ÉAMONN FITZMAURICE REMAINS the right man for the job despite Kerry’s All-Ireland final defeat, according to his predecessor.
Kerry relinquished their All-Ireland crown to Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday but Fitzmaurice confirmed that he and his management team will remain in charge for another year.
And Jack O’Connor – the man he took over from – believes Fitzmaurice has done a ‘remarkable’ job with the Kingdom and the 0-12 to 0-9 loss to Dublin shouldn’t blot his copybook.
“I’d say there’s no fear of that,” O’Connor said when asked whether Fitzmaurice would be leaving his post. “Éamonn is the right man for the job. When he took over a couple of years ago you would never have envisaged they’d be in two finals and they’d win one.
“It was seen as if Kerry were in transition. He’s done a remarkable job with that team and he’s there for as long as he wants it really.”
Since taking the reins from O’Connor in August 2012, Fitzmaurice has delivered three consecutive Munster titles as well as guiding the Kingdom to All-Ireland glory twelve months ago.
There was some joy for the travelling Kerry supporters in the capital on Sunday with O’Connor’s minors running riot against Tipperary to claim their 13th All-Ireland title.
But O’Connor maintains that he’s happy where he is and wouldn’t be interested in returning to the senior job should it become available in the future.
“No, no,” he said. “I’ve done my stint there and I think the underage is where I’m happiest at the moment.
“I’m going with the U-21′s next year to try and develop these two groups of minors because mentally it can be hard to start from scratch again every year with a new minor team, so we’re just trying to progress these fellas now and trying to make seniors out of them.
“That’s the aim.”
All things considered, I think Kerry football is in the healthiest position it has been in years. And with our hurlers in the senior championship next year – Roll on 2016!!
Jack o Connor must go down as one of the best managers the gaa has seen. All Ireland’s at minor, 21 and senior. Still has a big say in future of Kerry football by the sound of things
He has been involved in 21 All Ireland finals, all the above + schools.
He has 18 All Ireland wins – that is just amazing
Great manager but got it all wrong Sunday.
Ruth Dublin are just a better team than kerry 3 wins from 3
Kerry have a knack of pulling out a few new stars when it looks like change is needed. adding one or two of those minors and a retirement or two and you’ve a fresh and very talented squad
Lets be honest but for some terrible refreeing decisions last yr Kerry would not have been in the Final last yr.And again this yr in Killarney poor refreeing decisions put them on the good side of the draw avoiding Dublin and Mayo in the process which meant they would have been knocked out of this yrs championship at the quarter or semi final stage. This had nothing to do with Eamon fitzs “genius” as a manager.
correct John the first top team they faced beat them quiet easily all over the pitch.
I wouldn’t be writing off Kerry yet ! they have a history of getting it right and coming back and winning Sam ! However this Dublin team Definitely have their measure !
agreed lorcan kerry are definitely the second best team.
There’ll be plenty of retirements now I’d say.
Donaghy and The Gooch certainly don’t instill the same fear as they used too !