I’M KEANE TO TEST MYSELF AT TOP LEVEL
HISTORY-MAKING Kerry minor boss Peter Keane insists he hasn’t been approached about the senior job – but is open to offers.
Kerry yesterday beat Galway to do the fivein-a-row of All-ireland minor titles, the first time it’s been achieved.
It’s Keane’s third win as manager having taken over from Jack O’connor, who he now appears locked in a head to head battle with for the senior job.
Asked if he fancies the ultimate task of replacing Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Keane said: “At the end of the day, you have to be asked. This isn’t something that there’s an application form for.”
Keane (inset) agreed with the suggestion that a successful minor boss usually wishes to challenge himself at a higher grade, saying that was “a very logical conclusion”.
Both sides played an exciting, attacking brand of football and the game swung back and forth, Kerry moving 0-4 to 0-1 clear at first.
But Galway then enjoyed a purple patch, striking six points in a row before centre-back Tony Gill poked in the game’s only goal after Daniel Cox’s shot was blocked into his path.
When the siege ended, Galway led by seven points although Kerry finished the half strongly to trail by just 1-9 to 0-8 at the break.
Ruaidhri O Beaglaoich came on in the third quarter and impressed for Kerry with three points as they turned the screw on Donal O Fatharta’s side late on.
It’s a remarkable 30 wins in a row now at the minor grade for Kerry, who last lost a game in the 2013 quarterfinals.
O Fatharta said: “Every team is beatable but Kerry had a little more quality than us definitely, all over the pitch.”
But the Tribe chief bemoaned the secondhalf free count, with
Kerry awarded 15 to Galway’s five.
“There were some tackles there where I felt the referee got Kerry out of jail a little bit.”