The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Kerry will move on, I’ll move on’
Fitzgerald is content to focus on Dr Crokes’ title bid
DR Crokes footballer Fionn Fitzgerald has spoken about the end of his time with the Kerry senior football panel, revealing that he’s content about where he is now in his football career and relaxed about his new found status as solely a club footballer.
“My status is, Kerry is done for me really,” he revealed during the week.
“I’m very happy with Crokes. I’m not back in with Kerry next year. I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be different next year. It’ll be different this summer, it’ll be different these couple of months.
“I got married in December and I was on honeymoon. For the last two months, between that and getting back into work in Crokes, I’ve had plenty to get my teeth stuck into. That’s basically, the situation.”
The manner in which Fitzgerald and a number of other players were left off the Kerry panel by new manager Peter Keane was the subject of a certain amount of controversy at the time, but it largely bypassed the two-time Kerry captain.
“I was indirectly linked with it,” he revealed.
“I had nothing to do with it. I don’t really have an opinion on it and that’s not flunking the question or anything. To be honest, like I said, I had a wedding. I was indirectly linked with it, I had nothing to do with it
“I don’t really have an opinion on it and that’s not flunking the question or anything. I’m not really going to look back in the wing mirror too much. That’s the honest answer. Kerry will move on, I’ll move on. That’s where it’s at. I’m happy out.
“I’m only after coming out the whole inter-county bubble; it’s been a hamster wheel really for the last seven or eight years between Crokes and Kerry.
“I’m very happy with Crokes and I’m very happy with where I’m at and really looking forward to next year. I’m not really going to look back in the wing mirror too much. Kerry will move on, I’ll move on. That’s where it’s at. That’s the honest answer.”
Fitzgerald was speaking at a press event ahead of Dr Crokes’ All Ireland senior club championship semi-final with surprise package Mullinalaghta.
“We have a strong team at the minute and I love playing with Crokes. I’m looking forward to being able to give a little bit more to them over the next while.
“They’re my boys, they’re the guys I grew up with. We’ve been very lucky over the last number of years. It’s something we never knew would happen really.
“You’re just trying to live in the moment and enjoy it as best you can. It won’t last forever, it definitely won’t, enjoy it while you can.”