Kerry Juniors boss slams club managers’ disgusting” attitude
KERRY Junior team manager Stephen Wallace has described the attitude of some club managers towards the Junior set-up as “disgusting” in a direct attack on those club managers he believes are halting the progression of their players.
While not naming specific clubs or managers, Wallace – speaking after Kerry’s dramatic snatched win over Limerick in Sunday’s Munster semi-final – implied that some club managers were playing players in county league matches when they should have been made available for the Junior panel.
“I am on record as saying the attitude of some of the managers in this county is disgusting towards our set-up,” Wallace said.
“I would like to see some of the managers we have in the county at present take their heads out of the clouds and stop preventing young players in the county continue their progression as footballers for the sake of a County League game.
“There was stuff that went out during the week that I personally found disgusting and I hope these managers are able to look at themselves in the mirror with the way they are carrying on.”
Rather than name names, Wallace used the example of Templenoe as a club who has bought fully into the idea of embracing the idea of having their players in the Junior panel.
“I’ll use a club like Templenoe as an example to those who are against what we are trying to do. They are delighted to have their players involved with us even if missing four or five has a big effect on a small club like theirs. They are unbeaten in Division 1 of the County League despite this,” the Ardfert man said.
Meanwhile, Eamonn Fitzmaurice will be expecting to have James O’Donoghue fit and available for the senior team’s Munster Final against Tipperary on July 3.
O’Donoghue played 60 minutes for Legion against Dr Crokes in the County League on Sunday, and was reported to have come through with no ill-effects to the shoulder injury that has sidelined him since Christmas.
Aidan O’Mahony will also be available for the Munster Final having been suspended for last Sunday’s win over Clare because of the red card he received in the League Final.
Tipperary’s 3-15 to 2-16 win over Cork has set up a first Munster Final meeting between Kerry and Tipperary since 1998 when Kerry won by 0-17 to 1-10.
The Munster final will be played in Fitzgerald Stadium at 2pm, preceded by the Minor final between Kerry and Cork at 12.00.