We can only do it the Kerry way, declares O’Connor

HE’S a manager therefore he has to deal with the hypothesis — so Jack O’Connor isn’t all that bothered talking of a what-might-have-been final against Donegal.

Would he have altered Kerry’s style to counter Jim McGuinness’ uber-defensive tactics? Would he hell! “It’s almost a bit like Alex Ferguson with Manchester United,” he outlines, “the tradition is there with playing attacking football and that’s what he does. And sure if Kerry went ultra defensive the fans just wouldn’t like that type of football and we wouldn’t have the goodwill of the people and sure if you don’t have that what are you playing the game for? I’m not castigating; it’s up to any other manager to do what he wants. I’m just saying from our point of view that’s the way we have to set out our stall.”

As would have been expected given they were facing the winners, O’Connor was at the game. Were Kerry to replicate Donegal’s game, his guts would be for garters in Kerry.