KERRY BOSS EAMONN Fitzmaurice is proud of the determination his team showed despite not being at their best in last Sunday’s Munster final.
The All-Ireland champions needed an injury-time equaliser from corner-back Fionn Fitzgerald to avoid defeat to Cork in Killarney and force a replay.
“There is a lot of negativity around the place this week, but we are still there,” Fitzmaurice said. “It’s like we lost, it’s like we are in the qualifiers.
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“Of course there are areas that we have to improve on the next day. We will be working on them for the replay. There were also a lot of positives. I was very proud of the lads.
“(I was proud of) the way they battled, as Cork appeared a bit hungrier than us. The lads could have said ‘we are beaten here, we will have to go down the qualifier route’.
They showed great guts and determination to find the composure to open up the chance for Fionn at the end. So overall, I am happy.”
The Kindom manager does, however, accept that they were second best — not just on the pitch, but on the sideline too.
“Cork got it right on a lot of fronts,” he said. “Both on the field and on the sideline, I think Cork were better on the day and we all have to improve.
“It doesn’t take a genius to know we didn’t have a great day on the line. We didn’t adapt. Too much can be made of the plans that are in place. When they go well you look like a genius, when they don’t work you look like you don’t have a clue.
“I said that plenty of times last year that when we were getting a lot of credit it was down to the players on the pitch implementing a game-plan and when that goes well everything is hunky dory.
When things don’t work out everything is up for grabs. I would agree we didn’t have a good day at the office.”
With another week to nurse the minor knocks, Fitzmaurice is optimistic of having a full squad to choose from for next weekend’s replay at Fitzgerald Stadium. An Achilles tendon injury to Kieran O’Leary means he is the only definite absentee.
“We are good in the injury front,” he said. “We have a few knocks, but we would be hopeful again that everyone would be available for the replay.
'It doesn’t take a genius to know we didn’t have a great day on the line' - Fitzmaurice
KERRY BOSS EAMONN Fitzmaurice is proud of the determination his team showed despite not being at their best in last Sunday’s Munster final.
The All-Ireland champions needed an injury-time equaliser from corner-back Fionn Fitzgerald to avoid defeat to Cork in Killarney and force a replay.
“There is a lot of negativity around the place this week, but we are still there,” Fitzmaurice said. “It’s like we lost, it’s like we are in the qualifiers.
“Of course there are areas that we have to improve on the next day. We will be working on them for the replay. There were also a lot of positives. I was very proud of the lads.
“(I was proud of) the way they battled, as Cork appeared a bit hungrier than us. The lads could have said ‘we are beaten here, we will have to go down the qualifier route’.
The Kindom manager does, however, accept that they were second best — not just on the pitch, but on the sideline too.
“Cork got it right on a lot of fronts,” he said. “Both on the field and on the sideline, I think Cork were better on the day and we all have to improve.
“It doesn’t take a genius to know we didn’t have a great day on the line. We didn’t adapt. Too much can be made of the plans that are in place. When they go well you look like a genius, when they don’t work you look like you don’t have a clue.
“I said that plenty of times last year that when we were getting a lot of credit it was down to the players on the pitch implementing a game-plan and when that goes well everything is hunky dory.
With another week to nurse the minor knocks, Fitzmaurice is optimistic of having a full squad to choose from for next weekend’s replay at Fitzgerald Stadium. An Achilles tendon injury to Kieran O’Leary means he is the only definite absentee.
“We are good in the injury front,” he said. “We have a few knocks, but we would be hopeful again that everyone would be available for the replay.
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Criticism Eamonn Fitzmaurice GAA Replay Kerry