BACK IN 2014, James O’Donoghue made the observation that you weren’t considered a real Kerry footballer until you won an All-Ireland title.
At the time the Kingdom were considered to be a team in transition, but they defied the odds to lift the Sam Maguire that September. Since then, Dublin haven’t lost a competitive and are red-hot favourites to keep the trophy nestled the capital this winter.
Two years on and again part of the Kerry motivation is down to their legacy. No longer seeking that first win, this group of players are eager to prove that 2014 was no fluke.
“I think until you get your couple of All-Irelands that’s when you really get to validate,” said Peter Crowley yesterday. “People might start arguing that maybe 14 was a fluke if you only stay on one. You need to re-inforce that you’re a good team and move on.
“When you’re in camp every year starts with that goal of winning an All-Ireland. Good teams win one All-Ireland, great teams win two or multiple. We feel we can get there. We need to shore up where we fell short last year. The Dubs are leading the way at the moment, taking up from our team of the noughties and that’s something we want to address.
“Look at fellas like Marc [O Sé] who has five All-Irelands. That says it all. You’re only considered great when you have a few.”
That’s the price that comes with being a Kerry footballer. There’s a level of performance that’s expected once you pull on the green and gold jersey. Crowley can pinpoint the exact moment when he realised what representing Kerry entailed.
“I remember after my debut against Tipp. I was alright. We played down in Tipp. It was my first championship, we had played a few league games up to that. I came in on a Tuesday night after [Diarmuid] Murph pulled me aside and said, ‘you realise you are a Kerry player now, you have to go out and show it.’
“Since then you are always under pressure to prove yourself. No better example of that than myself, I’ve been dropped a few times. You can never get too far ahead of yourself.
“Practically everyone has missed games since Fitzy has come in. I don’t think anyone has played in every game. Maybe one or two. You always get your sobering experiences. You can never take it for granted.”
He knows that as well as anyone. He points out Eamonn Fitzmaurice dropped him for the 2014 Munster final and the Munster final replay last year, something he says he’s “not sour about it all. Obviously, the Munster final hasn’t been my game over the last number of years. He [Fitzmaurice] just goes with form.”
Crowley recognises how his own club has helped shape him into the footballer and man he has become, giving a nod to some positive local influences.
“I’ve been lucky, any walk of life your culture shapes you. I’ve been lucky that with my own club at home we’ve had a history of championship wins. For a long time in the county championship we punched above our weight.
“It’s an attitude that has really helped me, the idea that the league is good and that’s where you hone your skills but it’s all about championship. That’s were the real boys stand up.
“I can’t understate how much my club has had an effect on me and the sheer stubbornness and head strong of fellas like Liam Hassett, John Sheehan and even Mike Frank [Russell] in his own way [instilled] that kind of doggedness to win.
“And obviously being from Kerry as well is bred into you. You have to win All-Irelands. You are kind of naturally moulded like that and then the players that come in. I played with Dec [O'Sullivan], Tomas [O Se], I’m still playing with ‘Gooch’ [Cooper], Star [Donaghy] and Marc. They instil value in the jersey, how important is is to treasure that and mind it as much as you can when you have it and make sure no one take sit off you.
The introduction of Tadhg Morley and Brian O’Beaglaoich into the starting line-up was well documented, and Crowley cites the positive impact the younger players have had on training.
“A couple of younger fellas have come in, say some of the minor teams of the last few years and a couple more older – we’d a bit of a shake-up this year. Some people would say ‘not before time’ but when you’re inside there, it’s a bit more difficult.
“People look at the team and think it’s like FIFA – you put the fella with the highest rating in here. But there’s a group dynamic. We lost a few fellas who were some of our best friends.
“The young fellas have come in and are really going at it. Jason Foley wasn’t even born for the ’97 All-Ireland. I can remember lifting the cup in Killorglin so I’m getting old. They’re really coming in quick.”
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