Eamon Kelly: Kerry hurling is playing catch up

Eamon Kelly’s “we’re going up to give a good account of ourselves” assessment is no rope-a-dope ploy.

Four weeks ago, Michael Ryan’s Westmeath cantered past Kerry 3-18 to 0-12 at Austin Stack Park. Four weeks, says Kerry hurling boss Kelly, isn’t enough time to be turning around 15-point losing margins.

The sides clash in today’s Division 2A decider at the Gaelic Grounds (3pm) and the Tipperary native is realistic in sizing up Kerry’s bid for back-to-back league titles.

Tom Murnane’s retirement from the inter-county scene and Darragh O’Connell’s decision to declare for Dublin during the off season has robbed Kelly of two of Kerry’s most experienced and influential hurlers.

To fill the void, management have turned to youth.

Three members of last year’s minor panel have been drafted in, while six hurlers from the 2013 minor squad have also been called up. Said inexperience was painfully evident during the Westmeath hammering.

“We are in transition and it would be very difficult to expect our lads to go toe-to-toe with Westmeath for the hour when you consider how young our squad is,” said Kelly.

“Darragh O’Connell is probably the best hurler in Kerry and he is no longer available to us. It is great too for the lads to get exposed to big games like this.”

Kelly continued: “You have to honest and realistic, though. Westmeath are a very good side. Michael Ryan is in with them, there is a new enthusiasm in Westmeath hurling. They are further up the ladder than us and want to be playing against teams we can’t even see on the ladder. We could say we are going to give it a right crack, but we have to be honest. I’m glad we are looking forward to a final because relegation was looming after defeat to Westmeath. The local media had a fair swipe at us and our backs were against the wall travelling to Carlow. The lads pulled it out of the bag. Now in his second season at the helm, Kelly points out that hurlers capable of donning the green and gold are still prioritising club over county.

“The hurlers from the North Kerry clubs are very loyal to their clubs. In most counties it is a huge honour to wear your county jersey. Some players down there put their club ahead of their county. The lads we have in with us are different and they really want to hurl for Kerry, but you don’t have every player available to you. There are lads who are not prepared to make the commitment.”