Manager: we’ve nothing to fear

THE manager of the Kerry team this year is Joe O’Reilly and he is really looking forward to the challenge ahead.

It is a long process to select a squad for the Kennedy Cup as it starts out with a huge panel of players and that has to be cut down to 20 to compete in the national competition.

“We changed the selection process a bit this year and instead of bringing in 120 players in one go we divided in into two groups of 60 and it made it all more manageable.

“Of course thinning down the panel is a difficult task initially we got it down to 36 but we had to get it down to 20 for the tournament,” O’Reilly said.

Asked how he would rate his squad this year O’Reilly said he was very pleased with his panel of players and is confident they will do the county proud in Limerick.

“We have engaged in a comprehensive preparation schedule and our great run in the Galway Cup was a great experience and allowed the squad a chance to play a few games together. It gave us an opportunity to try out different formations and was a great learning experience for us and the players. We got to the final of that competition and lost on penalties to Dundalk.

“We put a lot of emphasis on playing as many games as possible this year and then intensify our training in the three weeks coming up to the Kenendy Cup.

“We played high profile sides such as South Dublin, Galway, Athlone, Limerick and we learned a lot from these games,” the manager said.

“My aim will be to do our utmost to win our group and if we do anything is possible after that. We are very fortunate that we have a versatile panel of players and if any player picks up an injury and is not able to play we have a player on standby to fill in irrespective of what position it is on the field.

“I have become very well acquainted with the squad over the past couple of months and they are a great bunch of lads who have been easy to work with.

“They are showing great passion and desire and are building up a great relationship with each other in the build up to the tournament.

“We are in a difficult enough group as Mayo and Cavan/ Monaghan are very strong but if we can elevate our game to the level necessary we can win the group.”

Coach Jimmy Clancy who was the Head of Delegation last year is really looking forward to his new role and rates the players very highly.

“I am a coach with the Kerry under-15 team and I have seen many of their players coming up through the underage process. They are very committed players who have a great attitude to training and they have the potential to win their group.

“Of course, like big competitions of this nature you need a bit of luck along the way and hopefully that will come our way in Limerick.”

It is a trip into uncharted waters for coach Robert Sibanda and he is looking forward to the challenge it presents.

“While I am new to the scene I know a lot about the underage game in the county and I am delighted to be given an opportunity to become involved in the Kennedy Cup management team.

“We have a good strong squad and have nothing to fear in the competition.”