Sheehy ‘privileged’ by Kerry call-up

Kerry legend Mikey Sheehy may be the holder of eight All-Ireland medals but still gets that tingle of excitement at the prospect of being back at the coalface of the Kingdom’s resurrection bid in 2013.

Sheehy was ratified as one of Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s three selectors by the Kerry County Board on Monday and said yesterday: “If you were to say to me when I was coming out of Croke Park after Kerry losing to Donegal last August that I would be involved with the Kerry team next season, I would question whether you were in the real world. But I feel very excited to be truthful. Eamonn (Fitzmaurice) contacted me a few weeks back and he sold me his project in very quick time. I think that these are very exciting times for Kerry football, despite all the doom and gloom of the past two years. I still believe there are fine footballers out there and I just feel privileged to be asked to be involved in trying to improve things.”

Sheehy agrees that Kerry have some rebuilding to do over the next couple of years. “I believe we’ll be using the league to blood new players and certainly the team will have to be freshened up. But the players are there, from looking at the minors and U21’s for the past number of years and there are even players just gone beyond that age that I have seen in the County Championship. I think over the last few years the game has evolved as well and there are players out there that people might think were not up to scratch, but the way the game has changed then you might be looking at getting lads very fit and playing to a system.”

Sheehy, who won 11 Munster titles, eight All-Ireland senior medals and seven All Stars, is held in very high regard in the Kingdom so when he speaks, people listen. How does Sheehy view the Donegal phenomenon, here to stay or a passing phase?

“Jimmy McGuinness and his backroom team have to be given massive credit for what they have achieved. Last year people were giving out about the style of football that they played, because it was thought to be very defensive but this year they have brought a new positivity to their game, because as well as being set up well defensively, they hit you on the counter attack. I think they got some fantastic scores throughout the Championship.

“But realistically if you looked at it closely, Kerry were the team that ran Donegal closest and there were spells in that game, when Kerry played very well, and for spells we played very poorly so Kerry are not a million miles away. It’s a challenge for the management and it’s a challenge for the players and knowing those players well, they are still hurting from defeats over the past two years and particularly that Donegal defeat. They will be chomping at the bit, to have another go next year.”

He added: “I think a long break is just what the doctor would have ordered for many of these players who only missed one September in a decade or so. I know we have players involved in the county championship, but a few months off for the lads will do them no harm and will help recharge the batteries. The oldest of the Kerry lads are only in their early 30s, and are still playing good football and if they are good enough, age is not a factor.”