Four Reasons Why The Future’s Very Bright For Kerry Football

Posted by
Aherns Ad Insert 1

.

LOSING to Dublin for the fourth time on the trot in the championship was a sickener, but there’s plenty of reasons to be hopeful of redressing the balance in the coming years…

Minors on the verge of three-in-row

Kerry minors did not win an All-Ireland for 20 years, now the county is just 60 minutes away from achieving a three-in-a-row, the first since 1967-69, which was achieved by Cork.

Of course underage success does not guarantee senior All-Irelands, but watching the slickness of the Kerry minors in both defence and attack yesterday that our young players are being coached to play a winning and modern brand of football.

We know how difficult it is to win minor All-Irelands in Kerry, so to see our current crop swat away opposition in Croke Park so emphatically is almost scarcely believable.

Kerry's Niall Collins comes away with the ball against Kildare. Photo by Dermot Crean

Kerry’s Mike Breen comes away with the ball yesterday against Kildare. Photo by Dermot Crean

Kerry ETB insert

.

David Clifford 

It’s a testament for this 17-year-old’s talent that even though Kerry and Dublin served up another classic David Clifford was one of the most talked about players on the way out of Croke Park.

The Fossa teenager kicked 0-8 points and was a class apart in Kerry’s 22 mauling of Kildare. He’s a big man but it’s his poise and quickness of thought that is so impressive.

The national media were taking note also, as a number sports websites gushed over an outstanding display by a prodigious talent. With another year of minor left it’s startling to think what he’ll be like next year!

David Clifford in action against Cork in the Munster Final. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.

David Clifford in action against Cork in the Munster Final. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

Time for 2014 and 2015 Minor winners to make the grade

With a number of legends likely to exit the Kerry senior panel, there are plenty of talented young players to jump into their boots who are about to come of age.

We could have an interesting league campaign with a number of players to be blooded. The first of those may be players already inside training with the seniors, including Na Gaeil’s Andrew Barry, Dingle’s Mark O’Connor and Jason Foley of Ballydonoghue.

It could be even a bit of headache trying to give players a chance because there are so many quality footballers coming through.

Kerry's, Mark O'Connor, in the 2015 Munster Minor Semi-Final against Cork. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.

Kerry’s, Mark O’Connor, in the 2015 Munster Minor Semi-Final against Cork. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

The Kerry Centre of Excellence 

Located at two sites, the Kerry Centre of Excellence in Currans and IT Tralee will hopefully churn out All-Ireland winner after winner in the years ahead.

All Kerry teams and development sides will use the state of the art facilities that should bring the nurturing of talent to the next level.

Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence.

Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence.

Comments are closed.

image