‘Tipp a class team’

KERRY manager Fintan O’Connor will take plenty of positives from his sides 15 point defeat to Tipperary, with the Kildare native describing Tipperary as “class”.

“I suppose Tipp are a class team and they took some very good scores. Our lads kept going there and were very competitive in the second half when the game was probably over, but look we can take some things that we can work on and some things that we’re happy with and some things I suppose we’re not so happy with, but look this time of year some big positives,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor was delighted with his side’s performance, but accepted that Tipperary were almost out of sight at the break.

“Delighted with it [second half performance]. I suppose Tipp were probably out of sight at halftime so you can take a little bit from it but probably not too much from it either,” the manager said.

O’Connor was happy to be competing against top sides, but conceded that Tipperary were not operating at their peak.

“We know in the summer it’s a different ball game so you’re probably playing Tipp and Limerick, but you’re probably playing about 70% of what they’re normally playing and that’s probably doing ourselves a favour it’s probably less than 70% but anyway it’s nice to get exposure to top level,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor praised Michael O’Leary’s performance, with the Kerry forward impressive throughout the game.

“Massive effort and ability to win the ball and take scores and look loads of things we can work on as well and Michael can work on and he knows that. He missed last year and there’s loads of stuff he can improve on himself and we can improve on as a team and hopefully he’s prepared to do that and we’re prepared to do that as well,” O’Connor said.