Future of Kerry Football

[KY50]

Looking back over the year we did not have much success at underage level again.U21 knocked out by Clare and minors faring better but no silverware to show.

A serious investment of time effort and money needs to be put in here so as to maintain our success at senior level going forward. We do not want a period like 86 to 96 again, do we.

People also say you learn more in defeat than in victory. Well there is still plenty of improvement in this Kerry team in many area's

Hunger needs to be maintained

Need more options in the back line

Backup plans if top players are not available at certain points

Midfield Backup to Darragh

Bringing younger players through the system - Paddy Curran, Tommy Walsh,Barry John, Russell etc

[animal]

We are seriously lacking in defensive cover. Notice that the changes we made in matches were almost always in the forwards. We were very lucky not to suffer from injuries in the backs.

[homerj]

as i said yesterday, there are defensive places up for grabs in this panel. our future is secure enough, we have won only 1 minor in 20 years and still have won 5 seniors in the past 10 years. all you need is one or 2 outstanding players every year to make the grade up to senior level and take the places of those retiring. that is alot better than having an excellent minor team, made up of 15 good players, which is what alot of the minor winning teams have been over the past few years.

[falveyb2k]

Look at the 2004 minor team, they lost but we got Young,Reidy,O Sullivan and O Connor. Tyrone haven't had anything like that return from their team that day

[kerrygold]

players like marc,aidan,galvin,declan,colm,kieran are becoming the new leaders on the team,we have now won all-irelands since the retirements of maurice and seamus no small feat.

theres a whole young generation waiting to come through,two walshs,david moran,paddy curran,darren o sullivan etc.

young and reidy have been a revelation this summer,i have to admit i didnt think they would strong enough for it this year,but infact they both excelled.

it would be interesting to throw tadgh into the mix at some stage in the near future,it must be getting near the time for him now to decide between making more money in oz or winning an all-ireland medal.

you would have to feel kerry will be competitive for a few seasons yet,most of the new young leaders on last sundays team havent peaked yet.

[watchdehop]

The most common stats about Kerry underage is "no minor title since 94" and no U21 since 98.

Here are some more revealing stat:
Kerry had one player starting last Sunday since the 97 final. Dara
Kerry had three players starting since the 2000 final Dara Tom and Tomas
Kerry had five players starting since the 2002 final and we have introduced four new starters since last years final.

Based on the above
1) Players are coming through
2) We shouldn't have a situation like the end of the golden years team when nearly a full team all had to be replaced en block.

Would agree that we do not seem to be producing as many backs as forwards....

[Piggy]

i think we've plenty of talented young players coming through at the moment.from north kerry we've the likes of martin and colin o mahony, Paddy Curtin and Shane Enright who could all possibly play for the seniors in the future.

[Die Hard Kerry Fan]

The future is bright, have no doubts. As watchdehop pointed out, there's been several changes on the team in the past ten years. The young lads will mature and become great footballers in their own right, in time. I can see Kerry being around, on top of the pile, for many years to come.

[animal]

watchdehop said:

The most common stats about Kerry underage is "no minor title since 94" and no U21 since 98.

Here are some more revealing stat:
Kerry had one player starting last Sunday since the 97 final. Dara
Kerry had three players starting since the 2000 final Dara Tom and Tomas
Kerry had five players starting since the 2002 final and we have introduced four new starters since last years final.

Based on the above
1) Players are coming through
2) We shouldn't have a situation like the end of the golden years team when nearly a full team all had to be replaced en block.

Would agree that we do not seem to be producing as many backs as forwards....

Very good post that spells it out and makes for promising reading. For example without thinking about it I would've instinctively thought that we had more lads left from 2000.
The lack of success at U21 is surprising considering we've had some mighty teams in recent years. Maybe the emphasis isn't there like it was in the 90's when we did very well in this grade.

[seamus]

Kerry need to take 4 or 5 of the top underage defenders this winter and mould them into Inter county footballers. Let them learn their trade at number 29 or 30 for a year or two (as reidy, donaghy, young and darren all did) and ease them in with league games and bring on their conditioning and physique.
We are short on quality defenders. On an aside, i would be surprised if Mossy Lyons hangs around. He has 3 or 4 medals and is unlikely to improve at this stage of his career. What age is he now?

[Piggy]

must be pushing on 30 now.agree with you totally about blooding in afew more young fellahs.

[kerryeye]

Mike Moloney,Luke Quinn,Kieran Quirke,Shane Enright,Daithi Se are all fellas id like to see being blooded into future senior stars,also a few of last years all ireland winning junior team like Daniel doyle and Brian hickey are excellent defenders who should get a chance.Granted Hickey must be about 27/28 now.The only way these players will improve is to be given game time wit the seniors and i think that is what we should do in the league next year,give these players and more like david moran,tommy walsh,paddy curran,brendan kealy,mike stam there chance to show that they can be senior stars of the future as Padraig and Killian did this year.

[kerrygold]

pick yere team for the first round of next years national league so.

[Jo90]

I'd be worried about losing Diramuid Murphy who's 32. He's great in the air. Last Sunday showed how important an attribute that is for a goalie. Also a great shot stopper. Besides the odd bad kickout, I can't think of one mistake he's made since he got the goalie spot in '04.
I hope we don't lose Tom O'Sullivan and T Ó Sé. Both were thinking about retiring after last year. It'd be very hard to replace 4 backs over 2 years. The 3-in-a-row will be hard to resist.
Besides Darragh the other potential retirees are Griffin, Lyons (30), MFR, Quirke and Quill.
I notice we've replaced all 6 forwards since 2000 which I thought was noteworthy but then I realise it's no big deal as 2000 was 7 years ago. We're getting old lads.

[kerryeye]

Here it is KG.Give us your team if you will.

Kealy(will be the nxt number 1,sorry but i dont rate cremin at all)
Reidy
Tom o sull
Mike moloney
Tomas
Aidan
Killian
Scanlon
Quirke
David moran
Declan
Galvin
Paddy Curran
Toomy walsh
Bryan sheehan

Id give Gooch the first 4 or 5 games of next year off at least,break mite be what he needs now to keep the hunger in the belly for the heat of next year championship.

I would try and blood 2 or 3 new players in most league games next year.We should try and use th Mcgrath cup for this also,didnt enter it last year cos the squad was on holidays but im sure you could find 24 players around the county to compete in it even if the panel werent around this year again.

[watchdehop]

104sk1 said:

Mike Moloney,Luke Quinn,Kieran Quirke,Shane Enright,Daithi Se are all fellas id like to see being blooded into future senior stars,also a few of last years all ireland winning junior team like Daniel doyle and Brian hickey are excellent defenders who should get a chance.Granted Hickey must be about 27/28 now.The only way these players will improve is to be given game time wit the seniors and i think that is what we should do in the league next year,give these players and more like david moran,tommy walsh,paddy curran,brendan kealy,mike stam there chance to show that they can be senior stars of the future as Padraig and Killian did this year.

They boys are way ahead of you!!
Mike Moloney Kieran Quirke and David Moran were training with Kerry all the summer without being part of the offical panel.

I would say Paddy Curran would have been there if he was not in the US.
Its a great idea give em a taste of it, get them used to the step up in level and then bring them in if they make the grade.

[kerryeye]

Yeah i know that WDH,Jackos son aidan was in there aswell.

[watchdehop]

104sk1 said:

Yeah i know that WDH,Jackos son aidan was in there aswell.

He was indeed and from what I hear doing very well. A good strong central player who could play full back centre back or midfield.
Think we might be seeing a bit more of him next year....

[homerj]

tis backs that are needed in there, we have more than enough forwards. imagine, declan quill, one of the highest scoring forwards in the league over the past 5 years, did not kick a ball in this years championship and if memory serves me right, he has never started a championship game. some talent going to waste. paddy curran would be another great addition to the squad and a few more like barry john walsh.

[kerrygold]

104sk1 said:

Here it is KG.Give us your team if you will.

Kealy(will be the nxt number 1,sorry but i dont rate cremin at all)
Reidy
Tom o sull
Mike moloney
Tomas
Aidan
Killian

Scanlon
Quirke
David moran
Declan
Galvin
Paddy Curran
Toomy walsh
Bryan sheehan

Id give Gooch the first 4 or 5 games of next year off at least,break mite be what he needs now to keep the hunger in the belly for the heat of next year championship.

I would try and blood 2 or 3 new players in most league games next year.We should try and use th Mcgrath cup for this also,didnt enter it last year cos the squad was on holidays but im sure you could find 24 players around the county to compete in it even if the panel werent around this year again.

i'm not familar enough kerryeye with club football and under age in kerry to consider everyone,i'm too far away to attend club games.

cremin.
young,tom,reidy

dareen o sullivan,brosnan,bohane

donnaha walsh,scanlon.

david moran,sheehan,sean sullivan.

paddy curran,tommy walsh,paul o connor.

assumming senior players want a rest etc and management want to try out a few things,you might need to bring a strong bench with that team.

ultimitely i'd love to end up with a full forward line of

colm,kieran,declan.

i think they would be unmarkable if all were playing out of their skin and would be contributing 2-10 per championship game,certainly would be capable of it anyway,

i'd imagine,galvin,dec,colm and kieran are certs in the forwards next summer.

[bob567]

For next years league
kealey
quirke, tom, reidy
young, mahony, tom o se
donaghy, quirke
darren o sul, sheehan, moran
o connor, tom walsh, o leary

[timmy]

Kealey
Reidy, T O'Sullivan, Quirke
S Enright, Mahony, Young,
Scanlon, Quirke
Darren O'Sul, Declan, Sean O'Sull
O'Connor, Donaghy, Sheehan

A few senior players will have to play in the league. it wouldn't be fair on the younger players.

[Walter Mitty]

Kieran Quirke (Duagh) is definetely one to look out for. If brendan Guiney decides to come back, he would also be a useful addition.

Would like to see Paddy curran and david moran also become more prominant in the set up

[Aine]

And hopefully Paddy Curtin when he is injury free.

[Tackle Hard]

qurike is over rated! he lacks pace! but the likes of moran, tommy walsh and curran should be given a chance in the league! we do lack defensive cover even the kerry minors struggled to find natural defenders(ie shanahan full back)

[bob567]

shaneo11 said:

qurike is over rated! he lacks pace! but the likes of moran, tommy walsh and curran should be given a chance in the league! we do lack defensive cover even the kerry minors struggled to find natural defenders(ie shanahan full back)

i agree completely, walsh and curran should be given a big shout

[austinstacksabu]

Michael Quirke has for one reason or another, been given a hard time on this site by posters, myself included.

However, the man deservedly has multiple All Ireland medals. Not many of us can say that.

[SteelFixer]

I'd agree with the posters who say we need to concentrate on bringing defenders in, for the coming league campaign. The scenario this year where we had only 3 backs on the bench (and only one of them a viable option) was ridiculous. We were extremely fortunate that all our defense remained injury free for the summer. However it must be said that there does'nt appear to be much top quality defensive talent around the county, but the management will just have to work on it and get some decent cover blooded.

In relation to the goalie, Brendan Kealey is being touted by a lot of people as a shoe in for the goalie position when Diarmuid Murphy goes.

I would'nt be over convinced by him. While he is a great shot stopper, in a few local games I have seen him play in he has seemed quite hesitant under the high ball and is prone to leaving his line (a la Alan Quirke).

In gaelic football it is vital for the goalie to be solid and commanding under a high ball coming in. Its a completely different job to a soccer goalie, where you have the option to punch the ball.