FORMER KERRY SENIOR football manager Jack O’Connor has expressed his delight with the news that teen sensation David Clifford has committed his immediate future to the Kingdom.
But O’Connor, who will guide the fortunes of the U20′s next year, concedes that it’s highly likely that he won’t be able to call upon the services of the Fossa scoring machine, who’s expected to earn a call up to Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s senior squad.
O’Connor collected the Electric Ireland Minor Star Special Merit Award at Croke Park last Saturday, after guiding Kerry to successive All-Ireland minor titles in 2014 and 2015.
And he warned Clifford, who was a target for leading AFL clubs, that he’ll be a marked man when he steps up to the senior grade, after shooting the lights out at minor level.
O’Connor said: “It’s a big jump. Minor level is all about playing ball whereas at senior level there’s a bit more to it, David will get a lot more attention than he would have got at minor level.
“He’ll get a lot more on the field, and maybe off the field as well. He just needs to take that in his stride and not get anxious if it doesn’t work straight away for him. The people of Kerry need to be a bit patient as well.”
O’Connor added: “He’s had an exceptional career up to now, he’s won two Hogan Cups and two All-Irelands, and seemed to do it almost within himself.
“He’s a good, level-headed lad and comes from good stock. It’s just exciting times and .
“The key now is to try and bed them in with some of the established senior players because you can’t throw them all in together – that doesn’t work either.”
O’Connor insists that Fitzmaurice’s senior set-up could do with an infusion of new blood – and admits that the Kerry public will “demand” that Clifford is part of that.
He added: “It is a big jump so it will be interesting to see how he (Clifford) gets on.
“We’d be delighted to have him at U20 but the Kerry public will demand that he gets a go at senior level because he’s an exceptional player, probably the most dominant minor that’s come along in a long, long time.
“Sean O’Shea is already in the senior panel so the two of those guys will probably be unavailable to the U20′s but we still have a strong panel to pick from so hopefully we’ll do well.
“The key for Kerry is to get some of these young lads bedded into the team next year because Kerry do need new blood, there’s no question about that.
“They (seniors) fell short this year, it’s an important year ahead because these fellas have won a good bit underage, Hogan Cups and minors, and the stuff is in them.
“It’s just a case of whether they can make that step up because it’s still a big step up to senior.”
O’Connor took charge of the Kerry U21′s in 2016 and 2017, and oversaw a Munster championship win this year.
He’ll now guide the county through the transitional process as the grade moves to U20.
And he reflected: “It’s going to be a tougher one for the minors than the U20′s.
“The minor one now…a lot of these U17′s are still a bit young to be exposed to the very big days that you have in Croke Park and so on, before All-Ireland finals and that.
“I’m not sure about the U17 but I think the U20 is a good idea, moving it to summer football will certainly help the standard and ease some of the burden and the pressure that was on them. I’m not sure about the U17 yet until I see it in action.”
And O’Connor said that he was “pleasantly surprised” to be honoured with the individual award at the Electric Ireland awards at the weekend.
He added: “It’s fantastic, I’m pleasantly surprised and delighted.
“It’s a great idea, All-Star awards for young players, because it incentivises them to stay in the game, and dedicate their lives to it, because it’s a great lifestyle.
“It gives them discipline and brings order to their lives, and it’s fantastic for their confidence and self-worth.”
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That Munster team should not be losing to that Cardiff team.
@The Irish Pain: also think the team hasn’t lost it’s way since Rassie left.
@The Irish Pain: ***has
And now we see why Keatley just isn’t of a good international standard. I understand he’s playing his best rugby this season but he isn’t at a high enough level for ireland or back up 10 to sexton. He wasn’t to blame for munster losing but he was anonymous for most parts and is still prone to errors at crucial times.
@Anthony Davoren: keatley issue is playing with that moron dunc the muppet.
@Shougeki: cool the jets with the abuse.
@The Irish Pain: yeah , no need for personal abuse but the half backs, all of them bar Murray obviously are sub standard if munster have any high end ambition going forward !!
@The Irish Pain: I dont mean to demean him as a man, and apologies if it came across as abuse but he has no right to be playing professional rugby. I honestly reckon sometimes we would be better off fielding 14 than having “dunc the bunk” on the pitch. He is dreadful. Only munster player i have thought would be better of they picked a randomer from the crowd.
@Shougeki: Best Fans In The World TM (c)
@Shougeki: keatley is just simply USELESS. He wouldent even make a school team & a Coward as well
@Murf: and Shougeki: You pair are an embarrassment to your club and Irish rugby
@Shougeki: Agree totally – reminds me of Tomas O’Leary, only worse.
@Causasua: he reminds you of a player selected to tour with the Lions having been a crucial member of a Grand Slam winning side?
As long as we persevere with Williams we are going nowhere. He is clearly not up to standard which poses the question what are his connections to the top of Munster rugby????? Useless against Zebre two weeks ago and the same tonight. Wouldn’t get near the starting line up of any other pro 14 team.
Dreadful.
@Munsterman: it was worse than dreadful!!!!
10 changes didn’t help. But 9 & 10 were very poor. Keatley’s kicking was shocking in the first half. Understandable that he’s released from Carton! Williams kicked all day to absolutely no effect, apart from gifting Cardiff a try & continuously giving them back possession. Poor leadership on the pitch. Game plan did not work for 75% of the game. Our panel is v weak as shown when our internationals are away.
@Paddy Murphy: panel is strong, it’s literally our halfbacks are the problem.
@thesaltyurchin: Bleyendaal is quality but you need a better 9 than Williams or Hart for sure.
You cant win rugby matches if you have a poor 9/10 , they contributed to 14 pts by errors
We should have killed them off when they had rees in the bin. Fair duce to Williams for his contribution but seriously we definitely have better scrum halves in the munster academy. Thought he slowed the game way down which played into Cardiffs hands at a time we should have killed them. We got 1 point when 5 points were there for the taking
@Kenneth O Connor: What’s the story with James Hart? only getting 10 mins in game like this suggests he’s not rated at all
@Sean Mannion: last time he got a run he was worse than Williams. We need Strings 2.0 (kid a Connacht with a bullet pass)
@Sean Mannion: yeah, what is the story with Hart? Can anybody comment – is Willians a better option or what’s happening there?
Dreadful watching. Really unimaginative tactics and sloppy execution, still trying to maul win games, and with the same problems at 9 and 10 as 5 seasons ago its no wonder we can’t create anything outside, glad Keatley can crack a wry smile when it puts another one out on the full (are we allowed to talk about how crap he can be again now or still a no go?) at least Williams is gone at the end of the season, you could make a cup of tea in the time he has at the back of a ruc, and it’s still not enough. Ref way off on Cronin, Cardiff deserve the win tho. Least we got a losing bonus I suppose.
@thesaltyurchin: where have you seen that Williams is gone at the end of the season?
@Jim Demps: Word on the street.
@thesaltyurchin: didn’t he sign a new contract recently?
@thesaltyurchin: whats the story with james hart?
@Johnny A: Slept with the wrong persons wife presumably!
@thesaltyurchin: I thought he signed a new contract
@thesaltyurchin: Williams has a new 2 yr contract
So incredibly blunt in attack it’s ridiculous. There’s not the slightest bit of creativity there at all, which lead to them constantly kicking the ball away. No evidence of back moves or anything. Dreadful. The defense in the first half was also shocking.
Williams not good enough. Poland did well last week when he came on. Harte also not at the races. Keats is a confidence player, one wheel comes off they all come off. Not one of his better games but others didn’t cover themselves in glory either. Ref had a howler too though. Missed knock on for 1st try and awarded penalty against Cronin for a legit steal. 10 points. Did I say Williams isn’t good enough.
People need to manage their expectations a little bit. Sure we should be beating Cardiff but these blips happen in a season. Especially when you’ve changed your head coach mid season. There has been a huge amount of turmoil over the last 2 years and for me the players have been doing exceptionally well given all that has gone on. For me a successful season will be making a semi in the champions cup and the same in the pro 14. Anything beyond that will be a great season. From there van graan can build during the off season.
Duncan Williams masterclass