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Pat Spillane.
PAT SPILLANE, is calling for an end to how the Kerry senior captain is selected, but says he would start Bryan Sheehan on the team due to his skill and kicking ability.
Speaking on 2FM’s ‘Game On’ programme last night, the eight-time All-Ireland medal winner said giving the captaincy to someone not assured of their place on the team is not the best idea.
“I think the captain should be chosen by team management and should be a guy that is guaranteed his place and who shows leadership qualities,” he said on the show.
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On Sunday night, Bryan Sheehan was nominated by county champions South Kerry for the captaincy. The tradition in the county is for the county champions to nominate a player for the captaincy, not the management team.
“Giving the captaincy to somebody who is not certain of his place puts a lot of pressure on that person,” said Spillane.
Spillane would have the St Mary’s man as starter, top trumping his kicking abilities over players who have more physical qualities.
“I would love to see Bryan starting for Kerry. I don’t think there is a better kicker of a ball on the ground or off the hand in Gaelic football in Ireland than Bryan Sheehan,” he said.
“I think he is that good. When it comes to skill Bryan Sheehan is as good as anyone.”
“The problem sometimes in modern day Gaelic football is that teams are decided not on the basis of skill but on what the stats man says in relation to the tackle count and turners and what the strength and conditioning guys reveal after they’ve looked at the GPS readings.”
In other news, Eamonn Fitzmaurice has revealed he is looking to blood a few young players in this year’s league.
Dingle men, Tom O’Sullivan and Brian Ó Beaglaoich are expected to stay on with the Kerry panel until the opening rounds of the National League.
The focus from then on for young players will be the U21 Munster Championship which begins in March.
