MUNSTER CLUB SFC SEMI-FINALKILMURRY-IBRICKANE boss John Kennedy lists off the Dr Crokes players who passed under his wing as Kerry minor and under-21 manager since 2006 – club stalwarts such as Johnny Buckley, Daithí Casey and captain Luke Quinn.
It is also noted Kennedy was a selector of the Kerry minors in 2001 that included Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan – losing an All-Ireland semi-final to Dublin. Kieran O’Leary is the only obvious gem on the county champions roster to dodge his influence.
“There are a lot of Crokes players who will be knocking on the door of the Kerry team over the coming years – guys who certainly have the ability.”
Kennedy means current senior county panellists such as Buckley, Casey and O’Leary. Men on the cusp of green and gold residency, their focus is trained solely on Kimurry-Ibrickane this week.
Of course, Kennedy as manager of the Clare champions is planning their demise in the Munster club football semi-final.
Well placed to pass judgment on these individual talents from his native county, there is not much that can be added about “Gooch” Cooper or Brosnan. All the wisdom and analysis in the world will become irrelevant if Cooper turns it on in Killarney come 2pm on Sunday.
But Kilmurry-Ibrickane have enough pedigree to be considered serious contenders before Kennedy’s arrival. Munster champions in 2009, fending off Kerins O’Rahilly’s en route, they lost the All-Ireland final to Antrim’s St Galls.
Kennedy cites the similarity in underage structures as the blueprint for success for both clubs.
“There are a lot of similarities in the coaching systems, and the type of football both want to play. And in their attitude towards the game. The number of former players in Kilmurry involved in the underage structures is something that struck me straight away.”
The hangover from 2009 saw them stumble last season, but they recently regained the Clare title with a 0-17 to 0-5 win over St Joseph’s (Doora-Barefield). Ian McInerney and Enda Coughlan amassed 0-11 of their total.
“The nucleus of the team is the same as 2009. That was a fantastic run. Maybe when they were beaten in Croke Park by St Galls a lot of people thought this is the end, they have won county, won Munster and just came up short of an All-Ireland. Last year they were finished early in the championship; maybe the inactivity whetted the appetite again.
“I suppose there is an expectation always. Championship football is what it is all about in Kilmurry-Ibrickane.
“We had a week of celebration and then put it all behind us. We have had to prepare as the challenge of facing Dr Crokes down in Killarney is enormous. We are all looking forward to it.”
A Clare versus Kerry meeting in Killarney should, in theory, be a foregone conclusion, but the club landscape is different. Kilmurry are a serious proposition, as Micheál McDermott’s county panel will probably reflect come the 2012 National League or, presuming they push on, come next summer’s championship.
“I know Micheál was in contact after the county final to seven or eight of the lads,” Kennedy explains. “They did a fitness test and has now left them until our interest in the championship is over.
“They’ll line up with the Clare seniors then and put their shoulder to the wheel. They’ll come back to the club better players as a result.”
The club success could be transferred up to inter-county level then?
“It is strange because the clubs have always been successful – Doonbeg came out as well (winning Munster in 1998). They always represent the county well. It is hard to put a finger on it but in my time in Clare some of the better players weren’t committed to the county scene for one reason or another.
“If they do it is always a huge boost. Micheál McDermott has worked hard over the past two years – I think we saw that from the performance against Down in the qualifier at Cusack Park this year. They put the All-Ireland runners-up to the pin of their collar. Hopefully, this all helps to build on that.”
O’Sullivan returns to Kerry squad
Four-time All-Ireland medal winner Seán O’Sullivan has indicated he will return to the Kerry senior squad in January, a semi-retirement that lasted three years.
O’Sullivan, who played a leading role in helping Mid Kerry to reach this year’s county senior football final, where they lost narrowly to Dr Crokes, has decided to follow Mike McCarthy and Eoin Brosnan and return to the fold.
