Donegal up next
Having secured an 87th Munster senior football title and also poignantly lifted the newly-named Corn Pháidí Uí Shé for the first time, the Kerry senior footballers’ focus now turns to the new look All-Ireland series.
The reward for reaching the Munster Final was a guaranteed home draw in Round 1 of the All-Ireland series. The next visitors to Fitzgerald Stadium will be Donegal on Saturday week, May 23rd, for what is already being dubbed as a battle of the champions.
Kerry of course beat Donegal in last year’s All-Ireland SFC Final but Donegal returned the compliment by defeating Kerry in this year’s Allianz League Division 1 Final. Jim McGuinness’ team subsequently suffered an ignominious exit from the Ulster Championship with a defeat to Down and they will come to Killarney with something to prove once again.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
A roller coaster of a year under Healy
Healy’s tenure began last May with a 1-0 win against Treaty United and the Cork man’s first year ended with a home win against First Division League leaders Cork City. The problem has been that wins like that have been so hard to come by, in the league especially.
When Colin Healy arrived in the Kingdom last May, there was rightfully an air of excitement about what a man with his experience and stature in the game could bring to this fledgling League of Ireland club. Previous managers Billy Dennehy and Conor McCarthy had both brought the club forward but with new owner John Wall on board and finance available, the feeling was that Kerry FC needed someone with League of Ireland experience as a manager to progress. Healy fitted that profile perfectly.
Long Term Project
Speaking on his arrival in Tralee last year, Healy said:
“I’m excited by the project, but it will take time. If you’re in as a manager, there’s always going to be pressure on you. It’s part and parcel of the job that you do. If I can come in, and can give them a bit of guidance, from my times with Cork and all the stuff I have learned over the years, if I can help in any ways, that’s what we need to do.”
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
