Kingdom U21’s ‘under pressure’ to deliver

THE U21 football grade has been very good to Kerry. Since its inception in 1964, the Kingdom have contested 14 finals winning nine.

More importantly the grade helped develop some of the sport’s greatest players with Charlie Nelligan, Mick, Pat and Tom Spillane, Denis “Ogie” Moran, Sean Walsh, Jack O’Shea and Páidí Ó Sé all winning medals at this level.

Tonight a side which includes Tommy Walsh and David Moran — sons of Sean and Ogie — contest the final against Kildare in Thurles (7pm), the Kingdom’s first decider since 1998. That year they defeated Laois in the final with a team that included current seniors Tom O’Sullivan, Tomás Ó Sé and Mike Frank Russell. Former seniors Mick McCarthy, Aodán MacGearailt, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Noel Kennelly also figured.