O’Connor: It was a tough one to take

ALL-Ireland finals have tended to be joyous occasions for Jack O’Connor, his Kerry managerial record defined by days where he steered the county towards September success.

The 2005 defeat by Tyrone was an aberration in that sequence until yesterday where he experienced the anguish of defeat in the decider again. And to lose in the manner his team did, coughing up a four-point advantage in the finale, exacerbated the pain for the Kerry boss.

“Of course to lose the way we did was devastating. It’s tough to lose an All-Ireland any day but we looked like we were in control. I’m not too sure what was left, eight or ten minutes and we were four points up. It’s a tough one to take. We thought we had it won. That’s life though, you know? Who said life is fair?”