Young relieved as double still on

KILLIAN YOUNG and Tommy Walsh remain on course to join a select band of footballers.

Earlier this year, Young and Walsh inspired Kerry to an All-Ireland U-21 title and after playing key roles in yesterday’s high wire act against Cork at Croke Park the dream of completing the double remains alive.

Another U-21 member can be thanked for the Kingdom’s survival. David Moran, a late sub, played a crucial role in setting up Colm Cooper’s game-winning goal which eventually broke Cork’s stern resistance.

But Young admitted that as their lead was being whittled away, this squad’s true character began to shine through.

“It was another very strange match, but thankfully we came out of it on the right side,” said the Renard man.

“One of the biggest positives we can take from the game is that we never panicked when the game looked to be slipping away from us, but we are good at that.

“You don’t have to tell me or any of the other lads that we made extremely hard work of it. But you have to give credit to Cork. Once they got into their stride there was no stopping them, it was just our bit of experience and greater craft that pulled us through.”

The All-Ireland winner also paid tribute to the Kingdom’s young up-and-coming stars.

“You have to hand it to Tommy Walsh, David Moran and Darren O’Sullivan.

“They did brilliantly for us and it’s great to have players like Dave and Darren to come in and do the business.”

When quizzed on the possibility of achieving the three-in-a-row, Young insisted there has been no talk of it in the camp “and I don’t expect there will be.”

He stressed: “We have one more game to play to retain our title and that is what we will be focusing in on over the next three weeks.”

Allstar defender Aidan O’Mahony expressed relief with the outcome.

“I work down in Cork and I know what it means to them to beat Kerry and vice versa,” said the Leeside-based Garda.

“You have to feel a tinge of sympathy for them. They put in two massive performances against us in a week and have gone away with nothing. But if they can keep that side together, there has to be an All-Ireland in them.

“The one good thing from a Kerry point of view was the way we held our composure when Cork came back at us. We were with Darragh (Ó Sé) but you have to give all the credit in the world to the lads who came in, in the reshuffle.

“Mike Quirke, Darren O’Sullivan who set up the goal for Cooper, David Moran who pulled a great ball out of the air, all played their part.

“We displayed great character when needed and that has been the hallmark of this particular group of players.

“We have a lot of leaders in our team and all stood up when the cause was greatest.”