DARRAGH Ó SÉ says it’s time for ‘a fresh voice’ in charge of the Kerry U21 footballers as the Kingdom legend is to step down from his role in the wake of their Munster championship exit against Cork last night.
Kerry lost out to Cork by three points in last night’s Munster semi-final in Páirc Uí Rinn and in the aftermath of the loss, Ó Sé indicated that his tenure will now draw to a close.
The six-time All-Ireland senior winner has been in charge of the Kingdom U21′s for the last three years but they have bowed out on each occasion to Cork in their opening game. In 2013 Cork narrowly prevailed by 0-14 to 2-7 at the quarter-final stage, last year it finished 0-18 to 2-8 in favour of Cork in a quarter-final tie in Tralee and last night Kerry were on the wrong side of a 1-12 to 1-9 defeat.
Ó Sé told Radio Kerry after the game that he has enjoyed his spell in charge but it’s now time for someone else to take the managerial reins.
“Look at this stage, it’s time for a fresh voice. I’ve been there for three years now, enjoyed my time no end. (I) did a lot of work with the lads and enjoyed my time and I think maybe it’s time for somebody else now.”
“We felt we’d a good mix there. These young fellas have given a huge effort, they’re fantastic footballers. They will be fantastic footballers for Kerry. People need a bit of patience with them and a bit of time with them and they’ll be very good.
“Anything we’ve asked them to do this year, they did it and then some. I’d have to shoulder most of the responsibility for all that.”
Stronger
It was a tight contest last night but Cork finished stronger to prevail.
“We’d a big effort put in for the game,” admitted Ó Sé. “The closing stages of the game, we probably had one or two chances but towards the end Cork kicked two or three points which we didn’t match. We gave away the ball silly in the middle of the field.
“It was a tight game throughout. There was so many of our fellas that didn’t play up to scratch on the night, in the first-half particularly. We got more of a shake out of them in the second-half but ultimately the better team won in the last couple of minutes.”
“They were that bit bigger than us in the half-back line and half-forward line. I was very pleased with how our lads did in the middle of the field. Look we’ve no complains. We came and gave it our best shot. The better team won on the night.”
And with six of last year’s All-Ireland minor winning team having started, Ó Sé predicted a bright future for this crop of Kerry players.
“These lads are coming through. They’ve fantastic footballers. They’ve a great attitude, they want to win. They’re disappointed tonight. They’ll be back, there’s no question about that.”
