Jack gets Fitzmaurice back

Jack O’Connor has coaxed Eamonn Fitzmaurice back into Kerry’s management set-up for the championship.

The former selector and All-Ireland winner will return as a selector shortly, though not in advance of the Kingdom’s Championship opener in Tipperary on May 27.

Fitzmaurice was in charge of the Kerry U21s this season and commands huge respect from the senior squad from his time as a selector in 2009 and 2010. O’Connor has moved quickly to get Fitzmaurice in the wake of Donie Buckley’s untimely exit from the management set-up. Players were disappointed to lose Buckley after only one season, but will warmly welcome Fitzmaurice’s return and input into tactics and drills.

It is understood that the three-time All-Ireland winner will take some time out to recharge batteries after a hectic coaching period with the U21s. He is also successfully involved at schools level with Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in West Kerry, where he is a teacher.