IN THE POST MATCH press conference, Kerry manager Jack O’Connor got straight into it.
“Probably wasn’t a game for the purists because it was defensive. But we were happy to play the game on whatever terms we came across. Derry set the terms early on. They got a rake of men back and made it tough for us to find space,” said O’Connor.
“I just thought we were playing around the periphery in the first half. In the second half, we made an agreement that we would go at the game aggressively. I thought we started to find pockets in the second half and just showed a bit more intensity and a bit more energy.”
A little more introspection and we will leave it there. Later on, O’Connor was asked about the potential changes the Football Review Committee can bring, given that former Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice sits on said committee.
“Sure we’d love to play open football, that’s the way we want to play it.
“I was even talking to Eamonn yesterday, I met him down at Mícheál’s (Ó Muircheartaigh) funeral down in Dingle, and some of the changes are very promising.
“Sure look, we’ll play it any way it’s put in front of us but of course, look, traditionally, Kerry want to play that more expansive type of game. We have to adapt with the times. But some of those changes are obviously very promising. I hope they get a good airing and a good hearing.”
For now, Kerry head into the closing stages of an All-Ireland championship, with no Dublin involved. O’Connor admits that he had to have a word with his players to correct mindsets after their shock defeat to Galway on Saturday night.
“That’s obviously a danger. Kerry public, there’s no better than the Kerry public to get carried away.
“And whether you like it or not it can seep into players so of course you have to block it out and you cannot fast forward anything. You have to take it step by step and this was a big step today. We needed all our attention on it, rather than looking too far ahead.”
Back to the present, grim as it feels like after a game such as this.
It has become O’Connor’s custom to watch some, if not all, of the first half of games up in the stand. All the better to see the shape of teams rather than the view from the sideline that can lack perspective.
After 20 minutes though, Jack was back on the line, getting a closer look at the switches he was going to have to make.
“Half-time is important. You’re up in the stand some of the time and you can see the shape of the game. I just thought we had two issues. First of all, we were allowing Derry come into our 45 without putting a finger on them. We needed to make contact higher up the pitch and stop leaving a good bit of space in front of McGuigan.
“The second thing then was we weren’t testing their defence enough, getting runners in to occupy their defenders. That takes a lot of energy and it takes bravery as well because if you turn over the ball then, you have to get back 100 metres,” he said.
Either way, the chat around Kerry is that they had met nothing of great worth up until today.
“Well today was a test. It felt like a real battle,” he said.
“It was physical, it was intense. There was a lot of running in it.
“For today, that’s a good test. We know we will face a bigger test in two weeks’ time. Remember Armagh beat Derry comprehensively a month or six weeks’ ago. We will be under no illusions about the magnitude of what we are facing in two weeks’ time.”
He admits he might break out some video on Armagh.
“I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t been watching them overly closely. I obviously watched their game with Derry and that’s enough for me. To know that they are a serious team. They went to Derry and dismantled Derry’s defence,” he said.
“And we found it tough to break their defence today. So they are a team on the crest of a wave with huge support and momentum behind them. That’s always a dangerous combination.”
Thank God for the bench…..never thought I’d say that!
Proud? Proud of scraping by a team that were hockeyed by Scotland last week? Pull the other one Andy
@5sZl1dX2: same team beat the almighty England Ray
Line out complete disaster need a hooker that will throw straight and ryan and Mccarthy need to live up to their big reputation
@frank walsh: paulie ??
@frank walsh: Leinster’s lineout hums along every week with Ryan and McCarthy having very few problems.
Bring O’Connell in to coach it and Beirne to “run” it in the same way he does the worst lineout in Europe for Munster and all of a sudden it’s a disaster.
@teuO6nLS: none of the provinces line outs are statistically very good. Having watched Leinster beat ulster last night neither was impressive except defensively
So much negativity. We won. There were years we never won. Support our team or STFU
@Tony Joyce: we’re top 2 in world and played badly in 3 out last 4 matches.
@Papa Kilo: so what
@Tony Joyce: Glad we won i cant take this negativity anymore i just want to swing at them
@Tony Joyce: how dare you call out Ray and his multiple accounts
The headline “Crowleys impact sees Ireland over the line” does a massive disservice to Craig Casey. He should have been the headline. Forget Crowley v Prendergast. Let’s talk about Casey v Gibson Park.
@Pud: plus the fact that prendergast had a superb game. He oozes class.
It’s a friendly 2 years out from a world cup and we won what are looking for
@Cathal Brennan: we’ve been shocking bar beating a team still hungover after beating Wales something very off at moment.
@Papa Kilo: are we expecting too much from leinster players having to deliver at a high level for club and Country.for some reason they not doing it for Farrell at moment.munster boys did well though.
@Papa Kilo:
@Matt Gilsenan: stupid comment but can’t be helped
@Papa Kilo: Shocking dear god we are a tiny country we win so many games id say we lost 7 games in 3 years won over 20 yes not playing like before the world cup but still winning
It’s been a very underwhelming autumn series. Got out of jail again today. The writing has been on the wall this season, however. Just look at the rubbish being dished out by the provinces. Gets worse every round. Let’s see if munster can improve on the pathetic showing of the other 3 this weekend.
@Ray Ridge: We’re England and we must use every opportunity to make Ireland and its people feel inferior to us
@Ray Ridge: won 3 out off 4 playing badly id take it everyday mr mizerable oh and munster won
@Ray Ridge: Leinster are top of the URC ya pleb hahaha. Ireland outplayed and beat the all conquering Australia without getting out of first gear. What does that say about you and your predictions. Series couldn’t have gone any better. 4 from 5 and plenty to work on and now we know what needs to be improved. Ireland didn’t wake up one morning sh/t£ as you would have people believe with your anti irish rhetoric. Why don’t you go on the English threads and praise the almighty there
The reality is the game is constantly moving and evolving and we have to be willing to go with it. We have played the same way for at least three years and we need to be adaptable which does seem to be a touch lacking. That’s not to say we throw everything out. Some of the innovation off the line out is brilliant but we need to focus on our set piece which are both suspect and then look at how teams have started to counter us. They’re all smart enough guys to recognise this and develop some other wrinkles to the game
Looking at it was a good test. Too many handling errors but it happens. All of the Autumn games we have been giving away cheap penalties. So things can only get better also we looked at a few fresh faces which is always good.
To many none leinster players on the pitch.Beirne,Aki,Hanson,Behlaim should all be dropped and replaced with leinster players.
@Ross Clancy: …learn to spell, !d!0t!
@Ross Clancy: all the money in Dublin and still couldn’t receive an education. It’s true what my grandmother used say, you can’t educate pork
@Ross Clancy: Nice sarcusm
@Ross Clancy: Ross you posted this after 9pm which is way past your bedtime. If it happens again santy will not be bringing you the harry potter Lego set you asked for
Much too much hype about Prendergast – never took the ball to the Aussie defence. Posed no threat. Good kicker from the hand but looked lost when Aussies rumbled forward.