Positive O’Leary determined to kick on again

All Ireland SFC Final

It was his moment. Time to shine my boy, and, boy, did he.

Kieran O’Leary has been on the Kerry panel since 2006 — yet when he entered Croke Park in the 67th minute against Mayo on August 24 few foresaw that he would become the saviour of Kerry’s season.

Within five minutes he was.

O’Leary’s point was — in basketball parlance — the ultimate ‘clutch’ shot. In the heat of battle the best trust their technique, refined in countless rehearsals, and the Dr Crokes man’s levelling score against Mayo was all about technique. Have another look at that epic photo as Mayo’s Colm Boyle launched himself to block. O’Leary’s technique is the key — it is after all what he has trained for.

“That’s what it is all about,” said the Killarney man. “We are playing football for that reason. To be honest it was just a fantastic experience for me.

“Can you train for it?” he asks, rhetorically. “Of course you can, we are playing football all our lives: that’s what we are good at, and that’s what we do.”

O’Leary — who has three All-Ireland medals — believed in himself and backed his technique to come good. After the helter-skelter madness that led to James O’Donoghue’s goal, Kerry needed his calm method.

He took the plaudits, of course, but what encouraged O’Leary most was that there were others demanding the ball outside him, all eager to take on the responsibility.

“It just happened so quickly — I just put myself in the position to have a cut at goal and it paid off. There was a queue of fellas lining up, and that was a great sign of the team, every fella wanted to get the ball and put it over the bar. I was lucky enough to be in the position to take the shot on, and luckily it went over.”

O’Leary’s ability should never be doubted, just type ‘Kieran O’Leary goals’ into YouTube. There was a sackful online. One particular classic was for Dr Crokes in this year’s Kerry SFC against Kenmare District. Gathering possession 30 yards out to the left of the goals in Lewis Road, Killarney, he proceeds to slalom through the back line before selling a dummy to the keeper and finishing to the net. It was a sublime effort.

Undoubted talent yet for Kerry, O’Leary’s career has been more stop than start. He did start the 2011 All-Ireland final at right corner-forward but has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot. O’Leary — this year’s nominated captain from county champions Dr Crokes — doesn’t dwell on the negatives, though. This year is one that he has enjoyed.

“Look, it can be difficult not starting, because every man wants to play and every player wants to be on the panel. I am no different. But I have really, really enjoyed the year, training has been brilliant. There’s a great camaraderie within the group, and I have enjoyed that part of it. I have played my part too as much as any other player.”

This positivity flows through the conversation. And yet little more than two months ago Kerry were 12/1 to win the All-Ireland. Prior to the blitzing of Cork in the Munster final the consensus was that the raft of retirements post-2013 and Colm Cooper’s knee reconstruction would be too much for Fitzy’s Fledglings. O’Leary (27) understood that viewpoint, but knew it was also wrong.

“Yes, of course, we knew that feeling was going round. With all the retirements and Colm [Cooper] getting injured there was a negative feeling out there around the county. That, personally, wouldn’t bother me. Once we are positive in the group and that every fella is going for the same goal, anything is achievable. And I think, so far, we are proving that to be the case. We have great belief within our own squad. There are just two teams training for an All-Ireland final and we one of them.”

It is a belief that has been nurtured by Eamonn Fitzmaurice.

“Eamonn has just been fantastic, his man-management skills, and his management team as a whole, have been excellent. Training has been as intense and physical as I have ever experienced. It’s just the belief, really, that he has instilled in us is frightening. We have learned from past experiences from games gone by. We just know we are good enough.”

In August 2012 O’Leary came on as a sub when the All-Ireland finalists last met in that year’s quarter-final. He was introduced 10 minutes into the second half in place of Declan O’Sullivan. Kerry trailed by six points at the time but with three left there was just a point in it. They ran out of gas that day but O’Leary appreciates just how good this Donegal side are.

“They are an extremely good side. They proved that by beating the favourites for the competition. They have a few key players such as Michael Murphy, he is a fantastic player and he is playing extremely well to be honest.

He concludes: “We will have to play to the best of our abilities to beat but I know we can. We have been playing well all year,” before adding “and, you know what, we can’t wait for it.”