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Layoff concerns, Spillane v Spillane and injury updates: Jack O’Connor’s post-match press briefing

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4 years ago

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Kerry manager Jack O'Connor. Photo: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile.

Kerry enjoyed an easy win over Limerick in the Munster final last weekend. What did Jack O’Connor make of it all? Adam Moynihan was at the post-match press briefing to record the Kerry bainisteoir’s thoughts.

Of course, you’d probably prefer to get a stiffer test.

O'CONNOR ON THE ONE-SIDED NATURE OF THE GAME

We set out our stall, we had certain targets in the game, and by and large we met most of them. We only had three scores from eight attacks early on, so I thought we were a bit wasteful there.

But towards the end of the first half and the start of the second half in particular, we upped the ante. We were comfortable enough after that.

APART FROM THEIR SLOW START, THE KERRY MANAGER WAS PLEASED WITH HIS TEAM'S PERFORMANCE

I’m not too sure now. I’ve a bit of an idea that the Limerick corner back was gone AWOL there for some reason. I’m not too sure where he was. Killian seemed to be inside on his own.

O'CONNOR DOWNPLAYED THE SUGGESTION THAT KERRY'S GOAL WAS A TRAINING GROUND MOVE

Killian Spillane has been patiently waiting for his chance for a while and he kicked 1-3 from play, which was good. Killian has been going very well in training and we went with a very offensive team because we felt we’d have a lot of the ball.

Adrian Spillane (whom Killian replaced) has had a brilliant year for us so far and he’ll have a big part to play for us from here on in.

THE DROMID NATIVE ON THE reasoning behind replacing one Spillane brother with the other

Sure, of course people will talk like that, but what can we do? We just have to play the games that are in front of us and do as good as we can. That’s for somebody else to decide that.

The Kerry manager wouldn’t be drawn on the furore surrounding the lack of competitive matches in the provincial championships

Of course four weeks is an issue. That’s why the system next year is going to be fairer for everybody.

I’m not too concerned by the game today but I am relatively concerned about having four weeks off. I’ve gone on record as saying that we played eight games in 10 weeks in the league, and we’re playing three games in 12 weeks in the championship. Sure that can’t be right. That system had to be fixed.

O’Connor feels that next year’s championship structure will be an improvement

He picked up an injury against Cork. We weren’t being clever or anything, it just took longer than we thought. The medical advice was not to play him in this game. I’d say he’ll be doing a good share of training next week, hopefully.

David Clifford’s injury is not serious, the Kerry boss confirmed

What you’re trying to do is break it up for the players. It can become a bit routine if you’re coming in to Fitzgerald Stadium and training. That’s what we’re trying to avoid.

We played Roscommon last Saturday and it was a good game for us. We learned a few things.

I’d consider [having another challenge match before the All-Ireland quarter-final]. You’re running out of teams at this stage because, think about it, how many teams are going to be available? We’ll have a look at it.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE MATCH MAY BE ON THE CARDS

I’m more interested that the inside forwards score. When backs score it’s a bonus. Killian Spillane scored 1-3. Geaney scored four. Tony scored three. They’re your finishers and you want your finishers getting scores because it’s all about confidence in there.

ON KERRY'S SPREAD OF SCORERS (11 PLAYERS SCORED IN TOTAL)

He plays a defensive role in general but Jack Barry is a good footballer and he can play on the front foot as well. We just wanted to mind Jason [Foley] because he actually picked up a bit of a tweak during the week as well.

o'connor on jack barry switching back to full back

Unfortunately it looks like Dylan Casey might have jarred his ankle or something so I hope he’ll be okay next week.

the stacks man is an injury concern following the munster final

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Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

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1 month ago

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7 November 2025

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Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

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1 month ago

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7 November 2025

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After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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