Jack lays down challenge to county's young players
PICTURE: JOHN REIDY
David Shanahan (left) pictured with Luka Brosnan and Stephen Murphy supporting Castleisland Desmonds at the Celebrity Bainisteoir first round game against Shannonbridge at the Offaly club's home ground on Saturday afternoon
NEWLY re-appointed Kerry senior team manager Jack O'Connor has laid down a challenge for the next generation of footballers in the county to step up and stake a claim for a place on the Kerry team and not to settle for being a part of the wider panel. O'Connor, who was reappointed for a three-year term on Monday, says that while he feels Kerry football will go through a period of transition over the next few years, he firmly believes there is still enough talent in the county – established and new – for Kerry to remain hugely competitive in the football championship.
However, speaking on Tuesday morning O'Connor said younger, up and coming footballers need to show huge hunger and ambition to wear the county jersey.
"There are always footballers in Kerry, there is no question about it. There is talk that they aren't strong enough or that they are not big enough but there will always be footballers with skill in Kerry because they are kicking football since they were knee high and it's the main game in Kerry.
"There are always skilful footballers here but there is a bit more to it than skill. There is the attitude and the lifestyle that an inter-county footballer has to lead and that is so phenomenal. There is no question in my mind but that it's a professional game played by amateurs and the preparation has to be professional. It's just a matter of how much they are prepared to put into it. I have no doubt in my mind that the players are there if the attitude and the commitment is right.
"In 2009 we had ferocious competition for places right up to the All-Ireland final that had some of the older fellows looking over their shoulder and saying 'I wonder is my place secure here'. We were able to bring meaningful quality players in replacing other fellows and maybe we hadn't the same competition this year.
"So that's what we need, we need more players who are hungry for the Kerry jersey and want to make it on their own, and not just being in there and being able to say that they are part of the Kerry panel. We really want younger fellows pushing for places now because the opportunity is there now and it's basically up to the players themselves because we are always looking out for new players," O'Connor said.
- Paul Brennan
