ÉAMONN FITZMAURICE HAS revealed that his decision to stay on for a new term as Kerry manager was made months ago, rather than in the aftermath of the defeat to Dublin.
Last night Fitzmaurice, who has been at the helm of Kerry’s seniors since August 2012, was handed a new two-year deal and he revealed that his mind was made up following a chat in July with county chairman Patrick O’Sullivan.
“It wasn’t that tough [a decision to make],” he told Radio Kerry.
“I had spoken to Patrick earlier on in the year, during the league and we’d spoken again in July after the Munster final so I had pretty much made the decision at that stage that I was going to stay on.”
Fitzmaurice admitted that he questioned himself for a couple of days in the aftermath of their agonising All-Ireland semi-final loss but once he knew the players were keen for him to stay, it was a no-brainer. The defeat to the Dubs didn’t change that.
“Obviously we very disappointed after the defeat to Dublin but you know at the same time we have unfinished business and we want to go that step further next year if we can,” he continued.
“I had spoken to the players about it as well because obviously that’s the most important thing. It isn’t so much about me, it’s that the players are still buying into what we have to do.”
Fitzmaurice will be in Croke Park on 18 September to lend his support to Kerry’s minors who are taking on Galway, before observing the clash of Dublin and Mayo.
He admitted that it will be hard to watch the senior decider but he’s confident the experience will help motivate the Kingdom’s push for Sam Maguire in 2017.
“It will of course [be hard to watch the All-Ireland final],”
“But I’ll watch it all right. I’ll go because I want to support the minors, and I’d be hoping that the minors win.
“I haven’t seen that much of them this summer because they’ve been on the same day as us the last couple of times.
“It’ll be hard to watch the senior game but at the same time that will just sharpen the appetite again for next year.”
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