Tadhg warns chasing pack Kerry have not peaked

KERRY might have ended up winning every competition they took part in last year, but centre-back Tadhg Morley believes they haven’t even come close to peaking yet.

Following a fairytale campaign that culminated in Sam Maguire being lifted in late July after the All-ireland, the Kingdom begin their Allianz League defence with a trip to Ballybofey tomorrow (2pm).

In an ominous warning to all pretenders to their championship throne later this season, Templenoe stopper Morley (inset) is adamant they never produced a complete performance in 2022. “I don’t know did we ever get our best performance out,” he said. “I’d say, 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there. The first half against Dublin was pretty decent, but the second was way down.

“The All-ireland final was solid, but it wasn’t great. Definitely I think there is another step to go there. It is such a condensed season this year that you have to start motoring at the same time. I think there is definitely room for improvement, and trying to get that complete game.”

Indeed, while the search for the perfect team display is unlikely to ever be fulfilled, the 29-year-old is excited at the prospect of striving to become the best they can be, and pinpoints a few recent GAA examples as the perfect templates to follow.

“There is an argument there to ask does any team ever hit 100 per cent with a 10/10 performance, but I think the Dublin footballers have done it, I think the Limerick hurlers have done it, I think it is doable.

“That is the exciting part for us coming back this year. The hunger is there to win another All-ireland and just push our boundaries, and try and get better.”

A virtual ever-present last season – he only missed the opening Mcgrath Cup game against Limerick – Morley will be back in the thick of the action against Donegal tomorrow.

“Everybody just wants to play every game because there is competition for every position,” he said. “When you are out of the team it’s hard to get back in again.”