Kerins refuses to be drawn on Kingdom coaching job

By Brendan Larkin and Michael Ellard FORMER Limerick senior football coach Liam Kerins has refused to comment on speculation linking him to the role in his native Kerry.

The term of Paídí Ó Sé and his management team ended with the weekend defeat to Tyrone, with the manager yet to comment on his future intentions.

Kerins who is a native of the Kingdom, ended his second two year term in charge of the Shannonsiders following their defeat by Kerry in the Munster final, and has taken two months out before deciding on his future.

“At the moment I’m out of office with Limerick and I’m considering whether I want to give it another go. It’s a very time consuming position and I need to talk to various people before making a final decision.

“In relation to the Kerry position that has nothing to do with me. I’ve no comment to make on the matter”.

Former Kerry stalwart Eoin Liston said he too wasn’t interested in the position.

“At present there is no position to fill”, he said yesterday.

Meanwhile, former captain and manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan has warned that the under-fire Kerry management team should not be subjected to any public witch hunt.

Although, O’Sullivan criticised the tactics employed by the management on Sunday, he said: “I believe the team management should be given plenty of time to consider their future without any pressure from the media or supporters.

“I think the Tyrone management team did their homework well. They learned an effective method of play to beat a very skilful Kerry team.

“Before the game, most observers knew that Tyrone would adopt the blanket defence system to counteract the Kerry forwards. Yet there seemed to be no plan for Kerry to implement once this happened.

“Surely Kerry could have adopted a similar pattern of play that would have provided more space for their forwards. Perhaps too much emphasis was placed by the Kerry management in training on tightening up the Kerry defence to the detriment of an overall plan,” he told The Kingdom.

“Future management will have to get a full back and release Seamus Moynihan outfield. They need to get a ball-winning midfielder to support Darragh Ó Sé and a strong ball-winning full forward,” he added.

Stephen Stack who won an All-Ireland medal in 1997 under Ó Sé is adamant that the side can return to Croke Park and recapture Sam Maguire.

“I think this Kerry team is far from finished. A lot of these players have a lot of mileage on the clock, but I couldn’t see one of them at this stage retiring from the game.

“For the most part this is a very young team, but motivation in the current game is a huge factor. Ten of this team have won two All-Ireland medals and that is a big haul in the present era. The game takes so much out of players nowadays with physical training and work demands and everything else.

“I’d be surprised that if Tyrone win the All-Ireland this year they would be seen again for some time, because winning a final takes so much physical and mental effort.”