“This thing about going public and throwing your hat in the ring is a myth”

FIRST things first. Let’s deal with the green and gold elephant in the corner of the room.

For the last decade, John Evans has made no secret of his desire to manage his native Kerry. As well he might. His credentials are as impressive as anyone in the race to succeed Pat O’Shea. There’s the county championship titles and the All-Ireland club crown with Laune Rangers in 1996. Don’t forget the spell at the helm of the county U21 side while last year there’s his mini-miracle of guiding perennial basement boys, Tipperary, to the high altitude of NFL Division Three without talisman Declan Browne.

But therein lies the stumbling block. Twenty four hours before the Kerry executive met to begin the process to find O’Shea’s successor, Tipperary County Board delegates were delighted to re-appoint Evans to the Premier helm for 2009 after his magnificent debut season.