KERRY MANAGER EAMONN Fitzmaurice does not agree that ex-Kerry players operating as columnists in the media are helping his Kingdom setup.
Tipperary boss Liam Kearns spoke on Wednesday night of the blasé attitude that he had detected towards his team since their shock Munster semi-final win over Cork.
Tipperary are gearing up to face Kerry in the Munster decider on 6 July and Kearns name checked Micheal Quirke (Irish Examiner) and Darragh Ó Sé (Irish Times) for their recent remarks in newspaper columns.
Fitzmaurice outlined his views on the situation at a press conference last night in Killarney.
“First of all, what goes on outside the camp is outside our control. That is noise to us. That is not something that affects our preparation, be it positive or negative. It is just something that goes on out there and is part of the game.
“The second thing I would say is that we have a strong Kerry presence in the national media, and in the media in general.
“I think, at times, people think when the lads are writing their articles that what they are saying is what we are saying and it is two very different things. An individual’s opinion and what is going on inside the camp is very different.
“As part of that, there is probably a perception out there that because of that presence in the media, that we control the control the conversation a bit and that it is favourable towards Kerry.
“I actually think the opposite. With the lads, if they are not giving insight into the way we do things or we think about things, they are giving motivation to the opposition so I don’t think it helps us at all.
“With regard to Liam, he is obviously going to use whatever bit of motivation he can for his squad. I don’t think there was much in those articles myself to be honest.
“If that gives his group an extra couple of percent motivation, sure of course he will use it. He probably understands that isn’t going to be our attitude.
“When you see comments like that, it sharpens your focus. You are going to be even more determined that there will be no complacency there.”
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