Morning after brings no relief for O’Mahony and Kingdom

IT was only yesterday morning that the sharp pain of defeat hit Aidan O’Mahony.

Sunday’s All-Ireland final defeat to Dublin was a harrowing experience for the Kerry players and as the Rathmore defender stood in the lobby of the D4 Ballsbridge Inn Hotel, the prospect of a journey home without the accompanying canister began to sink in.

“It’s today it really sinks in,” he said. “You have to head home to Kerry and face the supporters who’ve been with us all year. Going down to them without the Sam Maguire is very tough. It’s hard to lose any of the finals. We lost in 2005 and 2008 to Tyrone and this year to Dublin. When we were four points up you were looking at it and thinking we might get over the line. It’s tough.”

O’Mahony’s mention of Kerry’s advantageous position with seven minutes remaining was salient. They had forced the match in their direction with powerful second-half play and were on the cusp of success.

But Dublin’s formidable finish won the day and witnessing their comeback left an impression on O’Mahony.

“They reminded us of Kerry a couple of years ago. A young team, a hungry team and they just kept plugging away at the finish. In All-Ireland finals it’s never won until the final whistle. Four points up with seven or eight minutes to go, it’s still in the melting pot when you’re looking at 15 Dublin players with the Hill behind them and fantastic support.

“They had a fascinating year. To come back from four points down and win by one is a sign of a great team, they deserve their victory.”

The match was an intriguing affair with both teams intent from the start on not suffering any lapses at the back. In that respect it maintained the trends that have defined the 2011 championship, yet O’Mahony does not subscribe to the theory that a defensive orientated style is a negative development for the game.

“We looked at the game and we thought ourselves that they play a bit of a defensive game.

“They drop their two wing-forwards [back] and, with the space in Croke Park, they play three inside. We knew ourselves that our defence had to start from corner-forward, which is Colm Cooper, right the way back. They were fantastic, the pressure they put on was ferocious and I suppose it was good for us as backs.

“Every year something new is brought into the GAA.

This year a lot of people thought it was very defensive. But look, nobody is going to talk about defensive set-ups the morning after you win the All-Ireland.

“It’s whatever suits you to get you over the line, you take it.”

Decisions on the future for this Kerry team will be parked for another day according to O’Mahony.

“I’m not going to make up my mind today. As I say, come back in January, we’ll have to look at it then.

“As I said, there’s great young players coming through there and they’re the future of Kerry football now.

Meanwhile, Kerry selector Ger O’Keeffe insisted they did not ‘begrudge’ Dublin claiming an overdue triumph.

“You must give Dublin the kudos, they beat a great Kerry team and it’s brilliant for them. They’re a great bunch of guys.

“Pat Gilroy is a terribly nice fella, he came into the dressing room afterwards and you could see how he felt for us.

“You have to give him credit for that. You don’t ever regret losing to the Dubs.

“They’re a fantastic team and they earned their victory.”