Stephen Stack on Legion, lock-down and the future

JAMES O’DONOGHUE will reach the milestone age of 30 on June 19.

The 2014 Footballer of the Year has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons but, in the two opening games of the Allianz National League against Dublin and Galway, the Legion sharpshooter showed that he still has so much to offer to the green and gold.

Having managed him for a year at club level, Stephen Stack has been thrilled with his performances in the colours of the Killarney side, especially in the Kerry Senior Club Championship and in their march to O’Donoghue Cup glory last December.

“In fairness, all our Kerry players, James, Jonathan Lyne, Brian Kelly and Danny Sheehan, they have been an absolute dream to deal with,” he said.

“They are incredibly dedicated, even though they had suffered an unreal amount of heartache on the pitch up to last year with the club. It was a privilege to be among them to celebrate their unconfined joy when they beat Dr Crokes in the East Kerry Final.

“James is a dream to coach, he loves the club, he performed at a very high level for us last year. All the Kerry lads have been outstanding, no matter what we have asked them to do. Their best friends are here with them in the club, and they remain fiercely loyal and grounded.”

Can O’Donoghue still deliver at the top level for Kerry?

“Absolutely. He is a phenomenal footballer. He is back now and I’m pretty sure that he is fully injury-free. He had a slight problem with his calf during the National League, but this break has actually been great for him. If he can just avoid any more niggling injuries, he will be fine.”

Two other talented prospects making their way through the ranks in Dirreen are Cian Gammell and Darragh Lyne. Stack has high hopes for both of them.

“Cian is a fantastic defender. He had a brilliant O’Donoghue Cup campaign. Without a doubt, he is one of the best young defenders in the county. He is unbelievably determined, and was very good at colleges and minor levels.

“I would be very surprised if he was not on Peter Keane’s radar. I would love to see him inside for a trial, because he has great potential. Don’t forget Danny Sheehan either, he is now fully recuperated from his injury, and he was inside with Kerry training last year too.

“Darragh played in the O’Donoghue Cup final as an 18-year-old. I think it was only his third game at senior level for the club. He completely justified his selection and has now been playing very well for the Kerry Under-20s.

“There are a few others too. Micheal Devlin is just back from a soccer scholarship in America. He played for the Kerry minors a few years ago. He will be around now for a while, and is in that young cohort of good prospects. There is Kieran O’Donoghue as well, who won an All-Ireland minor medal in 2018.

“Credit for all that great work goes to Alan O’Neill with our Under-16s and minors, he has done fantastic work in the underage set-up. He trained Legion at one stage before me, so he knows exactly what the club is all about.”