Sport
Louise and the Champions of ‘24 will leave a lasting legacy
by Adam Moynihan
For me, I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas used to conjure up blurry memories of the Grand nightclub in Killarney – specifically standing around half-vexed, wondering if the DJ was ever going to play something good.
Now it means something else entirely. When David and Paudie Clifford climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand and lifted Sam in 2022, the cheesy dance-pop hit was playing in the background. And again on Sunday last as Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh approached the Brendan Martin Cup with the brightest smile you've ever seen, it was the auto-tuned voice of will.i.am that echoed around Croke Park.
So, two of the greatest moments in the recent history of Kerry football will forever be associated with this song. It might be a far cry from The Rose of Tralee but if they ever bring out an official Kerry GAA & LGFA soundtrack, I Gotta Feeling will have to be on there (although maybe somewhere towards the end).
Louise’s long-awaited trophy lift was the high-point on a day of incredible highs for the Kerry ladies. Watching this legend, often referred to as the greatest Kerry footballer to never win an All-Ireland, finally achieve her ultimate dream after 16 seasons was enough to bring a tear to the eye.
Retirement was on the cards 12 months ago when Kerry lost their second All-Ireland final in a row, but she stuck around to give it one more try. If this is to be the end for the flame-haired footballing icon from West Kerry, it is an ending of the fairytale variety.
TEAM EFFORT
While it is appropriate to focus on Louise first, and her adoring teammates will be happy to stand back and admire her like the rest of us, the 2023 Players’ Player of the Year certainly did not win this All-Ireland on her own. Far from it, in fact. To be honest, her form was not as spectacular this year as it was in previous years. She still showed her class – not least in the first half of Sunday’s final when she scored five consecutive points – but it was very much a team effort that got Kerry over the line.
Galway’s strong running game looked threatening during the opening exchanges but it wasn’t long before The Kingdom’s defensive solidity came to the fore. Working together as a unit, they consistently and very diligently diverted the advancing opponents away from goal. Eventually, the only running Galway were doing was running out of ideas.
Kerry were already in control before Aoife Dillane’s fortuitous goal gave them an eight-point lead right before half-time (1-8 to 0-3), and at no point in the second period did you ever feel as though the result was in doubt. In the end the margin of victory (12 points, 3-14 to 0-11) did not flatter the champions at all.
From 1 to 15 and beyond it was a sensational display. Goalkeeper Ciara Butler’s kickouts were absolutely on the money. In defence, Eilís Lynch shadowed Galway’s primary scorer Roisín Leonard with typical care, precision and guile, giving up just one point from play. Kayleigh Cronin dominated any attacker who came near her and was deservedly named Player of the Game. Ciara Murphy was once again handed a specific marking role and she acquitted herself admirably. Aishling O’Connell – one of the team’s most reliable players all year - kept Olivia Divilly under wraps. Deirdre Kearney showed the resilience and physical toughness that makes her a highly-valued teammate. And Aoife Dillane was busy and deserved her goal.
At midfield, the experienced Anna Galvin led by example, and Mary O’Connell exhibited poise and composure beyond her years.
Up front, captain Niamh Carmody posed problems with her incisive runs. Niamh Ní Chonchúir put the team first, as always. Síofra O’Shea worked hard and used possession wisely. Danielle O’Leary was industrious and a constant menace. Emma Dineen had a great battle with the impressive Sarah Ní Loingsigh and finished up with 1-2, a tally that included a cleverly taken goal. Louise kicked 0-6 in total and apart from her scoring her contributions were crafty and efficient, as per usual.
As for the subs, Hannah O’Donoghue’s brilliant goal came as a surprise to absolutely no one; she has been one of the team’s most potent scoring threats all year. The veteran Lorraine Scanlon was simply superb. Another long-serving player, Cáit Lynch, came on and added her usual enthusiasm and energy. And Katie Brosnan and Kate O’Sullivan also slotted in and played their part.
Huge credit must go to Darragh Long and Declan Quill. They got the vast majority of the big calls right, not only on the day but right throughout the campaign, from tactics to team selection to in-game decisions and everything in between. Their names will now forever be a part of the lore of Kerry football, and deservedly so.
FRONT AND CENTRE
Winning this All-Ireland, Kerry’s first since 1993, is a fantastic accomplishment by this group of individuals but perhaps even more significant than the silverware is the legacy they will leave behind.
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when the Kerry ladies were an afterthought within their own county. Now the team is front and centre, inspiring the next generation of Kayleighs and Síofras and Louises.
And it’s not just young girls and women who should be feeling the effect. Male allies will play an important role as our female athletes continue to strive for equality and even within my own circles I have noticed an uptick in support for the Kerry ladies and for women in sport across the board. Having a winning team to latch on to shouldn’t be a pre-requisite but it certainly doesn’t do any harm.
We can take heart, too, from the large number of young male supporters who attended last weekend’s final at Croke Park. Boys like six-year-old Rian Hickey from Barraduff who went viral after holding up a homemade sign that read, “I’m a ladies man”. Thankfully Rian’s generation are being brought up to appreciate the inherent merits of women’s sport in a way that older generations were not.
Meanwhile those who stubbornly refuse to give female athletes the respect they deserve will be left behind, as the Kerry ladies, and other teams and sportswomen like them, march on towards a future as bright as Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh’s smile.
Sport
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)
As we reach the midway point of the 2025 season, Adam Moynihan takes a close look at Kerry’s strength in depth
As the Kerry players, management team and backroom staff huddled together for a photo with the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup in front of the Hogan Stand, one of the photographers raised his fist in the air, trying to illicit something resembling a celebratory scene. No joy.
Victory over Mayo had been secured in convincing enough fashion but winning the league has never been grounds for buoyant celebrations as far as Kerry are concerned. Retaining Division 1 status and unearthing some new talent is generally enough to tick the springtime box ahead of the serious business of the championship. Once that has been achieved, anything else is gravy.
Going by the disappointing loss to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, the need for new blood was especially great heading into the 2025 season. The team faded badly down the stretch and into extra time against the Orchard County with overdependence on core players glaringly obvious. It wasn’t the only reason they lost but Kerry simply didn’t get enough from their supporting cast on the day.
With that in mind, Jack O’Connor knew he had to work on the depth of his squad during this league campaign, and you’d have to say he made a pretty good fist of it.
Starting in goal, the situation here is clear with Shane Murphy providing back-up to Shane Ryan.
Moving out the field, in recent years Kerry have generally gone with Jason Foley at full back, Tom O’Sullivan at left corner back, and one of Paul Murphy or Graham O’Sullivan at right corner back.
After making his debut in the league in 2024, Damien Bourke has emerged as a genuine right corner back alternative with some strong performances that have vastly enhanced his reputation. Not many Kerry players came out of the Dublin defeat with extra credit to their name but Bourke was brave and tenacious, bursting out of defence and using the ball wisely. He was replaced as a starter by the experienced Murphy in later rounds but the Tralee man capped his league with a goal off the bench against Galway in Salthill.
Dylan Casey also got extended game time in the absence of Tom O’Sullivan and he acquitted himself professionally. He has a solid head on his shoulders and you get the impression that Jack O’Connor would now be comfortable throwing him into any given situation without hesitation.
The versatile Graham O’Sullivan is also an option at corner back and it looks like he’ll need to slot in somewhere other than his natural position of half back as Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White are nailed on starters at 5 and 7. O’Sullivan lined out at half forward against Galway and Mayo, underlining his flexibility and importance to the team.
There could be a changing of the guard taking place at centre back with Mike Breen seemingly shaking off the injury woes that have held back his progress with Kerry to date. With regular number 6 Tadhg Morley unavailable for selection for most of the league, Breen slotted seamlessly into that crucial central role, and he looked really confident against Mayo on Sunday. As things stand, Morley will be doing well to displace Breen but either way Kerry should have two good centre back options heading into the summer months.
Midfield has been a head scratcher for Kerry for a number of years but in Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor they appear to have found a winning combination. Diarmuid was playing the best football of his career up to his injury against Armagh in Round 6 so getting his shoulder right for championship is of paramount importance to Kerry’s chances.
Joe is a guaranteed starter too but his assured display at wing forward against Armagh was interesting in that it opens the door for a third midfielder to start. Seán O’Brien and Barry Dan O’Sullivan both applied themselves admirably when called upon in the league and the manager should feel like he can trust them more now than he did 12 months ago.
Joe O’Connor’s arrival as a half forward candidate has improved Kerry’s options to the extent that it’s difficult to predict how they will line out from 10 to 12 in the Munster Championship. Micheál Burns has done quite well upon his reintroduction to the team after being dropped from the panel in 2024, and Paudie Clifford is looking sharp at centre forward. Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney are options along this line too, although Dylan has been operating as a withdrawn inside forward to date – a role Tony is also capable of playing.
Of course, Seánie O’Shea will have to fit in somewhere in this department when he fully recuperates from his knee ligament injury, so it will be interesting to see how Jack O’Connor works this conundrum out. File under ‘good problems’.
Dara Moynihan is still recovering from a hip injury and has not yet featured in 2025. He would naturally be an option at 10 if he can get back up to speed. Meanwhile, Darragh Lyne, Ruairí Murphy and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich all featured at half forward in the league.
David Clifford and Paul Geaney will play at 13 and 14 with Dylan Geaney in pole position to start at 15 on the back of a really good run of form, perhaps excepting the league final in which he was relatively quiet. Tony Brosnan is a prime candidate to challenge Dylan for that spot; the Dr Crokes player has kicked some fantastic scores in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
As for out-and-out inside forwards, Conor Geaney and Killian Spillane are likely to be used as impact subs.
All told Kerry do appear to have better depth than they had last year, particularly with the emergence of second season players like Bourke, O’Brien and Dylan Geaney as legitimate options, and with Breen beginning to fulfil his potential. Burns’ comeback and Joe O’Connor’s newfound ability to play the 12 position also help.
As always, though, the proof will be in the eating. We will have to wait for the suffocating heat of do-or-die championship matches to find out if this squad is as deep and dependable as it looks on paper.
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