JACK O’CONNOR HAS landed another Kerry football manager job.
The Kerry County Board confirmed at a meeting this evening that O’Connor will succeed Darragh Ó Sé as manager of the Kingdom’s U21 side on a two-year term.
Currently O’Connor is also in charge of the Kerry minor side as they get set for a Munster final meeting with Tipperary on 5 July. Last year he guided Kerry to Munster and All-Ireland minor crowns.
O’Connor was in charge of the Kerry U21s back in 1998 and 1999, while since then he has been in charge of the county senior side for two stints — 2004-2006 and 2009-2012.
In his first spell in charge he won All-Ireland senior titles in 2004 and 2006, while in his second tenure he also lifted Sam Maguire in 2009.
In between, O’Connor coached Kerins O’Rahilly’s to reach the 2008 Kerry and Munster senior club football finals but defeat was their lot on both occasions.
Kerry have enjoyed a wretched record at U21 level in recent years, with only one Munster crown (2008) to their credit since 2002.
According to a Kerry GAA statement, O’Connor’s appointment “is to oversee the putting in place of a programme of Strength and Conditioning for the Kerry U20 Development Squad in conjunction with the county’s Coaching and Games Committee.
“Jack will name his U21 management team once his tenure with the minor team comes to an end.”
– Updated at 20.45
