her on this year as Mick Bohan’s charges target three in-a-row.

Another midfielder who seems to have it all: her engine and sheer fitness, her strength and physicality, her hassle in the tackle and cutting runs through the middle all epitomise Dublin’s game; and she’s fond of popping up with a goal at key moments.

Lauren McVeety (Cavan)

In Cavan, she’ll forever be remembered as the player who scored the goal to keep the Breffni county in senior football. 

Video: Sensational goal by teenager Lauren McVeety for @CavanLGFA, cooly chipping the keeper to complete a comeback from 9 points down to win the TG4 All Ireland SFC Relegation Final with Tipperary.. #Properfan@LadiesFootball pic.twitter.com/P5GoEZ06na

— Jerome Quinn (@JeromeQuinn) August 19, 2018

A minor at the time, she expertly lobbed the Tipperary goalkeeper, cool and collected as you like, completing a terrific comeback which saw James Daly’s side come from nine points down to retain their senior status and send the Premier county down.

McVeety, the sister of Cavan star Dara, finished with 1-2 from the bench that day.

Maria Canavan (Tyrone)

Maria Canavan (17) is one to keep an eye on.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

In Tyrone’s Ulster IFC semi-final last June, Canavan came off the bench with 38 minutes gone and by full-time, she finished top scorer with 1-7 to her name. She’s handy on the frees and can also slot a penalty or two, just as impactful starting as from the bench.

In two minutes of the Red Hand’s All-Ireland final win in Croke Park she assisted 1-1 and caught the eye alongside her cousin Áine — Peter’s daughter. Yes, she’s his niece. It really is in the blood.

Canavan also captained her club Errigal Ciaran to the Ulster minor club title in December 2017.

Source: Jerome Quinn/YouTube

Hannah O’Donoghue (Kerry)

In August 2017, O’Donoghue grabbed the headlines with a sparkling senior debut. The underage soccer international bagged 1-4 from play and well and truly caught the eye.

O’Donoghue had a senior debut to remember.

Source: Tom Beary/INPHO

2018 was slightly quieter on the senior scene for the 17-year-old sensation as she focused on her minor exploits — her scoring returns there were brilliant — and soccer with Cork City.

She was in fine goal-scoring form in late 2018 with UL and at the LGFA inter-pro tournament, a statement of intent perhaps for the year ahead. She’s a real talent and with the Kingdom looking to prove a point this year, O’Donoghue will be key.

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CORK SIDES MIDLETON CBS and Christian Brothers College both booked places in the Dr Harty Cup for the second successive year after they claimed quarter-final victories today.

They did it in contrasting styles with Midleton CBS hitting seven goals en route to a 17-point victory over Our Lady’s Templemore in Bansha and CBC Cork relying on a dramatic late goal from Declan Hanlon, who featured for Cork in the 2017 All-Ireland minor final, securing a 2-14 to 2-12 success over Nenagh CBS in Kilmallock.

Midleton CBS, last year’s beaten finalists, were in front by 3-7 to 0-11 at the break against Our Lady’s and had seven goals on the board by the three-quarter mark. Kian Farmer and Jason Hankard both netted twice while Joe Stack, Gary Carroll and Ryan McCarthy all contributed goals.

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CBC Cork, who lost out to eventual winners Ardscoil Rís at the semi-final stage last year, won an exciting clash. They were in front 1-6 to 0-7 at the break with Pádraig Power, who hit 1-8 overall, striking their goal. 

Despite being reduced to 14 men they managed to edge in front 1-14 to 1-12 near the finish. Bryan McLoughney, who notched 1-7 overall for Nenagh CBS, fired home what looked to be the winning goal in injury-time only for CBC to respond with Hanlon’s winner.

There was also schools action in round 2 in Leinster today with Coláiste Eoin triumphing in the all-capital tie with Dublin North and St Kieran’s Kilkenny saw off St Peter’s by 14 points.

Midleton CBS will now take on De La Salle Waterford, victors today over St Colman’s Fermoy, in the semi-final on 26 January while CBC Cork will meet the winners of the replay between JTB Hospital and Thurles CBS.

Dr Harty Cup quarter-final results

Midleton CBS 7-15 Our Lady’s Templemore 0-19
Christian Brothers College Cork 2-14 Nenagh CBS 2-12

Leinster Colleges SAHC Round 2
Coláiste Eoin 3-12 Dublin North 0-11
St Kieran’s Kilkenny 3-17 St Peter’s Wexford 0-12

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HOW DO YOU take down Dublin?

That’s the question on the minds of every All-Ireland contender heading into the 2019 campaign. The five-in-a-row, and immortality, is within Dublin’s grasp. Just like Offaly did to Kerry in 1982, it’s up to someone to find a way to stop them.

Michael McKernan clashes with Brian Howard during the All-Ireland final.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Their biggest challenge will come from the usual suspects. As All-Ireland finalists last September, Tyrone can rightfully consider themselves as the prime candidates to dethrone Jim Gavin’s side.

While they ran Dublin close in the Super 8s, the close scoreline could be put down to tightened pitch at Healy Park which suited Tyrone’s defensive, counter-attacking style.

Still, when they went man-on-man in the closing stages of that game and almost stole a draw, it showed that even Dublin could be hurt at the back if they were put under pressure.

On the wide open plains of Croke Park in the final, Mickey Harte went with a far more expansive system that pressed Dublin high up the field.

They performed far better than in the semi-final the previous year, when the Red Hand dropped 14 men behind the ball and Dublin sent them packing with a 12-point defeat.

Defender Michael McKernan believes the only way to take down Gavin’s all-conquering team is to push up and go mano a mano.

“You can’t sit back on them because every one of them can play football,” he says. “You can’t sit back because they’ll just pick through you. They’ll hold it until you come out. 

Michael McKernan of University of Ulster and Tyrone in attendance at the launch of Electric Ireland’s Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Higher Education Championships announcement at Clanna Gael GAA Club in Dublin.

Source: David Fitzgerald/SPORTSFILE

“So it’s probably best to push up and go man-to-man for as long as you can. In the first 15 minutes the likes of Mark Bradley was very good, Connor McAliskey, all them boys inside. We were getting ball in fast. 

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“I suppose the main thing is keeping it for 70 minutes. That’s very hard to do. Something we can probably improve on is our decision-making in matches. 

“Maybe in the final we went a few points in the lead and maybe started taking stupid shots. Whereas if we kept chipping away at the points it might have been a different outcome. 

“But you can’t take anything away from them, they’re unbelievable. And they probably are the best team to play Gaelic football. Fair play to them for what they’ve done.

“They’re very calm, they’ve been there and done it. They’ve experienced it. Hopefully last year’s experience will help us. You seen Mayo brought them to a replay and were only a kick of a ball away from beating them so I don’t think they’re as far as everyone says but it’s definitely a tough ask.” 

Kernan enjoyed a brilliant debut campaign in the Tyrone rearguard. All-Star and Young Footballer of the Year nominations arrived in the winter and it’s reasonable to assume the Coalisland defender, who turns 21 this year, will only get better over the coming seasons.

He describes the experience of playing in his first senior final, and Tyrone’s first in a decade, as an “unbelievable” experience.

“I hadn’t played in Croke Park until this year. And then my third or fourth time playing in it was an All-Ireland final. It’s kind of surreal looking back on it. 

“It was a very good experience because I think maybe only Collie Cavanagh and Cathal McCarron who played in the 2008 final, no-one else had played in one. 

“Even for this year coming it gives us a lot of experience. If we get to that position again we’ll know how it feels and how not to be overwhelmed.” 

Michael McKernan celebrates after the semi-final win over Monaghan.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Darragh Canavan’s ascension into the senior ranks has garnered plenty of attention, but McKernan points to other additions as a sign Tyrone will be even stronger in 2019.

“There’s a few new boys in. There’s Kyle Coney, Darren McCurry and Conan Grugan, they’re back in. Then there’s Liam Rafferty, Ryan Gray, Brian Kennedy – all them boys are in.

“So it’s definitely good because you have that competition pushing the boys that were there on. Hopefully it’ll be better this year than it was last year.”

He hasn’t got around to marking Canavan yet in county training as he’s focused on the upcoming Sigerson Cup campaign with Ulster University, but McKernan knows what’s coming. 

Coalisland defeated Errigal Ciaran in the Tyrone SFC quarter-final en-route to lifting the county title, and McKernan was impressed with what he saw from Peter Canavan’s son.

“He came on against us when we played them in the championship quarter-final. He came on for 15 minutes and I’d say if he was on any longer it could have been a different story – he’s just that good.

“I haven’t really had to mark him yet, but I’d say I’ll have to soon enough.” 

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OVER THE FESTIVE period, Seamus Flanagan finally got around to sticking on the tape of last August’s All-Ireland hurling final.

Seamus Flanagan after the All-Ireland final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The Limerick full-forward admits he “moved on pretty quickly” after a glorious rookie campaign where he helped Limerick end a 45-year famine without the Liam MacCarthy.

By reminiscing on the 2018 season for one final time, the 22-year-old feels it drew a line on that glorious summer. Onto the next one. 

“Christmas was where we sat back and watched back the games again,” he says.

“That was probably my first time watching the All Ireland final back in full. I’ve watched snippets here and there but I’ve put that to bed.

“That was then and I know it’s hard to say, you want to relive that moment again but I think I moved on pretty quickly after it and I’m just looking forward to getting back into it again.

“What’s one All Ireland when you’re 21? There’s a long career ahead and I’m looking to put back-to-back, if not more, together. You win one, you’re like that Clare team in 2013, you’re forgotten about again.

“It took them so long to get back there whereas we want to be back there next year, but again, one game at a time.”

Flanagan’s rise in the past 12 months has been nothing short of remarkable. He was an unused substitute in the 2017 All-Ireland U21 final as Limerick defeated Kilkenny for their second crown at the grade in three years.

While the likes of Cian Lynch, Aaron Gillane and Kyle Hayes were expected to backbone the senior side for years to come, Flanagan wasn’t tipped for greatness.

Flanagan at the Electric Ireland HE GAA launch. Electric Ireland launched the Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and Higher Education Championships today, announcing that Electric Ireland will live stream a selection of Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup games, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before.

Source: David Fitzgerald/SPORTSFILE

But John Kiely spotted a diamond in the rough and called him into the senior set-up that winter. Three months after warming the bench in that U21 final in the Gaelic Grounds, Flanagan was handed his first senior start in the Munster hurling league against Cork in Mallow.

“I remember I was more nervous for that game than I was for the All-Ireland final and that’s no joke,” he recalls.

“It was my first time getting a jersey off John Kiely. I was sitting beside Nickie Quaid and I was as white as a ghost. I thought I was going to get sick and he just said to relax and take it in my stride.”

Quaid’s words of advice worked a treat. Flanagan went out and bagged 1-2 on his debut. From that point he never looked back and became an ever-present in the Treaty side.

“I got on well enough in that game and I think I started every game from then to the All-Ireland final.”

“It’s huge and it just shows how important these games are. There was 15 lads that started the All-Ireland final and there was four or five who came on but people don’t see there’s an extended panel there of 10 or 11 and we’re after getting four or five more in this year.

“Those guys are looking for game time if not starting positions.”

Flanagan scans the field during the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Cork.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Flanagan’s place was by no means guaranteed after a strong pre-season with Limerick, but his form on the UCD team in their Fitzgibbon campaign helped his case even further.

“We weren’t expected to get out of our group and going down to the Mardyke there and beating UCC, that kickstarted it.

“It was massive for us and for me and I took that into the league then with me and that was where I sort of nailed my position down for the year and then kept it on for the championship.

“It was the Fitz that kicked that off and John Kiely always goes to those games you know?

“He was down at that game down in Cork and he came up to me congratulating me on the win. It was the Fitz that kicked if off and got it rolling for me then.”

An All-Star nomination and Celtic Cross were secured in 2018, but Flanagan is ready to scale new heights this year.

“Playing as All-Ireland champions, there’s always a target on your back but we’re going to take that in our stride, we’re a young team, we’ve had that in U21s, we’ve had that in minor, what’s it again in senior?

“We’ve all grown up together, we’ve all played on the same teams, everyone on that team bar the likes of Nickie Quaid and Graeme Mulcahy.

“So it’s huge but whatever, we’re going to take that on our backs and take it in our stride and bring on anyone who wants to take us on.”

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A PLAYER FROM the East Kerry division is set to captain the Kerry senior side for the opening rounds of the Allianz football league with county champions Dr Crokes set to nominate their choice to lead the Kingdom in 2019 once their All-Ireland club campaign has concluded.

Kerry will open their league campaign with a home tie against Tyrone.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

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Kerry still opt to allow their senior football title winners to nominate the captain for the following season and Dr Crokes, who completed three-in-a-row in 2018, once again have that honour this year.

After winning the Munster club final in November, they face Longford’s Mullinalaghta in the All-Ireland semi-final on 16 February. Their Kerry contingent will definitely miss the first three rounds in Division 1 in the league and if they reach the All-Ireland club final on 17 March, will be out of action further.

Dr Crokes players celebrating their Munster club final victory in November.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Dr Crokes have announced that they will be waiting until after their season concludes before naming the player they wish to nominate as captain. This means they have suggested that the Kerry management can nominate a player from one of their neighbouring clubs in East Kerry as captain.

Rathmore’s Paul Murphy and Killarney Legion’s James O’Donoghue would be experienced contenders in that instance.

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CLARE DEFENDER CIAN Dillon has announced this evening that he is retiring from inter-county hurling.

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Cian Dillon (left) celebrates with team-mates Conor Ryan and Patrick O’Connor in 2013.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Dillon informed joint managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor of his decision to depart in the early stages of the 2019 season and his decision was announced afterwards.

In 2013 Dillon was at the edge of the square when Clare captured the Liam MacCarthy Cup with a victory over Cork. That was the crowning moment of his career but he won another All-Ireland medal in 2009 in Croke Park, part of Clare’s historic breakthrough at U21 level.

Dillon was joint captain of Clare in 2016 when they overturned Waterford to win the Allianz hurling league title after a replay. He has won two Clare senior hurling medals with his club Crusheen in 2010 and 2011.

Cian Dillon (left) celebrates Clare’s league victory in 2016.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

The Clare joint bosses paid tribute to Dillon.

“Cian has been a central figure in Clare’s successes since making his debut for the county at U21 level in 2009.

“Cian has been an exemplary ambassador for his county and for the game of hurling and we wish him the very best in his ongoing club career with Crusheen.”

Dillon has found his gametime has been restricted in recent times with Clare. His departure cuts another playing link with Clare’s 2013 success, leaving just eight members of that starting side still involved ahead of the new campaign.

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THE LINE-UP for the semi-finals of the Dr McKenna Cup was completed tonight as the pre-season competition in Ulster moved towards the knockout stages.

The last series of games in the round-robin tonight saw six fixtures played around the province with Donegal, Armagh, Tyrone and Derry all advancing.

In Section A, Donegal ran out 1-20 to 1-12 victors against Cavan to nail down their spot with Down’s comprehensive victory by 4-18 to 1-5 over Queen’s University proving immaterial.

Armagh finished top of Section B, grinding out a late victory by 0-13 to 1-9 over Monaghan. The other match here saw Antrim see off St Mary’s University by eight points.

And in Section C, Mickey Harte saw his Tyrone team claim a six-point success over Fermanagh to secure a last four place with Derry managing to claim the best runner-up position, aided by a 1-20 to 0-7 triumph against the students of UUJ.

The semi-final ties on Sunday will see Donegal take on Armagh and Tyrone face Derry.

Dr McKenna Cup

Results

Section A
Donegal 1-20 Cavan 1-12
Down 4-18 Queen’s University Belfast 1-5

Section B
Antrim 1-14 St Mary’s University 0-9
Armagh 0-13 Monaghan 1-9

Section C
Derry 1-20 UUJ 0-7
Tyrone 0-10 Fermanagh 0-4

Fixtures

Semi-finals
Donegal v Armagh
Derry v Tyrone

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THE GAA HAS announced a new broadcast deal has been struck with eir sport and RTÉ, which will see the national broadcaster gain a greater share of the GAA calendar for live free-to-air games.

RTÉ, whose live GAA coverage traditionally spanned from May to September, will now provide coverage of Allianz League and club championship fixtures in 2019, extending its portfolio of games significantly.

Under the new agreement, which runs between 2019 and 2022, eir Sport will continue to broadcast at least two league games each weekend but four of those matches will now be simulcast by RTÉ.

“While eir sport will act as host broadcaster, RTÉ will have its own editorial, presentation and punditry teams to bring its own style and expertise to the coverage,” a GAA statement said.

TG4 will continue to hold the prime Sunday slots for Allianz League fixtures, while RTÉ’s club championship coverage will run alongside the Irish language channel’s broadcasts later in the year.

“Increasing RTÉ’s live coverage of Gaelic Games across the GAA calendar year, we are reaffirming our commitment to bringing national moments to a national audience, free-to-air and guaranteeing coverage on RTÉ television for nine months of the year for the next three years,” said RTÉ’s Head of Sport Declan McBennett.

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DAVID CLIFFORD ARRIVED into his debut campaign with Kerry seniors last year with a great degree of hype, which he more than justified by landing All-Star and Young Footballer of the Year honours at the end of the year. 

But the excitement surrounding Clifford meant he took the attention firmly off the shoulders of Kerry’s other debutant in attack – Kenmare ace Sean O’Shea.

When Kerry opened up their league campaign against Donegal last January, it was the former All-Ireland minor winning captain who wowed the crowd with a seven-point haul as he pulled the strings from number 11.

O’Shea, who won minor crowns in 2015 and 2016, enjoyed a fine year in the green and gold and looks to be the long-term answer for the Kingdom at centre-forward.

He was first called into the senior set-up by Eamonn Fitzmaurice in the summer of 2017 but saw no action on the field. Once his chance came last year, he grasped it with both hands and quickly established himself as a regular starter through the league and championship.

“Whenever you get called into Kerry, you’d be nervous about it the first night,” says O’Shea. “Having the few fellas there that you knew and would talk to (helped).

“You could pop a message at them to see what the craic was like, to see what the set-up was like as well. That helps to guide you through the first few sessions and that too.

“Eamonn was great. Eamonn gave me my first start in both the league and the championship so I owe a lot to Eamonn.

“All the finer details, he really looked after them. Things didn’t really look out for us last year, (that was down to) the performances from the players more than anything else. The backroom team was exceptional, they looked after every last detail.

“They prepared for everything so professionally and it was great to be in that environment.”

Sean O’Shea and Cian Kiely at the launch of Electric Ireland’s Sigerson, Fitzgibbon and HE championships announcement. Electric Ireland will live stream a selection of Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup games this year.

Source: David Fitzgerald/SPORTSFILE

The average age of the Kerry set-up has dropped significantly since Peter Keane’s appointment as Fitzmaurice’s replacement.

Four veterans retired over the winter – Kieran Donaghy, Anthony Maher, Darran O’Sullivan and Donnchadh Walsh – while Fionn Fitzgerald and Barry John Keane are no longer part of the panel.

“There’s been four notable retirements,” he says. “It’s a younger squad than usual but us younger lads would want to be stepping up into leadership roles now too.

“Kerry is known for producing forwards. It’s tough and you always have to be on your toes in training trying to get a jersey or hold onto a jersey. You’re playing with some of the best forwards in the country.

“Every night training there is competitive, just battling to get on the team for the league, no one takes the foot off the pedal at all,” O’Shea added.

The final year UCC Arts student worked under current Kerry boss Peter Keane for a season at minor level, lifting the Tom Markham Cup together in 2015.

“He’s been in charge of the last three winning minor teams. He’s been there on All-Ireland final day and he’s got that experience. 

“I had a year (of) minor with Peter so I know him well enough. He’s very good and looks after us very well. He has a good backroom team around him and it’s good, I’m looking forward to it.

“There’d be different changes but we all want the same end goal for Kerry.”

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