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Manager Stephen Wallace (Ardfert) congratulates players and backroom staff after the final whistle. Photo by Dermot Crean.
THE Kerry Juniors have an unusual assignment this Saturday when they go cross-channel to Manchester to face Lancashire in the All-Ireland JFC semi Final.
Kerry progressed to this stage after defeating Cork and claiming a third Munster crown in-a-row last month in Austin Stack Park last month.
Traleetoday.ie caught up with manager, Stephen Wallace, who’s been in charge for the past three years, about developing young talent, making the grade at senior and how preparations are going for that trip to the England.
“It’s something different and something we’re not used to doing,” said Stephen Wallace. “There’s a lot of work involved in the logistics operation of getting a big group of players to the UK, booking hotels, making sure the meals are organised etc.” he said.
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Is there any possibility that a trip abroad could cause the side to lose focus?
“We’re over to play a football game, everything is secondary. We’ll give Lancashire the respect the deserve and prepare professionally. These are very dedicated bunch of young fellas, they’re serious about their football and they’re serious about progressing their careers in a Kerry shirt. This is all part of it,” said the Ardfert man.
Since Wallace has been at the helm, the juniors have been constructed to be the stepping stone from U21 to senior.
“Three years ago when I took on the job the plan was turn the Juniors into an U23 development squad and that’s how we’re operating. It’s not written in stone, one-or-two-or-three guys over the age of 23 are in to bring a bit of experience but in the norm it’s U23,” he said.
Of last year’s Kerry junior panel, some players moved up a grade playing for the seniors in the National League and Munster Championship, most notably, Tadhg Morley, Denis Daly and Brendan O’Sullivan.
“The fact they (GAA) have cut back the U21 competition to U20 makes it even more difficult for these guys to break into a senior squad because they’re still quite young and probably not developed as much as they should be playing senior inter-county,” said Stephen.
“It’s possibly something the GAA needs to look at. You know there is a massive gap there at U20 level before guys step up. Where do they develop themselves? What competition do they play? Unfortunately the nature of the beast means a lot of these guys will be going back to playing Division 4 and 5 County League football for their clubs. With all due respect it’s hard for them to push on there,” he said.
“It takes a very exceptional player who can come straight out of the U21 system and into the senior system. That will become even less frequent when you move it back to U20. The GAA needs to look at the bigger picture, how the guys between 20 and 24 can mature and develop.”
“The Junior competition should be more streamlined so the same rules and the same playing field can apply for every county in Ireland, because some counties are operating under different playing rules. Maybe perhaps change the name of the Junior competition to an U23 competition?”
Wallace was full of praise for Tralee area players involved with his squad this year: Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil), Mike O’Donnell (Austin Stacks), Kieran Hurley (St Pats), John C O’Connor (Kerins O’Rahillys) and Laurence Bastible (John Mitchels).
“We’re delighted with Andrew (Barry). He’s a guy inside the senior setup at the moment with Eamonn (Fitzmaurice), so we’re delighted that Andrew has been released to us for the game at the weekend”.
“Mike O’Donnell is a young fella who has been persecuted with injuries and he’s still only 19 years-of-age. He has a huge career ahead in The Rock. On his day, Kieran Hurley, is as good as any forward in Kerry, he maybe has not got the breaks but look, Kieran is still only 25, so there is still a future for him there as well”.
“John C has had a great county championship with Kerins O’Rahillys, under the watchful eye of Michael Quirke and no better man to be teaching a young fella how to play midfield, he’s also paired there with David Moran so he’s learning from the best”.
• Kerry v Lancashire, Saturday at 2pm. Radio Kerry will carry coverage of the game.
