DOWN MIDFIELDER KEVIN McKernan has this evening moved to address comments attributed to him in various media outlets this week.
The Burren man took issue with reports which he felt took his comments out of context.
“At no point did I ‘slam’ or was I ‘furious’ with my three Down colleagues who are travelling abroad this summer,” he said in a statement released by the GPA.
In relation to Paul McComiskey, Arthur McConville and Darren O’Hagan; McKernan had been quoted as saying:
“To me, you can go to America any time of the year. I know as I’d always work my travels around football. I spent six weeks in Australia in December and January last year when the season was over. Those boys are going to add to our team and unfortunately they’re not here.”
However, this evening’s statement (which you can read in full below) clarified that his disappointment was not in the travelling players, but in their absence.
McKernan, who chose not to issue the statement via his own Twitter account, also used the statement as an opportunity to raise awareness for a charity event in aid of his cousin, Mark McKernan.
“At no point did I ‘slam’ or was I ‘furious’ with my three Down colleagues who are travelling abroad this summer.I was disappointed purely because we’d be in a healthier state with these three players on board, they’ve left the panel and I wished them well on their travels.
I believe that the comments were taken out of context and may I add that I made them nine days ago!
However, now that I have your attention I’d like to publicise our charity penalty kick challenge taking place in Down this weekend.
It is the first of our ‘KEEP’ERLIT’ fundraising initiatives for my cousin Mark. During Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21 I will be travelling around all 44 football clubs in our county.
The challenge is aptly named ‘Kevin Kicks to KEEP ‘ER LIT’ as I’m aiming to take a penalty kick in each club and stay for 15 minutes in each to talk to supporters. We have been astounded by the response to this challenge in the locality and indeed the province and it looks set to be a great weekend’s fun!
This will be rounded off by a pre-moonlit sponsored walk from St.Marys GAC Burren from 7-8pm followed by Kevin’s final kick in his home club.
Check out www.facebook.com/KEEP.ER.LIT.13 for more info.
All support greatly appreciated.
Kevin McKernan.”
