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Darran O’Sullivan and Kieran Donaghy look on as former Irish Open champion Shane Lowry aims a shot at the 200 yard par three third at Killarney GC. BETDAQ, Ireland’s leading betting exchange, will donate €50,000 to the charity of choice to the first golfer who hits a ‘hole in one’ at the third hole.
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straight talking

Interview: Donaghy taking nothing for granted ahead of Limerick clash

Kerry star is also the latest player to call for goal-line technology to be introduced.

AT 28, KIERAN Donaghy has already enjoyed an amazing career.

The two-time All-Star’s gradual rise to become an invaluable member of the Kerry team was not exactly straightforward, yet the player’s perseverance eventually paid off.

As one of the first names on the current squad’s team-sheet, Donaghy can now regularly look forward to special occasions such as the All-Ireland quarter-final against Limerick on Sunday.

And despite his side being among the favourites to win the All-Ireland this year, he refuses to take anything for granted.

Speakign to TheScore this week, Donaghy outlines how the main danger ahead of the game is “complacency”, given how his Kerry team have already secured a comprehensive 11-point victory over Limerick in the Munster SFC  semi-final.

He admits that “they should’ve beaten us last year,” referring to the Munster final in which Kerry secured a narrow victory, despite their opponents putting in an excellent performance.

Donaghy is also wary of Limerick, as “we know Croke Park will suit their quick forwards”. He thus vows that his side will not be underestimating their less acclaimed opponents.

He believes the season in general is going well, as players have returned from injury, while progress has been made in terms of their performance levels too. While they are seen as the team to beat by most people, Donaghy remains unmoved by such renown and believes “reputation doesn’t count” on match days.

Rebels

The player is equally unflappable when talk turns to Joe Brolly. His complete lack of interest in what the critics say is highlighted by the fact that he has no idea why the Sunday Game analyst is causing controversy lately.

Consequently, I have to explain to him why the analyst, who wrote a searing critique of the Cork side following their Munster final loss to Donaghy’s Kerry, is in the news.

Having actually played against them, I ask whether Donaghy shares Brolly’s view that Cork are a “dumb” side.

“No, not really,” he says.

“That’s also been said about us when we were winning it, but there’s no such thing as an easy All-Ireland, so Cork thoroughly deserved it. You have to believe in yourself and not really believe what [the pundits] say. They vary very much. One minute you’re overachievers, the next you’re the best team in the land.”

Donaghy then adds, unsurprisingly, that he doesn’t watch The Sunday Game. He is very much a skeptic on other issues too, such as the potential introduction of Hawk-Eye in GAA and goal-line technology, due to be discussed by GAA officials later this month.

Despite renewed calls for its introduction following the latest debatable incident in the game between Wexford and Limerick at the weekend, Donaghy remains doubtful that it will be implemented anytime soon. He says:

“I think it’s a long way to change. I think the powers that be are too slow to change things. I don’t know how many more examples [of refereeing mistakes] you need.”

Another recent debate among GAA critics is the increasing amount of players on Twitter and whether they should be allowed to air their views, given the problems it might pose for teams.

Donaghy had a slow start to his GAA career, but has gone on to become a vital member of the Kerry team - INPHO/Ryan Byrne

However, in contrast to the likes 0f Bernard Brogan and Lar Corbett, Donaghy says he doesn't "know anything" about the site, and insists that he has never been tempted to join it.

So, does Donaghy have any words of advice for young up-and-coming GAA players, looking to make a breakthrough as he once did?

"Don't over-think it," he says. Easy.

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Read: Limerick dual stars set to face Kerry on Sunday>

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