O’Connor thrilled as Kerry bloom in spring

JACK O’CONNOR knows Kerry still have a long way to go but, right now, he’s delighted with how far they’ve come since finishing second best to Tyrone in last year’s All-Ireland final.

Losing last September’s showdown was a potentially crippling blow to Kerry and, initially, the 2006 season didn’t start any better than 2005 had ended.

Both Liam Hassett and Dara Ó Cinnéide called time on their inter-county careers, William Kirby has been injured while Seamus Moynihan and Paul Galvin have only recently returned.