Kerry 2023 and Beyond

[horsebox77]

The draws and fixtures for the 2023 McGrath Cup Football competition have been confirmed.

Fixture dates may be changed if both counties agree to do so and the first county named will have home advantage.

The top team in each group will qualify for the final on Wednesday January 18th.

Group A: Cork, Kerry, Clare

Group B: Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary

Fixture Details

Wednesday January 4th

Group A: Cork v Kerry

Group B: Limerick v Waterford

Monday January 9th

Group A: Kerry v Clare

Group B: Waterford v Tipperary

Saturday January 14th

Group A: Clare v Cork

Group B: Tipperary v Limerick

Wednesday January 18th

Final: Group A top v Group B top

[Whosinmidfield]

7 players brought into the panel according to tomorrows Kerry’s Eye. Anyone hear who the 7 are?

[mike70]

Dec 7, 2022 21:40:31 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

7 players brought into the panel according to tomorrows Kerry’s Eye. Anyone hear who the 7 are?

Enlighten us

[Whosinmidfield]

Dec 7, 2022 21:42:40 GMT mike70 said:

Dec 7, 2022 21:40:31 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

7 players brought into the panel according to tomorrows Kerry’s Eye. Anyone hear who the 7 are?

Enlighten us

I don’t know who they are, I’m asking if anyone heard. We’ll all find out tomorrow anyway.

[tonydorigo]

Nov 10, 2022 21:33:43 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

I would hope to see Ronan Buckley, Barry Mahony, Ruairi Murphy and Eddie Horan starting in the McGrath Cup, I think all have the potential ability to make an impact for us this year. It would be a great opportunity for Dylan Casey, Dan O’Donoghue and Mike Breen to put on the jersey again after their injury problems. Great chance too to see what level Okunbor is at. I’d like to see something like

1. Shane Murphy
2. Dan O’Donoghue
3. Dylan Casey
4. Jack O’Shea
5. Cian Gammell
6. Mike Breen
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Stefan Okunbor
9. Liam Kearney
10. Ronan Buckley
11. Barry Mahony
12. Ruairi Murphy
13. Donal O’Sullivan
14. Eddie Horan
15. Dara Roche

I think this is exactly where we should be going development wise for the McGrath Cup. Would like to see less flogging of lads who might be on Sigerson panels compared with last year. 

Defensively we will have Casey, Breen and O'Donoghue back so should be in good stead there.
Need to find another midfield option if Moran is gone out the door and would love to see Okunbor take a leap.
Have always liked the cut of Donal O'Sullivan and it would be good to unearth another killer inside forward with pace.
Half forward line is very capable as well. Can't wait for the new year!

[Ballyfireside]

Here is a very icy Donegal this morning I could cry at the thought of not seeing Moran in the G&G, jazus even the inevitability saddens me -

David Moran on a mission to end hectic year with a final high
Kerry decision can wait as veteran seeks to banish O’Rahillys’ ‘nearly-men’ tag

David Moran has just been asked if the current fixtures model is sustainable, a question that has particular relevance in Kerry where David Clifford is preparing for his 32nd competitive outing of 2022, this time with Fossa.

“But under the old system would he not have played that amount?” the veteran Kerry midfielder responds.

Perhaps he would have had a break?

“I wouldn’t say so,” Moran demurs. “I remember the ‘Gooch’ saying one time that the off-season was always a great weekend.”

The hectic life and times of a Kerry footballer. Or maybe any GAA star who gets to savour prolonged club and county runs in the same year.

Clifford has won it all (bar a Sigerson medal) in 2022 ahead of Sunday’s quest for yet another title, playing for Fossa against Kilmurry in the AIB Munster club JFC decider at Mallow.

Meanwhile, the night before under the Páirc Uí Rinn lights, Moran (34) will be chasing his first Munster club senior medal.

For the record, this veteran of three All-Ireland wins in three separate decades remains undecided about his Kerry future in 2023. He has the perfect alibi: his only focus right now is chasing club dreams with Kerins O’Rahillys, who face Newcastle West in the provincial decider.

By comparison to Clifford’s relentless treadmill of success, Moran has seen far less game-time this year. That’s partly because of his early-season injury travails, partly because he didn’t tend to play 70 minutes upon his Kerry return, and partly because he wasn’t fighting on as many club fronts (with Clifford juggling East Kerry at senior and Fossa at junior).

But, in its own way, it has been just as long a year for Moran. You could even say it all started with his last outing of 2021, the all-Tralee Kerry SFC final against Austin Stacks last December, when groin injury disaster struck within minutes of throw-in.
“Going into it, you’re trying to do visualisation, you’re trying to look at all different things and I never thought that would happen. I never thought that I’d be gone after two minutes,” he recalls. “I remember Tommy (Walsh) at one stage saying to me, ‘Just go in full-forward, you’re grand’. I says, ‘I can’t even get in to the full-forward line!’ Yeah, it was more disbelief for a lot of the first half, just saying, ‘I can’t believe I’m not going back out here again’ . . . but that’s sport. Sometimes it’s cruel.”

Strange as it may sound, tearing some of his abductor muscle off the bone may have extended his Kerry career.

“Last year I was very ‘iffy’ about going back,” he admits. “But the fact that I was playing right up until December was a huge plus, because it wasn’t as if I had finished in October and had two months off trying to keep myself ticking over.

“At my age it’s very difficult to take a huge period out, and then go back in to try and go through pre-season or inter-county training and trying to get the body to hold up. Apart from getting to the level of guys who are maybe seven, eight or 10 years younger, trying to stay injury-free is probably even a bigger challenge.”

The timing of his injury, however, meant he was facing into rehab in any event, be it for club or county.

“I was on the (Kerry) panel for the league final, but it didn’t feel like I came back late because I got injured in December, I literally had to get cracking into the rehab pretty much straight away. I felt I have been on the field a lot the whole year,” he says.

“If we had lost the All-Ireland, I’d probably feel it’s a really long year; when you win it’s much easier to keep going. Then we got a good run in the club championship. It has been hugely enjoyable – both campaigns.”

Mind you, that club campaign has mixed the weird with the wonderful.

O’Rahillys hit the ground running in the Kerry club championship (open to all eight senior clubs) and qualified for the final; then embarked on a miserable county championship campaign, losing all three group games by a cumulative 35 points; but then bounced back to overcome Templenoe in the club final.

With East Kerry crowned county champions, it meant Kerry would be represented in Munster by the men from Strand Road. They duly reached the final by edging out Éire Óg of Ennis – despite a 22nd-minute red card for their midfield talisman, sent off for a second yellow.

Any gripes? “I couldn’t be unbiased!” he responds. “At this stage of my career, I was disappointed with myself that I gave a referee a decision to make . . . if we lost, I might have done a bit more reviewing of it. But once we won and I wasn’t suspended, it didn’t bother me too much.”

Walsh spoke after that semi-final about the club’s previous tendency to finish on the wrong end of such results – how they had been “nearly men, really”.

Moran, his long-time buddy, offers this take: “Winning the club championship this year was a big thing for us. We felt we had underachieved at Kerry level. We hadn’t won a county league since 2013 . . . we definitely felt we needed a bit of silverware, and then your priorities and your goals change once you won that.

“Definitely, if I looked at my club career, I would have thought I’d have more medals – but it does not always work like that. We came up against an incredible Crokes team, no more than East Kerry at the moment, and before that South Kerry.

“Do I think that we are nearly men? I suppose there is an element of it, but winning the club championship this year definitely eased it a bit.”

The one big prize that still eludes him? “I always wanted to win a county championship,” he says, alluding to Strand Road’s 20-year wait. “I never dreamed of winning Munster clubs or whatever . . . I’d love to win a county championship but I’m running out of time!”

Speaking of time, it’s 13 years since Moran last featured in a Munster club final – having just made it back from Australia where he had been on an AFL trial with St Kilda. Walsh had made the same journey and stayed to begin a new career; but Moran was wanted back home as O’Rahillys prepared to face Kilmurry-Ibrickane of Clare.

“I was told on Thursday that I wasn’t getting a contract and my father (Ogie) was manager of the club team. They asked me did I want to go on a holiday around Australia or stay on training or whatever, and I said, ‘I’ve got to get out of here as fast as you can put me on a plane’. Yeah, I think I got three seven-hour flights and got in maybe on the Friday, late. I kicked about six wides and we lost by a point, so it wasn’t my finest hour.”

Maybe that hour is finally upon us.

Attachments:

[kerryboyo]

Dec 7, 2022 21:40:31 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

7 players brought into the panel according to tomorrows Kerry’s Eye. Anyone hear who the 7 are?

Barry mahony Chris o Donoghue are in there anyway

[peanuts]

Dec 8, 2022 12:52:26 GMT kerryboyo said:

Dec 7, 2022 21:40:31 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

7 players brought into the panel according to tomorrows Kerry’s Eye. Anyone hear who the 7 are?

Barry mahony Chris o Donoghue are in there anyway

What age is Chris O'Donoghue?

[Whosinmidfield]

Dec 8, 2022 10:12:13 GMT dromiddiehard said:

Dec 7, 2022 21:57:16 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

I don’t know who they are, I’m asking if anyone heard. We’ll all find out tomorrow anyway.

The reporter for the kerrys eye has named. Ronan buckley, ruairi murphy, chris o donoghue, brian friel, shane cronin, barry mahony and eddie horan. Not sure where he’s getting his information as i know for a fact at least one of these players have not been called in

What player do you know isn’t called in?

[Whosinmidfield]

Dec 8, 2022 13:55:07 GMT peanuts said:

Dec 8, 2022 12:52:26 GMT kerryboyo said:

Barry mahony Chris o Donoghue are in there anyway

What age is Chris O'Donoghue?

Minor in 2017 so 23.

[peanuts]

Dec 8, 2022 14:08:00 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

Dec 8, 2022 13:55:07 GMT peanuts said:

What age is Chris O'Donoghue?

Minor in 2017 so 23.

Thanks. I thought he was older for some reason

[horsebox77]

Flicking through the team sheets for the 2022 McGrath Cup futures, Jack went relatively strong, in the final vs Cork eight of the starting all ireland XV started in Killarney that evening.

Will Jack want to get game into lads or gave a wider look at what's out there.

I envisage a bit of both.

[mossie]

Jan 2, 2023 14:39:08 GMT horsebox77 said:

Flicking through the team sheets for the 2022 McGrath Cup futures, Jack went relatively strong, in the final vs Cork eight of the starting all ireland XV started in Killarney that evening.

Will Jack want to get game into lads or gave a wider look at what's out there.

I envisage a bit of both.

more of a wider look I suspect

The 2023 championship structure has more matches, he needs a bigger panel and a fresh squad come the business end of the championship. flogging the backbone of the team in the mcgrath cup doesnt make a pile of sense

[sullyschoice]

Seems to be an article in the Indo about Jack's options for Mc Grath Cup and early rounds of league. He will be without a large number of the AI winning team between injuries and club commitments.

If anyone knows how to post articles here that would be great

[royalkerryfan]

I think we can all agree that midfield is the area of most concern.

With JOC injured and DM nearing the end we we need to find 2 players to slot in there.

Ronan Buckley looks a real option with a cutting edge to him.

[horsebox77]

I think we have to pick Diarmuid O'Connor as our number eight when available and choose/bed in a partner for him between the McGrath Cup and league.

With Diarmuid in his natural position and giving him the boost or confidence as our nailed on number eight - he will trive.

We just need to look at or for a partner, obviously Jack Barry is in position, then you're looking at Spillane, Ronan Buckley, Liam Kearney, Stefan Okunbor, Ruairí Murphy, Paul O'Shea and Barry O'Mahony... or dropping Seanie to nine with Paudie to the forty... but that's a last resort.

The bodies are there just getting the balance right.

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 2, 2023 18:35:35 GMT horsebox77 said:

I think we have to pick Diarmuid O'Connor as our number eight when available and choose/bed in a partner for him between the McGrath Cup and league.

With Diarmuid in his natural position and giving him the boost or confidence as our nailed on number eight - he will trive.

We just need to look at or for a partner, obviously Jack Barry is in position, then you're looking at Spillane, Ronan Buckley, Liam Kearney, Stefan Okunbor, Ruairí Murphy, Paul O'Shea and Barry O'Mahony... or dropping Seanie to nine with Paudie to the forty... but that's a last resort.

The bodies are there just getting the balance right.

Agreed re Diarmuid, I think he came of age when he moved into midfield against Galway.
I think Buckley might give us that aggression ( for the want of a better word ) alongside him.
Jack Barry had a solid year but I want more from him on the ball.

[Whosinmidfield]

I can’t see us going into the championship with anything other than the Na Gaeil duo as our midfield pairing. Barry isn’t the complete footballer but to be fair to him he performs a role. From memory he won a lot of ball in the AIF which was very important. He’s experienced now too. O’Connor is inconsistent illustrated by the difference between his semi final and final performances, hopefully he can become more consistent this year. I also think there’s a strong chance Ronan Buckley will claim that wing forward/3rd midfielder position. That trio with David Moran and Adrian Spillane on the bench wouldn’t leave us in a bad position at all.

[Whosinmidfield]

www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41039798.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork
"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental."
Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork

MON, 02 JAN, 2023 - 16:25
MURT MURPHY
Social share
Jack O’Connor expects no more than three of Kerry's All-Ireland final-winning starters to feature when his side begin their 2023 campaign with a McGrath Cup visit to Cork on Wednesday night.

And O'Connor played down the prospects of Kerry repeating their four trophy haul of last season, given the level of enforced changes early in the year.

"I think you have to be realistic. You have a lot of players this year not available to us, you’ve the six lads involved with their clubs and then we have quite a good share of injuries lingering on from the county championship and obviously Gavin White’s injury from the All-Ireland final.


"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental. I couldn't envisage that we’ll have any more than three starters from the All-Ireland team starting the next night.”

O'Connor has drafted in 10 new faces for the McGrath Cup campaign: James McCarthy (Kenmare), Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle), Ruairi Murphy (Listry), Barry Mahony (St Senans), Devon Burns (Na Gaeil), Dylan Geaney (Dingle), Ronan Buckley (Listry), Eddie Horan (Scartaglin), Shane Cronin (Spa) and Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk).

"We'll try them out during the McGrath Cup and maybe the early stages of the League. I’m not saying everyone on this list is going to make it but at the moment we need extra bodies to get up to numbers in training because of the amount of lads we’re missing."

Last year’s captain Joe O’Connor has already been confirmed as a long-term absentee due to an ACL injury and O'Connor itemised some of his other walking wounded.

“Gavin White still hasn’t got back in the field, he’s going for a check-up in mid-January and we’ll see if he has the all-clear then; Mike Breen is back doing a bit while Paul Geaney has had an ankle issue; Stephen O’Brien has had a bit of an issue with his knee; Seanie O’Shea has a bit of an issue; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Graham O’Sullivan, they all have bits of issues from the club championships and they wouldn't be available in the short-term.”

But O'Connor couldn't confirm reports that goalkeeper Shane Ryan will need an operation on a shoulder problem.

“I can’t confirm or deny because I don’t know. I was under the impression that he was rehabbing it away and was getting on okay with it, but obviously playing in goal is different from playing out the field as you’re doing a lot of diving on the shoulder maybe.”

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 2, 2023 20:01:24 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41039798.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork
"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental."
Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork

MON, 02 JAN, 2023 - 16:25
MURT MURPHY
Social share
Jack O’Connor expects no more than three of Kerry's All-Ireland final-winning starters to feature when his side begin their 2023 campaign with a McGrath Cup visit to Cork on Wednesday night.

And O'Connor played down the prospects of Kerry repeating their four trophy haul of last season, given the level of enforced changes early in the year.

"I think you have to be realistic. You have a lot of players this year not available to us, you’ve the six lads involved with their clubs and then we have quite a good share of injuries lingering on from the county championship and obviously Gavin White’s injury from the All-Ireland final.


"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental. I couldn't envisage that we’ll have any more than three starters from the All-Ireland team starting the next night.”

O'Connor has drafted in 10 new faces for the McGrath Cup campaign: James McCarthy (Kenmare), Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle), Ruairi Murphy (Listry), Barry Mahony (St Senans), Devon Burns (Na Gaeil), Dylan Geaney (Dingle), Ronan Buckley (Listry), Eddie Horan (Scartaglin), Shane Cronin (Spa) and Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk).

"We'll try them out during the McGrath Cup and maybe the early stages of the League. I’m not saying everyone on this list is going to make it but at the moment we need extra bodies to get up to numbers in training because of the amount of lads we’re missing."

Last year’s captain Joe O’Connor has already been confirmed as a long-term absentee due to an ACL injury and O'Connor itemised some of his other walking wounded.

“Gavin White still hasn’t got back in the field, he’s going for a check-up in mid-January and we’ll see if he has the all-clear then; Mike Breen is back doing a bit while Paul Geaney has had an ankle issue; Stephen O’Brien has had a bit of an issue with his knee; Seanie O’Shea has a bit of an issue; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Graham O’Sullivan, they all have bits of issues from the club championships and they wouldn't be available in the short-term.”

But O'Connor couldn't confirm reports that goalkeeper Shane Ryan will need an operation on a shoulder problem.

“I can’t confirm or deny because I don’t know. I was under the impression that he was rehabbing it away and was getting on okay with it, but obviously playing in goal is different from playing out the field as you’re doing a lot of diving on the shoulder maybe.”

Jesus that's fairly downbeat reading.

I didn't realise Gavin White hadn't played since the all ireland.

[john4]

Jan 2, 2023 20:01:24 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41039798.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork
"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental."
Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork

MON, 02 JAN, 2023 - 16:25
MURT MURPHY
Social share
Jack O’Connor expects no more than three of Kerry's All-Ireland final-winning starters to feature when his side begin their 2023 campaign with a McGrath Cup visit to Cork on Wednesday night.

And O'Connor played down the prospects of Kerry repeating their four trophy haul of last season, given the level of enforced changes early in the year.

"I think you have to be realistic. You have a lot of players this year not available to us, you’ve the six lads involved with their clubs and then we have quite a good share of injuries lingering on from the county championship and obviously Gavin White’s injury from the All-Ireland final.


"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental. I couldn't envisage that we’ll have any more than three starters from the All-Ireland team starting the next night.”

O'Connor has drafted in 10 new faces for the McGrath Cup campaign: James McCarthy (Kenmare), Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle), Ruairi Murphy (Listry), Barry Mahony (St Senans), Devon Burns (Na Gaeil), Dylan Geaney (Dingle), Ronan Buckley (Listry), Eddie Horan (Scartaglin), Shane Cronin (Spa) and Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk).

"We'll try them out during the McGrath Cup and maybe the early stages of the League. I’m not saying everyone on this list is going to make it but at the moment we need extra bodies to get up to numbers in training because of the amount of lads we’re missing."

Last year’s captain Joe O’Connor has already been confirmed as a long-term absentee due to an ACL injury and O'Connor itemised some of his other walking wounded.

“Gavin White still hasn’t got back in the field, he’s going for a check-up in mid-January and we’ll see if he has the all-clear then; Mike Breen is back doing a bit while Paul Geaney has had an ankle issue; Stephen O’Brien has had a bit of an issue with his knee; Seanie O’Shea has a bit of an issue; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Graham O’Sullivan, they all have bits of issues from the club championships and they wouldn't be available in the short-term.”

But O'Connor couldn't confirm reports that goalkeeper Shane Ryan will need an operation on a shoulder problem.

“I can’t confirm or deny because I don’t know. I was under the impression that he was rehabbing it away and was getting on okay with it, but obviously playing in goal is different from playing out the field as you’re doing a lot of diving on the shoulder maybe.”

“I can’t confirm or deny because I don’t know. I was under the impression that he was rehabbing it away and was getting on okay with it, but obviously playing in goal is different from playing out the field as you’re doing a lot of diving on the shoulder maybe.”

Surprised to read that Jack doesn't know what's happening with Shane Ryan. I'd prefer to think that he'd be in the loop with all this stuff.

[mossie]

Jan 2, 2023 21:17:52 GMT john4 said:

Jan 2, 2023 20:01:24 GMT Whosinmidfield said:

www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41039798.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork
"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental."
Kerry may be down to three All-Ireland final starters for season opener against Cork

MON, 02 JAN, 2023 - 16:25
MURT MURPHY
Social share
Jack O’Connor expects no more than three of Kerry's All-Ireland final-winning starters to feature when his side begin their 2023 campaign with a McGrath Cup visit to Cork on Wednesday night.

And O'Connor played down the prospects of Kerry repeating their four trophy haul of last season, given the level of enforced changes early in the year.

"I think you have to be realistic. You have a lot of players this year not available to us, you’ve the six lads involved with their clubs and then we have quite a good share of injuries lingering on from the county championship and obviously Gavin White’s injury from the All-Ireland final.


"We are down a lot of players so by necessity we will have to be more experimental. I couldn't envisage that we’ll have any more than three starters from the All-Ireland team starting the next night.”

O'Connor has drafted in 10 new faces for the McGrath Cup campaign: James McCarthy (Kenmare), Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle), Ruairi Murphy (Listry), Barry Mahony (St Senans), Devon Burns (Na Gaeil), Dylan Geaney (Dingle), Ronan Buckley (Listry), Eddie Horan (Scartaglin), Shane Cronin (Spa) and Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk).

"We'll try them out during the McGrath Cup and maybe the early stages of the League. I’m not saying everyone on this list is going to make it but at the moment we need extra bodies to get up to numbers in training because of the amount of lads we’re missing."

Last year’s captain Joe O’Connor has already been confirmed as a long-term absentee due to an ACL injury and O'Connor itemised some of his other walking wounded.

“Gavin White still hasn’t got back in the field, he’s going for a check-up in mid-January and we’ll see if he has the all-clear then; Mike Breen is back doing a bit while Paul Geaney has had an ankle issue; Stephen O’Brien has had a bit of an issue with his knee; Seanie O’Shea has a bit of an issue; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Graham O’Sullivan, they all have bits of issues from the club championships and they wouldn't be available in the short-term.”

But O'Connor couldn't confirm reports that goalkeeper Shane Ryan will need an operation on a shoulder problem.

“I can’t confirm or deny because I don’t know. I was under the impression that he was rehabbing it away and was getting on okay with it, but obviously playing in goal is different from playing out the field as you’re doing a lot of diving on the shoulder maybe.”

“I can’t confirm or deny because I don’t know. I was under the impression that he was rehabbing it away and was getting on okay with it, but obviously playing in goal is different from playing out the field as you’re doing a lot of diving on the shoulder maybe.”

Surprised to read that Jack doesn't know what's happening with Shane Ryan. I'd prefer to think that he'd be in the loop with all this stuff.

ah Jacks know re Shane Ryan, playing the cute hoor there!

[givehimaball]

Jan 2, 2023 21:35:55 GMT mossie said:

Jan 2, 2023 21:17:52 GMT john4 said:

“I can’t confirm or deny because I don’t know. I was under the impression that he was rehabbing it away and was getting on okay with it, but obviously playing in goal is different from playing out the field as you’re doing a lot of diving on the shoulder maybe.”

Surprised to read that Jack doesn't know what's happening with Shane Ryan. I'd prefer to think that he'd be in the loop with all this stuff.

ah Jacks know re Shane Ryan, playing the cute hoor there!

You'd have to think if there was any possibility at all of Ryan having to have surgery that it would be utterly reckless to have only 2 other keepers involved. Personally I think it's madness to have only 2 keepers in an intercounty squad. If I was manager I would have 4 keepers especially in terms of long-term development/competition/having cover available in terms of an injury crisis.

I really don't want to see a repeat of the situation where Kealy was used as cover. I would say there are a lot of advantages of having a number of keepers competing for the number 1 spot in terms of competition. If you have more than 2, then there is also competition for who makes the match-day 26. Also you'd imagine that the coaching for keepers at intercounty level is a fair bit ahead of at most club level with pretty much every county having a specialist goal-keeping coach. By comparison you'd wonder at the level of coaching available at a lot of clubs. Also in terms of long-term development there is no option to look at lads at Junior level anymore. I also can't help but wonder if the fact that Kealy was used as a backup keeper was because of his familiarity with the kickout routines used. The nightmare scenario is if you only have two keepers in an intercounty squad and they both pick up injuries the week before an All-Ireland and can't play. Imagine how much pressure whoever had to come in and start would be under in such a scenario and how much it would likely affect Kerry's chances of winning.

[Annascaultilidie]

[royalkerryfan]

Jan 3, 2023 13:38:43 GMT Annascaultilidie said:

Brilliant thread from Adam.

[kerrybhoy06]

Adam’s stuff is very good, well worth a follow on Twitter.
The man has a real passion for Kerry gaa