Moynihan: Spy saga proves importance of closed training sessions
A man was spotted by members of Kerry’s backroom team hiding in a tree, trying to watch Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s squad finalise preparations for Sunday’s All-Ireland final with Donegal.
The man ran off when a member of the backroom team went to investigate. Ironically Fitzmaurice ended the tradition of open sessions in the county when he took charge two years ago.
Though there was outcry at the time, Moynihan feels that Fitzmaurice’s decision was justified, with opponents trying desperately to gain any advantage by whatever means possible.
Moynihan said: “This incident with the tree is an example of the interest others have on what Kerry are doing in training. It can’t be right and it was never right that everyone can see what you are doing. I remember 10 years ago, we looked to have our sessions closed to the public but we were refused. It was crazy that say, myself and Paul Galvin would have a dust up in training and within 10 minutes, it would be down town being discussed in Jimmy O’Brien’s (pub). If you were playing badly in training, everybody knew. It is so unprofessional, so wrong.”
His Glenflesk and former Kerry team-mate Johnny Crowley shared those sentiments, speaking at an All-Ireland preview night organised by Killarney Legion. “The sessions should remain closed. I remember back in 2002 when Colm Cooper burst on the scene, and he was absolutely flying in training, it was a about a week before the game and there was a big crowd in, and Colm did this brilliant dummy solo that Mossie Lyons bought and kicked it over the bar with his left and there was a big round of applause. It wasn’t right and the crowd meant nothing by the applause, but we were an open book.”
Another former star Sean O’Sullivan believes there will be one major casualty from this controversy. He said: “Expect that tree to be chopped down next year.”
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