We have plenty young talent in the Kingdom it’s time to show that we do

Expert analysis from All-Ireland winner Sean O’Sullivan Twitter: @SeanTheBawn

ANOTHER winter of soul searching and reflection amongst this group of Kerry players has come and gone and probably not half quick enough for them.

The All Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin I’m sure still lingers in their quiet moments especially after seeing Mayo push the eventual champions to the pin of their collars in both the drawn and replayed finals.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice isn’t a sports psychologist, but I’m sure one of his first jobs will be to get rid of the ‘what if’ feeling around the camp. From my time playing with him he is an extremely positive influence between the four walls of the dressing room and his players will have to buy into that.

They know that ‘what ifs’ don’t wash in Kerry. It’s time to get back up on the horse. It’s National League time. And there is certainly plenty to be positive about. With the obvious exception of Jim Gavin and Stephen Rochford, Eamonn finds himself in the best position in county football in the country.

He is at the helm of Kerry, a county renowned for producing top quality players year in year out. Of course, it will take time for the past three All Ireland minor winning teams to grow and develop into men and senior county players.

The problem is that as Kerry supporters patience is not a virtue. However, there is still an abundance of talent at the disposal of the senior management many of which I’m sure we will see during this league campaign.

They have been given a taste of it in the McGrath cup in which they secured decent wins over Cork and Limerick. It may be regarded by many as a pre-season tournament that is not given much notice, but try telling that to the young guys who ran out as a Kerry senior for the first time and they will tell you differently.

I’m in no doubt that the approach to the upcoming Division 1 games starting with a tough away trip to Donegal on Sunday will be a very much ‘out with the old and in with the new’ type.

To lose two of the best defenders the game has ever seen in Marc Ó Sé and Aidan O’Mahony is without doubt a blow. It was an honour to have played with them in the green and gold since we were minor back in 1998 and thankfully we saw some great days together, but it can’t last forever unfortunately.

One thing that stood out for me in the aftermath of the lads’ retirement was the way in which they both spoke about moving on as to make way for the next crop of young blood to take their place.

It’s very evident that even amongst the current players that they have great faith in the new batch that have arrived onto the scene and trust them to make that all important step up to the senior ranks. Have you lost big game experience in the likes of Marc and Aidan?

Of course you have, but there are leaders everywhere you look in the squad who will now have to step up in not only their own performances but also help and guide the younger players the same way in which the likes of Fitzmaurice and Moynihan guided Ó Sé and O’Mahony and they in turn helped the likes of Killian Young and Peter Crowley. Kerry need leaders and it’s through playing games that the management will see who stands up another reason why this league season is very important.

The aim of course is to finish in the top two which this year sees both those teams contest a final. Even though this may lead to a few dead rubbers coming into the latter stages I think it’s a better format.

It rewards the best two sides over the course of the league by them progressing straight into a decider. Kerry will be looking to get back to a final where they again found themselves coming off second best to Dublin last season.

If we are going to introduce new players into the team the more games they can get against quality opposition especially in national finals is experience that will stand to them heading into the championship.

The McGrath cup was used as a chance to have a good look at guys with Jack O’Connor taking the opportunity to run his Under 21s in the first round against Tipperary. I think this was a shrewd move between Jack and Eamonn as it helped both in terms of giving players game time for Jack with the Under 21 championship on the horizon and allowed Eamonn to run the eye over these young men who he can use in the early rounds of the league.

Looking at guys who I feel could make the break through this season for Jason Foley from Ballydonoghue doesn’t look one bit out of place anywhere in the full-back line. He has frightening pace off the mark and is a very good man to man marker.

Tadhg Morley was deployed at midfield against Cork and then at centre-back in the final and did quite well. He is extremely fit and can get through a lot of work in the middle sector field.

Jack Barry of Na Gaeil has seen plenty game time also and has quietly gone about his business. He keeps it simple and while he would face stiff competition when the likes of Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan return he looks like a guy who could last the course.

Barry O’Sullivan of Dingle has been mooted as another potential option for midfield in the past, but it just hasn’t happened for him as of yet. He still very young and the more he can stay injury free and get games at this level the better.

With Eamonn not able to call on the likes of Darran O’Sullivan and Johnny Buckley due to club commitments it really opens the door in the forward unit for guys. Mikey Geaney and Jonathan Lyne have been in the squad now for the past few seasons and must see this year as an opportunity to impress.

Throw in the likes of Conor Geaney and Brian Ó Seanachain, who I really rate although this season may be too soon for him, and you have some really quality going forward. James O’Donoghue has also returned to the fold after the frustration of injury curtailed his action last year and he will be hoping to hit form over the spring.

It promises to be an exciting campaign for Kerry. We still have the quality. It’s time to show it.