Irish Daily Mirror

Jack back where he wants

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BY PAT NOLAN

IT’S not the first time that Jack O’connor has had to digest a Kerry-dublin game determined by a dramatic last-gasp free kick into Hill 16.

The tremors from Stephen Cluxton’s winner 11 years ago were still being felt right up until Sean O’shea stood over that free kick from some 53 metres with six minutes of injury time having elapsed.

Kerry looked to be leaving Dublin firmly in their slipstream but, clearly burdened by the recent history of this fixture, Kerry were reeled in as Cormac Costello’s goal flipped the momentum of the contest.

“That game was going against us, that was a fairly significan­t wind there,” said O’connor.

“We had thrown everything at it up to then and I think the absolute key to it was in the last 10 minutes, when Dublin were pressing our kick-outs Shane Ryan got off all our kick-outs.

“I think that was hugely significan­t. If they turn over one of those kick-outs I thought we were done.

“Fellas like Brian O Beaglaoich must have shown short for four or five of those kick-outs and more importantl­y broke out and got us moving again.

“We were still creating a bit down the other end, even though we were a bit wasteful. But what a battle, Dublin are a great team.

“We were mentally preparing for extra-time with two or three minutes to go.”

The sense of relief washed all over O’connor.

“Jesus I don’t know lads. It’s tough going. It’s tough on the heart. I’ll tell you, that was tough going there near the end.

“It felt on the line that it was two kind of heavyweigh­ts going at it, trading punches.

“Every now and again, you’d say, ‘Jesus wouldn’t it be great to be inside in the middle of this, trading blows’.”

“We’re just hoping the game will bring us on.”

 ?? ?? DELIGHT Jack O’connor celebrates after the game
DELIGHT Jack O’connor celebrates after the game

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