Eamonn Fitzmaurice: I expected players to be sharper

While happy with the win, Kerry manager, Eamonn Fitzmaurice, admitted that he "expected [his] charges to be sharper" on the back of an intense five-day training camp in Portugal.

Kerry management and players returned from the Algarve last Saturday week to begin the countdown to yesterday’s potential ‘banana skin’ in Thurles, but Fitzmaurice believes improvement is needed if they are to retain their Munster crown in under three weeks’ time.

“The fact we went to Portugal closer to championship this year, I would have hoped we’d be a bit sharper this weekend, particularly our ball handling — basic skills we got wrong today that we usually would be very good on.

“It’s surprising, having spent five days working on that stuff in Portugal together it didn’t manifest itself today.

“The team wouldn’t have been set in stone going out to Portugal, but there was a good bit riding on Portugal. I expected them to be sharper but it didn’t work out, for whatever reason.”

Fitzmaurice added: “I think to be fair to the lads we were all very tuned in — management and players — the attitude was very, very good and if that hadn’t been where it was needed today, we’d have been beaten.

“Even though it wasn’t the perfect performance I would be happy with the lads, how tuned in they were but we’ve a lot to work on, a lot to improve on for three weeks’ time.”

The multiple All-Ireland winner was disappointed with how Kerry finished the second half, especially having restarted the second moiety in impressive fashion.

“It was a strange performance from us… I think there were patches of very good football, a lot of frustrating stuff,” said the Finuge man.

“Particularly in the second half when we got ahead — seven points ahead at one stage — we got very sloppy in possession after that which was disappointing. And we almost invited Tipperary back into the game.

“We certainly didn’t make it easy on ourselves. At the same time it’s great to have a game played, to have a championship game under the belt.”

Competition for places, he explained, will be keen over the next few weeks at training headquarters in Killarney.

“We’re back into Fitzgerald Stadium for the next three weeks and we’ll try to get ourselves right for that Munster final… Cork coming to town, a huge game, it will really get fellows focused.

“The lads in there today played well, they’re in a good position but it will come down to form in training; three weeks can be a long time.

“David (Moran) will be fine. Hopefully all of our injured players will be okay.”

Fitzmaurice bequeathed special praise on midfielder, Bryan Sheehan, and was delighted to see Colm Cooper back in championship action.

“Bryan played very well. At one stage he tracked back, turned over one of the Tipp lads right on the sideline and ended up kicking a big free then. We need more lads playing like that. It was also great for Colm to get a game under the belt. Just to have that done and behind him and be looking forward to Cork in Killarney is important.”