Donaghy: Defeat was not an option

Kieran Donaghy admits the Kerry players would have never been allowed to forget a fourth Championship defeat by Tyrone in nine years had they lost on Saturday.

The Austin Stacks man admitted: “We put pressure on ourselves. There’s obviously going to be pressure out there, but we put pressure on ourselves every time we go out. That was there more so because ye guys (the media) would have levelled it at us for the remainder of our careers if we didn’t find a way to get a result (against Tyrone). It’s hugely satisfying for this team to put in a big performance like that in front of a big crowd at home in Killarney. It’s knockout and it’s about getting forward and pushing on.”

Kerry were the better team from the outset although the affair was marred by an exorbitant amount of off-the-ball needle and late tackles.