O’Connor: Inspirational Moynihan can make mark in management

RETIRED Kerry legend Seamus Moynihan has been tipped to make a big impact in football management by Kingdom boss Jack O’Connor.

Moynihan, 38, hung up his football boots Sunday after his club Glenflesk bowed out of the East Kerry senior championship, losing the district semi-final 1-14 to 1-4 to Munster club kings Dr Crokes.

But O’Connor believes his former player has all the attributes to make the transition from player to coach.

“If Seamus was to go into the management side he would have a great headstart because he commands so much respect. That’s a great starting point, if you have the respect of players. He has a great grasp of the game and a great head for it. He has the potential to make the transition from playing to coaching or managing, if he so desires.”

Following a glittering career that spanned over 20 years, where Moynihan excelled for both club and county — winning four All-Irelands, nine Munster titles and three All Stars, three Kerry championships with East Kerry, three Sigerson Cups with IT Tralee, several O’Donoghue Cups and the Millennium Cup with Glenflesk among many more — he will rightly be remembered as one of the best footballers of all-time, according to Jack O’Connor.

“He is one of the greatest players that ever put on the green and gold. There is no question of that,” the Kerry manager said.

“My memories of him are as of a great leader, more than anything else. He inspired those around him.

“He commanded tremendous respect. The year he was Kerry captain in 2000, he was a driven man.

“There was one game in particular, against Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final when Kerry’s backs were to the wall, Moynihan almost single-handedly kept the tide back that day. If any man deserved to lift the Sam Maguire in Croke Park, it was him.”